Loading

You are:

 

Powderhounds Review

The powderhounds went in search of the holy grail of cat skiing by checking out the Valhalla Powdercats. Valhalla is a kick-arse cat ski operation, but no single operation is absolutely perfect for everyone. Our review covers different aspects of the cat skiing experience so that you can determine if Valhalla is likely to align with your priorities.

Pros

• For powderhounds on a budget, not being locked into an expensive multi-day trip that includes accommodation is a bonus. Nelson accommodation provides good value for money and is significantly cheaper than BC cat skiing lodges.
• The proximity to Nelson, Whitewater ski area and Red Mountain is advantageous. The flexibility to do single day cat skiing makes it possible to mix and match cat skiing with resort skiing, which is good for the hip pocket.
• Valhalla offers very inexpensive standby rates.
• The tree skiing and terrain for advanced skiers and riders is so sexy it’s almost pornographic!
• You’ll yell louder about the powder because the Kootenay white stuff is pretty impressive, and with 21,500 acres of terrain, the chances of crossing old tracks are slim.

Cons

• The drive from the Valhalla office in South Slocan to the snowcat was a long one, and much of the drive was on a logging road that was super bumpy. The old bus was noisy and had limited suspension, so the girls had to tighten their bra straps! Thankfully a new bus and a freshly graded road are arriving for the 2011 season.
• After the bus ride there was a long snowcat ride up the mountain, and considering that much of the safety briefing was done outside the cat, it was a rather late start to the day (and an early finish to the day). This cut into precious skiing time. However the introduction of the new bus in 2011 will improve this, because much of the safety briefing will be conducted during the bus ride.

Powder Snow
The area is not called the “Powder Triangle” for nothing. Kootenay powder is generally light and dry, almost like talcum powder. And whilst Valhalla doesn’t receive as much snowfall as some other BC cat skiing operations, the pow is generally pretty deep.
Overall Terrain
The tenure is moderately large and Valhalla has very good diversity in the terrain on offer - every run is reasonably different. There’s a good mix of alpine and tree skiing as well as variety in the pitch, the spacing of the trees, and the likelihood of finding launching pads. The only minor limitations would be that their best terrain is south facing where the snow quality isn’t as good, and the steep pitch isn’t consistent for the entire vertical and various runs have mellow run-outs.
Alpine Terrain
Valhalla has a moderate amount of terrain in the alpine including steep bowls and chutes of varied widths.
Tree Skiing
Valhalla scores full marks here for variety. The trees were perfectly spaced for many of the runs such that it was easy to get a rhythm, whilst at times the trees were tight, and then it would really open up so that you could let those babies rip. Heinous fun!
Strong Intermediate Terrain
Whilst parts of the runs are adequately mellow for strong intermediate skiers and riders, the terrain is generally not conducive to powderhounds on their “L” plates.
Advanced Terrain
Most advanced skiers and boarders will find the terrain incredibly sexy. The varied terrain and the cracking runs were not too mellow and not too steep, but just right! The terrain had a few drop-offs here and there, and if you wanted to avoid them the guides generally provided warnings about their location.
Expert & Extreme Terrain
With usual snowpack conditions, there’s not too much terrain that will humble experts. We skied one chute that would fall into the “expert” category, although it wasn’t a narrow chute so it wasn’t too technically challenging. The alpine terrain has lots of narrow chutes, but like most other cat skiing operations, these can only be tackled on the off chance that the snowpack stability is OK. Otherwise experts will be entertained with small cliffs that are sprinkled through parts of the terrain.
Guiding
Our experience of the guiding was not great, but the lead guide we had no longer works for Valhalla, so all should be fine.
Snowcat
The snowcat cabin was well set up with bench seats that all faced forwards. Two sideways seats were the exception, but these were well designed to minimise sliding towards the back of the cat. The low backed seats made socialising easy, and the cat was well insulated which also facilitated conversation (and some good joke telling from the tail guide!). The snowcat seemed to have super suspension as the cat ride was really comfortable, and another positive was that the steps at the back made it really easy to get in and out of the cat.
Avalanche Mitigation Strategies
Valhalla generally use run avoidance to minimise risk, and occasionally use blasting to control the terrain. Like most other BC cat skiing operations, they have comprehensive risk management systems including guides meetings, well qualified and experienced guides, use of external industry information, and provision of a couple of guest safety packs per snowcat. The Valhalla terrain is a long way from their offices, so it’s not easy for them to send out specific snow safety teams to monitor and control the terrain.
Safety Briefing
The initial safety briefing was not particularly comprehensive in regards to backcountry hazards or what to do in the event of an avalanche. The briefing regarding snowcat hazards was almost non-existent, and the probing and shovelling technique was covered in about 30 seconds. Conversely, avalanche beacon tuition and victim search practice was well done, and the use of modern transponders was a positive for the operation.
Frills
A light brekkie and coffee was available on arrival at the Valhalla office. The frills continued into the day with lots of great snacks and beverages available to keep everyone fuelled. Lunch included lovely gourmet bagels and rolls; not the soggy type you often get with cat skiing and heli skiing.
Value for Money
Whilst Valhalla provides a quality cat skiing experience, the standard day rates are one of the highest in BC Canada, and the use of their powder skis attracts an additional fee. Furthermore, cat skiing for multiple days is not discounted unless it’s for four or more days. If you’re prepared to take the risk of missing out, the Valhalla standby rates are very inexpensive and amongst the best in the business.

Notes Regarding Review The review is largely based on our experience, but also on discussions with staff, former guests, and information available on their website. Our review has some limitations as it’s not possible to ski every run and in all possible snow and weather conditions. Every guide is somewhat different and we acknowledge that everyone’s experience will be slightly different. The ratings are from our perspective only. Check out our cat and heli ski ratings to see how Valhalla fares against other backcountry operations.

The photos and video are not filmed using professional riders, but rather aim to show an example of a “real” experience.

See our BC cat skiing comparison for an overview of costs, terrain size, vertical and location of various cat skiing operations in Canada.

Bookings & Information Requests
If you have any questions or would like to enquire about a specific date click here.