Powder snow provides downhill skiers
ultimate skiing experience. For most skiers however, good “powder” is a short-lived and infrequent pleasure. Ski areas in some geographic areas enjoy frequent “powder days” but in most areas, powder is rare and dryness and depth of snow is often marginal.In most ski areas too, when powder does occur, it is only a matter of hours before it is completely "tracked out”, lumped up and beaten down. Only those few early birds that ride first chairs in morning get ultimate run of day, in deep, consistent, smooth, untracked snow. Oh joy!
For years, avid “powder hounds” have headed for backcountry to ski powder among remote alpine peaks, far from crowded ski areas. Many enjoy peace and quiet of ski touring and move and ski at a pace governed by their own physical fitness and endurance. Ski touring enthusiasts tend to be young and fit, very experienced and knowledgeable in backcountry travel. They are well equipped and self-contained.
Others who may be less fit or have limited time, but enjoy fairly “deep pockets”, have skied backcountry from helicopters. For about $1000 per day, heli-operators offer small proficient groups guided skiing on huge pristine slopes, high in mountains. Guests stay in comfortable lodges and spend their days being shuttled back and forth with their guides, with each run on a fresh untracked slope. Helicopters are very expensive and must be kept flying. Many operators will share one machine among multiple skiing groups. Helicopter skiing has its “issues”. There are “down days” when storms make flying impossible, there is economic need for efficiency and there is always inherent risk of all backcountry skiing: avalanche.
Avalanche risk depends on many factors and much special training and experience is needed to assess risk. All reputable backcountry operators provide highly qualified guides to accompany their guests. Guides choose areas for skiing and a safe route down hill. On days of poor weather or unstable snow, guides may avoid alpine areas and restrict their groups to "skiing trees”.
Tree skiing is a fixture of all mechanized backcountry skiing and is even preferred by some skiers to more open “alpine” skiing. Tree skiers often enjoy deepest and lightest snow, unaffected by wind or sun.
In recent years, a new type of mechanized backcountry ski operator has emerged. Snowcat skiing operators use snowcats to transport skiers and snowboarders into high backcountry regions. Snowcats are fitted with comfortable cabs that usually seat 12 clients and two guides.
Of course, snowcats are much slower than helicopters. They are also much less expensive and guests can expect to pay between $500 and $600 a day, including transportation, lodging, meals, and guiding. As slow as snowcats may be, most clients will wear themselves out every day and get just as much skiing as their group can handle.
