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For those looking for a different kind of skiing experience - one filled with pristine powder, bottomless backcountry terrain, never-ending face shots, and zero lift lines - a snowcat ski and ride tour with one of Colorado's snowcat tour operators is the answer. Not just for experts anymore, these cat skiing tours offer guided and unguided tours for intermediate ability levels and up, limited numbers of skiers, almost unlimited terrain options with meals and first tracks guaranteed nearly every time. It's Colorado backcountry at its finest.
ASPEN
Aspen Mountain Powder Tours offers luxury snowcats that take guests to prime untracked stashes of pristine powder on the backside of Aspen Mountain. Guaranteed fresh tracks and gourmet lunch is included. Two guides and a driver lead each 11 person snowcat group. Groups are given an orientation with guides before heading out for backcountry skiing and riding. A hearty lunch is served in a wood-stove heated cabin set in the heart of the Elk Mountains.
For more info: 970.920.0720.
COPPER
Looking for an outta-this-world in-bounds experience? Copper Mountain's free Tucker Mountain Snowcat Access supplies backcountry without actually leaving the ski area's boundaries. Snowcats deliver guests to Tucker Mountain where you can access high alpine and extreme terrain known as The Taco and The Nacho or, as ski patrol likes to refer to multiple laps, the Enchilada Platter. With cats operating about every 15 minutes, the service is free with the purchase of Copper Mountain lift ticket and is first-come, first served.
For more info: 866.841.2481.
DURANGO
With 35,000 acres of breathtaking terrain in the heart of the West San Juan Mountains, The San Juan Ski Company is Colorado's largest cat skiing operation. Escorted by experienced guides, skiers and riders will find untracked bowls, chutes, ridges, glades and tree slopes in an area that receives between 20 and 30 feet of snow each season. Elevations range from 8,800 feet at Durango Mountain Resort's base to 12,500 feet at the summit of Greyrock Peak.
For more info: 800.208.1780.
KEYSTONE
Last season, Keystone opened Independence Bowl, almost 300 acres of expert-only hiking and snowcat ski and ride terrain. Keystone Adventure Tours offers access to chutes, bowls and steeper pitches of upper Independence Bowl. Snowcats transport skiers and riders to more than 860 acres of bowl skiing and riding in just 10-15 minutes. As part of the program, skiers and riders must participate in an introductory avalanche awareness talk where they learn to judge slope angle, how to pick safe lines, where not to ski, and how to use the equipment.
For more info: 800.354.4FUN.
MONARCH
Monarch offers a "Cat Skiing with a Legend" program in March with Scot Schmidt. On top of the Continental Divide, skiers and riders find great powder, spectacular views, 900 acres of expert terrain, steeps, trees, cliffs, and bowls. A normal tour will average 10 to 12 runs per day at an average of 900 vertical feet per run. Space is limited to 12 guests per day and the snowcat runs from January 1 through April 9 as conditions permit.
For more info: 888.996.7669 x5155.
STEAMBOAT
Steamboat Powdercats operate under special use permits from the BLM and Routt-Medicine Bow National Forest, allowing them access to 10,000 acres of pristine terrain, just 20 minutes from downtown Steamboat Springs. In addition to the routine Intermediate, Advanced, and Expert snowcat tours, Steamboat Powdercats also offers Moonlight tours, Kids Cats (a children's program), an adaptive snowcat skiing program and powder skiing adventure clinics design-ed specifically for women. Steamboat Powdercats operates with three snowcats, with 12 seats available on each.
For more info: 800.288.0543.
SKI COOPER
Chicago Ridge Snowcat Tours have more than 2,400 acres of terrain suitable for advanced to expert skiers and riders.
The cats chauffeur guests as high as 12,600 feet on top of the Continental Divide. The slopes vary from 3,000 to 10,000 feet in length with vertical drops up to 1,400 feet per run.
For more info: 719.486.2277. |
