Cat skiing & avalanche safety
Overview
Our new cat skiing zone, Atlasta–Casey, is “set up” but not as “set up” as we had at Schweitzer, so our snowcat pace possibly won’t be as rapid. We expect that, without our custom forest roads (timber sales), we’ll ride 5 or so laps comfortably per day on 25 % of the terrain, primarily on south, southwest, and southeast runs. The snowcats will still do the hard part, bringing us back up 1,400 ft each lap every time.
With Chief Guide Ken, (yep,your favorite guide) and a brand new professional crew leading, we’ll have avalanche discussions while ascending in the snowcat. Once on the slopes, we’ll continue with expertly coordinated avalanche rescue practice scenarios while skiing the field to refresh you so that when you ski unguided, you’ll have a grasp of what’s happening around you in the snowpack, knowledge of how to use avalanche rescue gear, and the experience using this rescue equipment to locate buried avalanche beacons. We’ll provide the packs, shovels, probes, beacons, and stopwatch – you bring your game face!
Note: For groups not necessarily interested in the avy parts, no biggie: just luk. We’ll rally like Sally down some steep powder alley, jump back in the cat – or perhaps instead – pick up a snowmobile rope for a pull back to the cat.
For groups fit and ready for a 10–15 min boot pack, we’ll get you 50 % more terrain with lots of north-aspect dark, deep pow, and possibly some surface hoar inches deep.
Bottomline: The cat skiing at Atlasta–Casey is next-level–fantastic… see you soon!
4–10 participants
Licensed, professional & fun guides
The tour price excludes 6 % Idaho state tax; online and direct reservations incur a 6 % booking fee.
Groups & suitability
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.
You can expect the same you would from any established backcountry operation: great service, tight logistics, superior access and egress support, not to mention varied route selection, challenging reconnoitering, and multiple ski zones.
We would not classify the terrain generally as extreme. Certainly, there are areas with greater exposure to consequences, but typically, the terrain varies widely, and there are plenty of areas that are suitable for novices.
Unfortunately, no, it is not possible. Anyone – skiing or snowboarding – must be at an intermediate level or more. We reserve the right to exit any guest that doesn’t meet this criterion. You can be new to the travel methods, but you must be able to ski or ride downhill in a safe and confident manner in tight trees on any slope angle.
You need the endurance for multiple transitions from the cat to skin-mode to downhill-mode – so, pretty fit. You need to be familiar with your equipment and transitioning (applying and removing skins or snowshoes). Willing, fit, and stoked intermediates are welcome. However, novice skiers must book private groups. In a private tour with novices, one or more guides can provide technical instruction.
Yes: a guest must be at least 14 yr old to participate.
A typical day
| 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. | |
| pm | Last snowcat ascent. |
| pm | Snowcat descends to return to the Eastside Road departure point. |
The most popular cat ride in the morning is approximately 1 hr. In this time, the group will have a safety briefing and complete an A. M. tour e-form.
No. Many of the current 40 runs won’t require skinning; some may also be just a quick bootpack away.
The summit of Mt. Casey is about a 1.6 mi traverse that has 800 vertical ft of ascent and 500 vertical ft of descent.
Choose options
Snowcat bump
Begin and finish like cat skiing with cozy rides up and back down.
Deep backcountry
Find yourself untrammeled by resort bustle in the wilds of the Selkirks.
Fresh tracks
Expansive terrain options on three aspects offer dream-runs every day.
FAQs
Mainly, yes. We will however, at our discretion, use snowmobiles and other OTS vehicles when practical and available.
Yes. The area is open to all, but it is not practical to join us for a tour unless you did a multi-day, self-supported overnight trip.
Yes, “sort of”: it would be on a groomed snowmobile trail. It would require some time across flat to slightly uphill sections, but it’s doable by the willing.
Yes: it is public land. We survived the Schweitzer clientele, and we’d be stoked to see properly equipped and experienced riders getting sweaty. Please just treat our commercial operation with respect.
We don’t: we coexist with our fellow sledders. We are snowmobilers, and we are professional, commercial skiers and riders with snowcats. For 21 seasons at Schweitzer, we’ve handled the balance adeptly. We think that by operating the same way, we will continue to reduce mitigate interactions.
Schweitzer is going into the snowcat skiing and snowmobiling business themselves. Powder magazine published an article in July 2024 on this topic.
Ken has another strong 10 yr in him and retains a ton of successful experiences as he developed a 78 run operation seeing thousands of guests and has made it into Year 22 without a major negative blemish. His passion for great skiing runs deep, and with the move, he has the freedom to affect the permit zone in ways that weren’t acceptable at their old location.
Yes. We will maintain our Professional membership with National Ski Patrol (Q057) and will stage a trained staff member to watch operations and lend assistance in times of need daily. We’re also always seeking NSP members to augment our support troops. Apply here.
The town of Coolin couldn’t be much cooler. It’s a very small lakeside town that’s pretty chill
in the winter. Most winter visitors are either bc shredders or sledders, so it makes for a
wonderful place to stay. It’s about 7 mi from the staging area and has all facilities to support
you. Powder magazine published an article in July
2024 on this topic.
Coolin on Google
Maps
As we’ll have two cats operating, we don’t see conflicts between the day group and scheduling for unguided groups that want to do custom arrangements.
We are approximately 135 mi / 3½ hr away from Big Red Cats. Other destinations:
- Silver Mountain: 110 mi / 2½ hr
- 49° North: 67 mi / 1½ hr
- Brundage: 345 mi / 6½ hr
- Soldier Mountain: 620 mi / 10 hr
- Coolin: 7 mi
- Priest River: 12 mi
- Schweitzer: 55 mi
- Spokane Int’la Airport: 77 mi
No, we do not offer equipment rental.
Yes, we have spare gear. You must come prepared with your own backpack, avalanche, beacon, shovel, and probe. However, if someone forgets a piece or breaks something, we will have spares to replace most common equipment. We highly recommend that you travel with replacement parts specific to your bindings, boots, and other equipment.
Yes. AIARE Rescue, Level 1, and Level 2 can be incorporated into your ski tour days. This is subject to scheduling before October 1 annually.
Yes. We’ve been fortunate to have semi- to good connectivity. We still suggest you download maps for offline use.
We recommend travel insurance policies with cancel-for-any-reason-coverage for peace of mind and reducing your exposure should you want to cancel due to conditions not being to your liking. We’ve selected a policy to consider.
Booking policies
Payment
All reservations must be paid in full at the time of booking.
Promotions & discounts
Any promotion or discount must be redeemed only by calling reservations directly. No promotion and/or discount will be applied after the reservation has been made and full payment has been received.
Cancellations & reservation changes
Cancellations
Any cancellation made within 21 days of the scheduled tour date are 100 % non-refundable – no exceptions for any reason, not even airline delays, road closures, family emergencies, personal injury, etc. We encourage all guests to consider purchasing travel insurance with enhanced coverage (one with a cancel for any reason rider) through an outside provider such as InsureMyTrip.
Reservation changes
You may request date changes to your tour date outside of 21 days of your booking. Changes to your reservation are subject to availability and may incur an administrative fee of $100 per person.
Tour cancellations due to mechanical issues or unsafe conditions
Selkirk Powder Company has no control over Mother Nature. We tour in sun, snow, rain, wind, or any combination of interesting weather. It is, after all, an alpine environment. Be prepared, and dress accordingly. SPC reserves the right to cancel a tour for mechanical, weather, safety, personal or any other circumstance. You will be issued a full or partial credit valid for 1 year from the original tour date. No refunds will be issued. If your tour is cancelled multiple times, your credit still expires after 1 year – no extensions will be applied.
SPC reserves the right at any time, and at its sole discretion, to modify any policies set out above, with or without notice other than publishing such modifications on our website. It is your responsibility to review policies on our website for updates and/or changes. Your reservation and/or use of our services following any such policy modification constitutes your acceptance of any modified policy.
To ensure you get the dates and size of group you want, we encourage you to book as soon as your dates are established. Some of our guests make their reservations up to a year in advance, so don’t wait too long to contact us.
Payment in full is due at the time of booking.
If you prefer, tips can be added at the time of booking. The typical tipping amount in the industry is 10–20 % of the total tour cost: the same as you would extend for service in a restaurant or similar setting. At Selkirk Powder, tips are pooled and shared among guides, snowcat drivers (for snowcat trips), and your reservations agent.
You may request date changes to your tour date outside of 21 days of your booking. Changes to your reservation are subject to availability and may incur an administrative fee of $100 per person. We recommend trip insurance policies with cancel for any reason for peace of mind and reducing your exposure should you want to cancel due to conditions not being to your liking.
Reviews
