Skiing & Winter Sports

Western Canada is a land of mountains, lakes and rivers. There are also deserts (yes, Walter, small deserts), huge forested plateaus and lush farmland, but mountains are a predominant feature. From the Coast Range in the west to the Rockies in the east, from the Cascades in the south, to the Cassiar Range in the north, there is one range after another; the Cariboos, the Monashees, and the Selkirks, to name just a few.

The mountains of British Columbia offer untold opportunities for every kind of skiing, including backcountry touring, snowcat skiing and heli-skiing. There are many ski resorts and many backcountry lodges, mostly located near small interior towns, away from the large population centers and international airports.

Getting to a backcountry skiing holiday can involve travel on roads that traverse narrow valleys and high passes. After heavy snowfalls, roads can sometimes be closed while crews clear away debris from slides.

At the end of January 2004, a heavy snowfall caused overnight closures on some BC highways. Two days later, a second storm closed other roads, including the Trans Canada highway. This is a tale of getting from Vancouver to Golden BC in the midst of these storms.

The weather in Vancouver was mild. There had been a recent gaggle of small disturbances, but no big storms. The freezing level was too high. We prayed for snow. We watched the forecasts, but things looked “iffy”.

After months of anticipation, our trip to Chatter Creek was nearing. In two days our annual powder-bash would begin. Four days of cat skiing in Rocky Mountain powder!

This year, we had a group of 24 old friends and regular ski buddies. Many had been to Chatter Creek before and knew what to expect. We were all anxiously counting down the days.

Most of us live in Vancouver, Squamish and Whistler. Individually, we had made our arrangements for getting to Golden. Some would fly to Calgary, rent a car and drive together to Golden, a four-hour trip through Banff, Lake Louise and the Kicking Horse Pass. They would arrive in Golden just in time for our 3:00 PM helicopter flight into the lodge.

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Documents can be downloaded from the Exchange at www.exchange.atla.org.

* BAYER V. CRESTED BUTTE MOUNTAIN RESORT, INC;., 41 ATLA L. Rep. 224 (Aug. 1998) (plaintiff’s appellate briefs in a case holding that Colorado’s Tramway Act and Ski Safety Act do not preempt ski lift operators’ common law duty of highest care). No. 3229.

* GARGIR V. B’NEI AKIVA, 39 ATLA L. Rep. 364 (Nov. 1996) (opposition to defendant’s motion for judgment n.o.v. in a case alleging a camp failed to require ski lessons and allowed youths to ski unsupervised). No. 2868.

* HANSEN V. SUNDAY RIVER SKIWAY CORP., 41 ATLA L. Rep. 180 (June 1998) (plaintiff’s trial brief and opposition to summary judgment in a case alleging failure to appropriately mark an icy patch on a slope). No. 3217.

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* HOAR V. GREAT E. RESORT CORP., 42 ATLA L. Rep. 36 (Feb. 1999) (plaintiff’s opposition to defendant’s summary judgment motion, defendant’s motion for judgment n.o.v. and plaintiff’s response to the motion, and the parties’ appellate briefs in a case alleging a ski resort failed to warn skiers about a dangerous drop-off). No. 3348.

* PILLING V. SNOWRIDGE, INC., 37 ATLA L. Rep. 62 (Mar. 1994) (the parties’ motions for and against summary judgment based on a ski equipment rental agreement waiver of liability and the court’s opinion and order on those motions in a case alleging a ski resort employee had negligently driven a snowmobile). No. 1973.

Snowcats have made backcountry skiing accessible to intermediate skiers.

Backcountry skiing offers vast expanses of soft, consistent powder snow in remote and spectacular high-mountain settings. Often considered the domain of hardy and self-reliant ski touring enthusiasts, or of proficient and deep-pocketed helicopter skiers, backcountry skiing is now easily accessible to snowcat skiers.

Snowcat skiing is typically much more affordable than helicopter skiing and can be more adaptable to skier ability. Also, it requires no special equipment or backcountry experience. However, good physical fitness is desirable, especially in skiers with little powder snow experience.

Cat skiing operators offer full-service tours into remote, high alpine areas. Guests stay in comfortable lodges with double-occupancy bedrooms and private baths, excellent food, and outdoor hot tubs, complete with bar service. Guests’ needs and comfort and safety comes first, both inside the lodge and on the hill. Everyone has a good time.

Western Canada boasts many backcountry lodges, where intermediate and expert skiers alike use snowcats to access the very best of backcountry skiing. One such lodge is Chatter Creek’s rustic 9300 sq.ft. Vertebrae Lodge which can be viewed at www.backcountrywintervacations.com/vertebrae-lodge.html />

Guests ski in groups of 12. Each group has a dedicated snowcat, two highly qualified guides and a driver. Groups can be assembled according to ability, and because the snowcat and guides move at the pleasure of the group, the whole party enjoys terrain and a pace of skiing that best suits them. There is never pressure to maximize the utilization of the equipment. Snowcat skiing is equally enjoyable for experts and strong intermediates alike and for both skiers and snowboarders.

On the hill, the lead guide sets the track and the guests follow, with everyone skiing in fresh, untracked snow. The guide stops occasionally to regroup and to give people a chance to rest, to take pictures and to share their experiences. The frequency of stops depends on the ability and strength of the group. Strong groups may ski non-stop to the bottom; 1800 to 2000 ft. of pure joy! Other groups may have a few stops along the way. The guests determine the pace, not the guide.

The lead guide keeps his flock together and sees that no one falls too far behind. The second guide, called the “tailgunner”, is always the last person down the hill. If a guest falls or has difficulty, the tailgunner will be at their side to assist.

Powder snow provides downhill skiers the 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 the 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 the first chairs in the morning get the ultimate run of the day, in deep, consistent, smooth, untracked snow. Oh joy!

For years, avid “powder hounds” have headed for the backcountry to ski the powder among remote alpine peaks, far from crowded ski areas. Many enjoy the 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 the backcountry from helicopters. For about $1000 per day, heli-operators offer small proficient groups guided skiing on huge pristine slopes, high in the 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 the economic need for efficiency and there is always the 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 the hill. On days of poor weather or unstable snow, guides may avoid alpine areas and restrict their groups to “skiing the trees”.

Tree skiing is a fixture of all mechanized backcountry skiing and is even preferred by some skiers to the more open “alpine” skiing. Tree skiers often enjoy the 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.

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