Snowcat-assisted backcountry ski touring
We’re pleased to invite you for snowcat-assisted backcountry ski tours in a new zone of the Selkirk Mountains: Atlasta–Casey. In search of pristine, untouched powder, our ski guides will lead you and your friends along multiple ridge-based skinning routes to runs that cater to your group’s riding abilities. With the snowcat doing the hard uphill part, everyone will reach – and effortlessly return to – epic powder runs.
The tour price excludes 6 % Idaho state tax; online and direct reservations incure a 6 % booking fee.
After booking, you may request to change your reservation time or date outside of 45 days, though we assess an administrative fee of $100 for each change. Please visit Policies for our full cancellation policy.
- Visit our desk in Lakeview Lodge at the base.
- Stop by our Summit Lodge located near Sky House.
- Give us a ring on the phone: +1 (208) 263-6959.
- Send your booking to reservations@selkirkpowder.com or use our contact form.
Lodging
We’ve gathered together a few condominium, resort, hotel, and bed & breakfast properties.
Travel insurance
We’ve found a policy to consider that suits our nature-reliant adventures.
Beginning January 4, 2025, Selkirk Powder Chief Guide Ken Barrett, aka “the Chief”, and his expertly seasoned crew are going back to their roots by cooking up exciting day tours for alpine touring skiers and splitboarding snowboarders on what is destined to be the newest best freeride backcountry tour experience in North America.
With a new 6,250 acre snowcat skiing permit for the Selkirk Mountains, Selkirk Powder looks to adapt the traditional cat skiing mold into the freerider’s best sought-after experience by using the power of the snowcat to whisk you and your backcountry ski group up onto the western ridge that flanks Mts. Atlasta (el. 6,370 ft) and Casey (el. 6,660 ft) before guiding you into three zones at tree-line featuring forty ski runs. Facing north, west, and south, these areas offer everything from mild 20° to mid-40° pitches, epic tree glades, wide-open scree fields, eratic boulder lines (think lumpy pillows), some pretty wild rock features, and potentially huge cornices. After your descent, one or more warm and complemented snowcats will roll up to transport you back up to the top drop point for as many laps as you and your group care to take in a 6 hr session.
Familiar terrain
Even though the permit we hold is new, this is familiar skiing terrain for Ken and his heli team. Ken began surveying and skiing the Priest Lake–based Atlasta–Casey area way back in 2002–2003 along with Selkirk Powder co-founder Chip Kamin as they mapped the entire Middle Fork East River drainage before setting SP’s original operations site on the west side of Schweitzer Basin. One of the pictures in the gallery is Ken on top of Mount Casey. The run created that day was dubbed “Casey Jones”: Take the dead snags heading for the shoulder, veer slightly rider’s right towards Chicopee Creek, and it’s 1½ mi and 2,025 vertical ft and to the pick-up. Altasta–Casey then became one of four polygons in our heli skiing permit in 2016. At the bottom of Chicopee and Race Creeks, we spent considerable time improving exits and landing zones after skiing incredibly fun powder descents.
This zone is way more diverse than our Schweitzer set-up and features three distinct aspects at higher elevations, many more steep, north shots, and some very impressive rock features. Take a gander at the gallery above; the pics and the maps will orient you and our new batch of run names is bound to excite you! Lots of updates will be dropping over the next 8 months – please revisit here often.
We‘re sure this new zone is really going to be something for everyone’s backcountry FOMO / bucket list. So, open your calendars, call the buds, and start making plans for your flights to Spokane, your Coolin-based accommodations, and booking days for some snowcat-ing, skinning, and riding the next big Selkirk Powder zone.
If you have any questions, text us, call us, or send a snail–e-mail. Ronnie’s aboard all summer while Ken is in the woods as usual. Ask anything you like via your preferred method, and Ronnie will fill you in.
Thank you for your support,
The Chief, Ronnie & the entire crew
| Meet Selkirk’s staff and guides at the Eastside Road uphill departure point. While ascending, guests will undergo a backcountry safety briefing including completion of an AM Tour form, group experience analysis, and route selection. | |
| Arrive at the drop zone in a heated cabin with accoutrements. After the first drop, it’s up to the guide(s) and guests to make their way to remaining ski routes. | |
| pm | Last snowcat ascent. |
| pm | Snowcat descends to return to the Eastside Road departure point. |
Individuals and small groups that occupy fewer than 10 seats must be adequately experienced to tour and ride in uncontrolled, ungroomed, or unimproved slopes upwards of 40° safely and confidently. Private tour rates are discounted for groups of 10 or more paying on one single tab. Private groups may consist of novice riders and guides who can or will become instructors as well as route overseers.
Guests coming from out of the area are encouraged to find accommodations in the Priest Lake or Priest River area. Coolin is the closest town to the staging area at 8 mi away.
Accommodations
- The Inn at Priest Lake
- The Historic Northern Hotel
- Coolin Motel
- Indian Creek Cabins
- RVs & Sprinters: There is plenty of free parking at the staging area at the junction of Eastriver Road and IDL #10 Road (Middle Fork East River Road).