Intermediate and expert skiers wanting a very special powder snow holiday experience generally have three options: backcountry touring, snowcat skiing and heli-skiing. Backcountry touring is slow-paced and as relaxed as you want to make it. It usually requires quite a bit of time, a high level of physical fitness, considerable experience and specialized clothing and equipment.

Snowcat skiing is adapted to short holidays and many operators offer 3-day and 4-day full-service tour packages. Snowcat skiing is not normally weather-dependent and there is almost no “down-time”. Every day is a good ski day. Good physical condition always makes a tour more enjoyable, but there is none of climbing and walking of backcountry touring. Snowcat skiing provides a relaxed vacation that requires no prior experience or special equipment.

Heli-skiing is “Cadillac” option for backcountry skiing. It is also most expensive, being about twice cost of snowcat skiing. It is also weather-dependent. To allow for “down-days”, tours tend to be a few days longer than cat skiing tours. Heli-operators usually offer a guaranteed minimum amount of skiing. However, significant additional cost can result if guests exceed minimum, which often occurs with good weather.

Efficient operation of helicopters is an economic necessity for operators and helicopters are usually shared among groups. This can result in a pace of skiing influenced by factors other than individual needs of each group. Unless guests pay for a dedicated helicopter, there is little opportunity to “sit out” a run. Typically, skiing groups can be as small as 4 and as large as 12, depending on type of helicopter used.

Snowcat skiers enjoy a dedicated cat that moves according to needs and ability of group. Snowcat rides are warm, quiet, relaxed and very sociable. They give guests an opportunity to converse with their companions, to rest for next run, and to adjust clothing. Guests wanting a longer rest can sit out a run and visit with cat driver on ride back down mountain. Lunch is grazed on over course of day. Guests can leave extra clothing in cat and adjust what they wear each run. If a guest wishes to quit early for day, a staff member will take them back to lodge on a snowmobile.

Heli-skiing operators use vast tenures covering many hundreds of sq. kms. This permits great access to “good” alpine snow under a variety of conditions. Snowcat operators use much less terrain. However, in Western Canada there are a number of snowcat operators that have tenures as large as 130 sq. km. These operators make effective use of land and have more than enough area to provide consistently good skiing and “fresh tracks”.

A number of operators have remote backcountry lodges. These offer a unique wilderness experience. Guests ride to lodges in helicopters, by snowmobile or in snowcats. Lodges are very comfortable and typically offer double-occupancy bedrooms with private bathrooms, excellent cuisine, a games room, a well stocked bar, hot tubs and massage facilities. The first run of day is nearby and guests often ski to lodge door at end of day.