Selkirk Snowcat Skiing

Overall Rating

Selkirk Snowcat Skiing

Selkirk Snowcat Skiing4.9/512
Selkirk Snowcat Skiing4.9 out of 5 based on 12 reviews
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Selkirk Snowcat Skiing
Selkirk Snowcat Skiing
Selkirk Wilderness Skiing: gorgeous powder
Selkirk Wilderness Skiing: gorgeous powder
Selkirk Wilderness snowcat
Selkirk Wilderness snowcat
Lots of fantastic fall line runs
Lots of fantastic fall line runs
SWS is a powder magnet
SWS is a powder magnet
Top Dog loves his job!
Top Dog loves his job!
A superb alpine bowl
A superb alpine bowl
Line after line of fresh powder
Line after line of fresh powder
Selkirk Wilderness Cat Skiing
Selkirk Wilderness Cat Skiing
Selkirk Wilderness Skiing Lodge
Selkirk Wilderness Skiing Lodge
Jason scoping out the perfect line
Jason scoping out the perfect line
BC cat skiing at its finest
BC cat skiing at its finest
Selkirk Wilderness Skiing
Selkirk Wilderness Skiing
Powder skiing at SWS
Powder skiing at SWS
Plenty of freshies
Plenty of freshies
Selkirk Wilderness Skiing: some nice steep lines
Selkirk Wilderness Skiing: some nice steep lines
Selkirk Wilderness Skiing Snowcat
Selkirk Wilderness Skiing Snowcat
Lots of open areas to let it rip
Lots of open areas to let it rip
Selkirk Wilderness Cat Skiing
Selkirk Wilderness Cat Skiing
The diversity of terrain is a highlight of SWS
The diversity of terrain is a highlight of SWS

Selkirk Snowcat Skiing

Overall Rating

Selkirk Snowcat Skiing4.9/512
Selkirk Snowcat Skiing4.9 out of 5 based on 12 reviews
Most cat skiing in BC is amazing, but Selkirk Wilderness Skiing (now called Selkirk Snowcat Skiing) in particular is the supreme powder room! When you go cat skiing with Selkirk Snowcat Skiing, the powder is often so deep that you’ll get to powder your nose whether you like it or not!

Selkirk Snowcat Skiing is the original and the best! Selkirk Wilderness Skiing was the birthplace of snowcat skiing back in 1975, and powder hounds have them to thank for introducing such a phenomenal powder skiing experience that definitely rivals heli skiing.

This is the ultimate in cat skiing. It’s the combination of the consistency of the snow quality and quantity, and the diversity of terrain that makes the cat skiing so awesome. Selkirk Snowcat Skiing also has a rich history and really friendly and welcoming hosts. It is very cool for cats!

Powderhounds.com has rated Selkirk Snowcat Skiing as the best cat skiing, so it must be really good! See our Selkirk Wilderness Skiing review for more information on what’s so good about this cat ski operation, and check out our cat ski ratings to see how SSS fares against other mechanized backcountry operations.

Where is Selkirk Wilderness Skiing Located?

Selkirk Snowcat Skiing is located in the southeast corner of British Columbia in the Kootenay region, an area renowned for plentiful dry snow. The meeting place is in the little town of Meadow Creek at the north end of Kootenay Lake, about 100km north of Nelson and about 160km southeast of Revelstoke. From Meadow Creek, guests are transported up the mountain via snowcat to the SWS backcountry lodge.

There are a few gateway airports for Selkirk Snowcat Skiing. From Spokane International Airport (Washington, U.S.) it’s possible to rent a car and drive to Meadow Creek (5-6 hour drive). Castlegar Airport is closer and is serviced by Air Canada Jazz with daily flights from Vancouver and Calgary. From the airport there are shuttle services to Nelson, and then SSS can arrange transport up to Meadow Creek. The disadvantage of using “Cancel-gar airport” is that flights are commonly cancelled because they don’t have sophisticated systems to aid landing in low visibility conditions. With either of these airports, you could do a stop-over for a couple of days for a warm up ski at Whitewater or Red Mountain.

The other option is Kelowna airport, a 5 hour drive from Meadow Creek. En-route you could stop in at Revelstoke Mountain Resort for a few days to warm-up.


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Terrain for Cat Skiing BC

Legend has it that Allan Drury was very considered in his quest to find the perfect spot for powder skiing – a protected area to “refrigerate” the snow and terrain with lovely fall line and plenty of diversity. It seems that he found the right location as the snow and terrain are an absolute highlight of this cat ski operation.

The Selkirk Snowcat Skiing area receives over 15 metres of snowfall annually, so there are frequent top ups of fresh snow and at times you might need to use your snorkel! With the cold temps, it’s generally light fluffy “blower powder”; an absolute dream to ski or snowboard.

The generous snowfall combined with 7,800 hectares of terrain ensures there are plenty of opportunities for fresh tracks. The terrain includes bowls, chutes and tree skiing, with plenty of variety with regards to tree spacing. SWS has gentle easy terrain (which is utilized during the special introductory programs), exceptional terrain for advanced riders, as well as steep and challenging slopes for experts.

Each day includes 8 to 12 runs with 12,000 to 18,000 vertical feet (3,658 – 5,486 metres) of blissful skiing or boarding.

Selkirk Wilderness Skiing, Cat Skiing Review

The Powderhounds took a magic carpet ride on a snowcat and reviewed the Selkirk Wilderness Skiing cat ski operation. Essentially SWS are the gold standard of cat ski operations that others try to imitate, and as such we have rated them with 5 out of 5 paws overall!

SWS has a lot of repeat customers, some of which have visited more than 20 times. More than half of their guests have skied with them for 10 years or more. This loyalty speaks volumes for the quality of this cat ski operation.

Of course even though we (and many others) think that Selkirk Wilderness Skiing is an extraordinary operation, no company is absolutely perfect for everyone. Our review covers different aspects of their operation and hopefully you can determine if SWS is likely to align with your priorities. As a guide to the ratings below, a 5/5 equates to absolutely phenomenal, 4/5 is excellent, whilst 3/5 is still a very good score. You can check out our cat ski ratings to see how Selkirk Wilderness Skiing fares against other mechanized backcountry operations.

Pros
  • The fabulously diverse terrain is a highlight of SWS cat skiing. 
  • There are lots of runs with “perfect” fall line. Without compromising on safety, this enables guests to spread out a little horizontally so that even the last pair of the group gets freshies! 
  • Selkirk Wilderness Skiing is a very polished operation. I guess they’ve had since 1975 to perfect the experience, and in that time they’ve managed to get the combination of a relaxed culture and professionalism just right. The staff are absolutely fantastic and they provide a feeling of family. They create a welcoming atmosphere that results in plenty of friendly banter. 
  • SWS has gorgeous snow. It’s a fridge magnet! In case you’re wondering what’s so gorgeous about a fridge magnet, this is the combination of being a powder magnet with abundant snowfall, and the snow being refrigerated by nearby glaciers, which generally keeps the powder in pristine condition. Gorgeous! 
  • There is a major focus on safety considerations. Safety briefings and other risk management strategies are really well done. 
  • There’s a good chance you’ll get plenty of vertical in each day. The cat track system is efficient, it’s only a short cat ride up from the lodge to the first run, and you can ski back to the lodge at the end of the day.
Cons
  • SWS is located in a remote area so it’s a bit of an effort to get there. However for some, part of the attraction is to completely get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.  
  • This is not one of the cheapest operators in the business. This cat skiing is not suited to powderhounds on a budget, but rather discerning powderhounds who are seeking a quality experience.

Powder Snow
The powder gods look down on SWS very kindly. Like all ski areas, they sometimes get warm temps and dry spells, but the odds are definitely stacked in their favour. The SWS area receives 15 metres of snowfall per season on average, and as a general rule the powder is very dry thanks to high elevation, cold temperatures and the “fridge effect” of the location. The terrain is large and has lots of aspects so the guide can find good snow, and with minimal winds, the alpine snow is generally not wind affected.
Overall Terrain
The terrain at SWS absolutely rocks! It’rsquo;s obvious that Allan Drury put a lot of time and thought into selecting the little piece of paradise, and the operation has had since 1975 to perfect any glading requirements.

There’s no sense of déjà vu from one run to the next. Lines range from mellow to extreme and there’s sooooo much variety with regards to the type of terrain which includes the full gamut of delights. It’s reasonably large at 7,800 hectares, the terrain has lots of different aspects, and you get lots of vertical per day.

SWS has lots of wide fall line runs, so without compromising on safety, the guides can allow guests to spread out somewhat horizontally across the slope so that everyone gets freshies. This obviously doesn’t apply to all the terrain, but we were impressed that we could be the last to ski down and often still ski the coveted virgin snow.
Alpine Terrain
SWS has a good range of alpine terrain of varying pitches including big bowls, chutes, and other features. The alpine vertical isn’t particularly long (as is common with a lot of cat skiing) before it morphs into sub-alpine and then tree skiing.

Even with moderate avalanche risk they are able to access much of this alpine terrain due to the shape of the terrain and the ability to select ridges and other “safe” slopes.
Tree Skiing
The tree skiing is absolutely stupendous! The diversity is what makes it so special. Many of the trees are moderately spaced, some are a little tight, and there are some open meadows where you rip it up kamikaze style! There are big trees, little Xmas trees, cliffs amongst the trees, pillow lines, cushions, mushrooms, quarter pipes, and variability in the pitch. You could never get bored!

Strong Intermediate Terrain


There are some sparsely vegetated mellow slopes and some reasonably short runs that could be tackled by strong intermediate skiers and snowboarders, and those without powder skiing experience. SWS runs two specific programs during the season for powderhounds on their “L plates”. Intermediates should book into these and not participate in the standard program; not because the staff wouldn’t be welcoming, but because the other guests might be rather annoyed if they’re held back from hitting the challenging slopes.
Advanced Terrain
This scores full marks, once again for the huge variation in both alpine and tree skiing.
Expert & Extreme Terrain
The SWS terrain has a little bit of a reputation as being “soft”. This rep is definitely not warranted and the terrain is far from lame.

Firstly for experts there are lots of steeps; both below the treeline and in alpine chutes. Some of the steep pitches are only short before they peter out, but they’ll definitely keep an expert challenged. The varied features such as toadstools, pillows and little drop-offs also keep things really interesting and get the adrenaline going.

The terrain also has accessible pillow lines and cliff bands for those with an extreme bent, where you can leap to your heart’s content.

Like most cat skiing operations, the ability to tackle the tricky terrain is somewhat reliant on snowpack stability and largely dependent on the standard of the group. If you have an affinity for a lot of extreme hucking, try to pull together a group of like-minded ski animals and request an extra special cliff tour.
Guiding
Many of the guides have worked at SWS for over 10 years so they know the terrain incredibly well and all its little nuances. This level of local experience helps them tailor the run choice appropriately and find the best snow quality possible. The guides provide clear instructions regarding avalanche risk and appropriate lines to take, and the tail guides do a great job of keeping track of everyone.

On some days other staff come out cat skiing, and whilst some of them don’t have formal guiding qualifications, they contribute to additional tail guiding and safety aspects.

The guides have plenty of personality which adds to the whole experience.
Snowcat
Selkirk Wilderness Skiing has the perfect setup for a snowcat cabin. If any other cat ski operator wants to know the ultimate way to set up a snowcat cabin, they should look at the SWS cats. All seats face forwards (except the “jump seats”), there are great storage options for drinks and other paraphernalia, comfortable pleather seats, and a heater. The cabin is spacious and insulated, and the seats are not too high as to prevent socialisation. The steps out the back make it easier and safer for guests to get in and out, and the cat tracks can have spikes on them so it can travel faster.

The efficient cat track system also helps with speed so you can get plenty of vertical in. They have four snowcats with cabins, but only use two and have two as a backup.
Avalanche Mitigation Strategies
As is somewhat commonplace across the well established BC cat skiing operators, the emphasis on safety is very evident. They put significant effort into avalanche risk management and other safety considerations, and make sure all these aspects are very evident to guests. They use blasting sometimes but not routinely, and use slope selection as a primary strategy. They actively utilise local avalanche forecasting, have morning and afternoon guide meetings, undertake onsite slope testing and take pride in the qualifications and experience of their guides. All guests are provided with a radio and a backpack with a shovel and probe.
Safety Briefing
Safety as a priority is also apparent with the comprehensive briefing provided. A structured briefing is provided and no aspects of backcountry hazards are glossed over. The tutorial includes plenty of opportunity for questions. A practical application session covers radio, avalanche beacon, probe and shovel use, and an orientation to safety equipment (e.g. sled, oxygen) within the snowcat is provided.
Frills
They’ve got all the necessary trimmings covered. A range of snacks are provided throughout the day including healthy things such as fruit and vegies, and treats such as yummy slices. Lunch includes rolls, wraps or croissants with gourmet fillings. The culinary delights are a surprise package each day. Your taste buds definitely won’t get bored!

SWS rent out a range of quality powder skis and snowboards, so you’ll be able to feel like a legend out on the snow. This legendary behaviour can be captured on “film” via their photographer who heads out some days. He sets up really quickly and won’t interfere with the flow of the run, unless of course you get too much Kodak courage! A slide show of the pics is shown in the evening.
Accommodation
The common areas of the lodge are delightful. There are various areas to hang out depending on your mood, but commonly you’ll be drawn to the bar area for a chitchat with your old or new found friends. The welcoming nature of the staff and the other guests is exceptional, and you’ll definitely feel right at home. And the food is so superb that you’ll want to make this place your home permanently!

The accommodation end of the lodge has more of an emphasis on simplicity than luxury, which suits the culture of the operation. It doesn’t matter that some of the rooms are rather plain, because the only time you’re likely to spend in your room is to zzzzzz. The range of room configurations is a major plus, and it’s possible to stay in a single room, twin room, or king room. The comfort of the beds and bedding is also fantastic. One shortcoming is that there are no ensuite bathrooms, just lots of communal washrooms, but they provide lovely fluffy bathrobes to wear.
Value for Money
At SWS you get outstanding quality, but this does not come cheaply and powder skis or snowboards are not included in the package. Many guests will have to get a rental car to get to Meadow Creek, which also adds to the cost. See our Canada cat skiing cost comparison to get an idea of how the rates for SWS fare against other operators.

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.

The photos and video (on this page) has not been filmed using professional riders; they aim to show an example of a real experience. 

Simply the Best

14/02/2013

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  • Recommend
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  • Rider Age
    36-50
  • Rider Ability
    Expert
  • Admin Rating
    5

Simply the Best

14/02/2013
Powderhounds Selkirk Wilderness Skiing Review
This was our second visit and we still think that Selkirk Wilderness Skiing provides the finest overall cat skiing experience. It has an outstanding mix of terrain, superb snow, and experienced guides, and staying at the lodge is just delightful.

In chatting to cat skiers at a few other BC cat skiing outfits, it appears that SWS has an unwarranted reputation for a few things, which is why these cat skiers have never visited SWS. It’s great that these naïve folks are not enlightened because it means that the rest of us have a better chance of booking into a precious calendar opening!

Firstly the terrain has a rep for being for “girls” ie a bit soft. Considering this is a safe cat skiing operation, I won’t get into the dangerous debate of whether chicks can ski or not! More importantly the terrain is definitely not tame nor lame, and it could easily put the best to shame (Seth Morrison being one example!). Sure it has some mellow slopes, but there are plenty of steeps and tasty features for air-time, as well as a variety of terrain for experts.

SWS also has a reputation for being luxurious. This is partially true. The service is 5 star. There’s nearly one staff member to each guest, and they seem to think of everything. The food is also outstanding. The accommodations (ie the bedrooms) are not that super deluxe and the lodge doesn’t attract folks who want to be pampered. If you’re looking for that, go to Island Lake cat skiing.

Some people also think SWS is just for old timers. Sure there are some older folk, but rest assured they’ll tell better jokes than you and rip your legs off! What’s impressive about Selkirk Wilderness is that it attracts a mix of ages that includes youngsters, the young at heart who pretend to be youngsters (that’s me!), middle aged dudes, and retirees, and everyone gets along famously. The culture is beautiful and the feeling of family is what makes this place unique and special.

As an all-rounder, this cat skiing business is exceptional. See our Selkirk Wilderness Skiing review for more information about why we think this cat skiing is so good.
See our video here

Selkirk Wilderness Skiing

Jeff Sweet
11/02/2013
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Rider Type
    Skier
  • Rider Age
    51-65
  • Rider Ability
    Advanced
  • Country
    USA
  • Admin Rating
    5

Selkirk Wilderness Skiing

Jeff Sweet
11/02/2013
Jeff Sweet at  Selkirk Wilderness Skiing Review
Wow!! I've skied all over the Rockies for more than 35 years and the five days I skied at Selkirk were by far the best. The lodge, terrain and snow redefined my thoughts about epic skiing. From my first online contact with the folks at Selkirk to the final trip down to Meadow Creek on the last day, my experience was nothing but fantastic.

SWS provided excellent communication prior my visit. There were no surprises and everything was clearly explained. The lodge is wonderful and it didn't take long for it to feel like home. The staff were friendly, helpful and truely created a family atmosphere. The food was five star and there was plenty to eat.

Monday morning started with a yoga class and was followed by breakfast. Then the ski guides carefully and thoughtfully instucted us on a variety of safty procedures, including the proper use of the avalanche beacon, two way radio, avalanche probe and correctly using a shovel. In addition to the beacon and radio, every skier is given a backpack with a probe and shovel. Each skier had to practice avalanche procedures with a hidden beacon.

Now the fun begins! Selkirk uses two cats that are comfortable and don't make you feel like a sardine. The guides are experienced and in no time at all you feel like friends. The mountains had recieved no snow for a couple days and it was sunny. But the guides found plenty of soft snow on the north facing slopes and in the trees. The conditions weren't perfect Monday and Tuesday, but by most standards it was outstanding. Then the clouds came in and it began to snow, a lot. Face shots, white room, pow skiing,,,whatever you want to call it, it was incredible. After the first day of skiing, the other skiers in the cat felt like long time friends. After several days of deep powder skiing, we were exchanging addresses and planning our next trip. Even the guides, who ski all the time, were having a blast.

The terrain surrounding the lodge is huge, diverse and the mountains are incredibly beautiful. Selkirk provides skiing off open bowls on high peaks along with tree and chute skiing. Putting endless turns together, in an open bowl, in deep snow was great. Follow that with endless turns through the trees and you have a magical run. Every run gives you a variety. The guides were careful and attentive and made my experience something I'll always remember. Along with the staff and guides, it was a pleasure to meet so many other like minded skiers from around the world. I had a lot of fun and I'm scheduled again for next year.
See our video here

Wow!

Jenni Ryan
10/02/2013
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Rider Type
    Skier
  • Rider Age
    51-65
  • Rider Ability
    Advanced
  • Country
    USA
  • Admin Rating
    5

Wow!

Jenni Ryan
10/02/2013
Jenny Ryan at  Selkirk Wilderness Skiing Review
I hadn't done any research, I was asked by friends to join them at SWS. I have done other cat skiing and heli skiing that was fabulous, but this was an amazing week! The terrain is what really wowed me. Every run had a wide open bowl at the top, which is my version of heaven; then dropped into nicely gladed trees, which had even deeper snow. Does it get better than that?

The lodge had a very friendly atmosphere along with everything you need after a day of skiing. The people who worked there, from the guides to the kitchen staff, were excellent at their jobs and genuinely happy that I was spending the week with them! Since everyone who was there had the same passion for powder, it was easy to make new friends.

The pace of cat skiing is more relaxing than heli and we got plenty of runs in every day. The hot tea with cookies in the cat was an added touch of class!

I've booked for next year and hope that there's room for all the friends who heard me rave about SWS!
See our video here

This is what you are looking for

John Rowland
07/02/2013
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Rider Type
    Skier
  • Rider Age
    51-65
  • Rider Ability
    Advanced
  • Country
    New Zealand
  • Admin Rating
    5

This is what you are looking for

John Rowland
07/02/2013
Ed Rotthoff Selkirk Wilderness Skiing Review
I first read about SWS on the Powderhounds.com website and decided to go there based on the recommendation.

While there we skied with Greg and Lyndell from Powderhounds and they asked me to post a review. My initial thoughts were why would I, it is hard enough to get a spot, there is no need to make it harder! Rereading the reviews already here I figure the raving has already started so I may as well add my 2 cents worth.

We arrived in a snow drought, not having snowed for 10 days prior to arrival. We were nervous about how skiable the terrain would be after skiing at Valhalla snow cats 2 days prior after a wind event and it was scratchy to say the least. Our guide Kevin worked very hard to find us good fresh lines each run and the skiing was good considering the conditions. Then the drought broke and we had had the full noise SWS experience, and it is the powder experience we have been looking for.

Excellent terrain with open bowls and tree skiing that is the equal of any I have skied anywhere. I am no longer looking for the best place to ski, I have booked for next year.

The people here are excellent hosts, the lodge is a proper ski lodge, the food is excellent.

Just do it
See our video here

The Best

Papajaws
07/02/2013
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Rider Type
    Skier
  • Rider Age
    36-50
  • Rider Ability
    Expert

The Best

Papajaws
07/02/2013
This place is great. The skiing is amazing. Good steeps, and always plenty of deeps.
See our video here

A 'Must Do' experience for any skier or rider.

Ed Rotthoff
06/02/2013
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Rider Type
    Skier
  • Rider Age
    36-50
  • Rider Ability
    Expert
  • Country
    USA
  • Admin Rating
    5

A 'Must Do' experience for any skier or rider.

Ed Rotthoff
06/02/2013
Ed Rotthoff Selkirk Wilderness Skiing Review

 

 I asked a worldly friend, "where would you pick as the one place you must go for a lodge based cat ski".
His answer without hesitation was SWS.

I booked the next week, after a year of patient waiting the trip is completed. These are my personal observations.

I am not including lots of vivid details, these should be discovered by guests, it was SO GOOD to get pleasantly surprised in every way despite expectations and research as a 'rookie' on this SWS trip.

In summary:

Every aspect of the guest experience is completely 'dialed in' to enable you to have the skiing or riding trip of a lifetime.

The conditions, and the terrain are 'All Time' for pros or joes. But the overall experience ensures that even the best sliding moments of ones life will become just a part of the week long journey.

Superlatives cannot describe the week. But i'll attempt to be helpful with some questions. Do you want to take skiing and riding to a new level, Do you want to establish a new 'All Time' line, or moment on skis or your board, Do you want to have the best time, every day, on some of the best terrain and conditions you will face in north america. Do you want to meet some of the coolest people, staff and guests, you will come upon in your lifetime. If one or more of these are so, just go.

I have structured my life and travels around skiing and riding, this is one of those trips that will stick with you.
Its not a surprise after the trip to come to understand that our week had 75% of the guests who were over 15 year SWS veterans, and many with over 20 years.

After this trip, I can encourage any rider with confidence. what you might be looking quite hard for, what you might be waiting quite patiently for, it's right there, right now at SWS!
See our video here

Best ever

Mark Verbiest
27/01/2013
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Rider Type
    Skier
  • Rider Age
    51-65
  • Rider Ability
    Advanced
  • Country
    New Zealand
  • Admin Rating
    4

Best ever

Mark Verbiest
27/01/2013
Mark at SWS

Have just had a week @ SW. OUTSTANDING is the only way to describe it. The terrain is first rate- steep, light, dry and deep powder with alpine to glades on every run (drop offs galore which you are encouraged to do if into jumping), expert and fun guides who have all been there a long time.

The lodge has a great atmosphere- lots of laughs and the staff could not be more helpful and friendly. In the other cat, some of the skiers had been returning for 17 years!! Have already booked for next year. Powderhounds.com rating sold the destination and we were not disappointed. Tx
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Selkirk Wilderness Cat Skiing

Bob Legasa
21/10/2012
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Rider Type
    Skier
  • Rider Age
    51-65
  • Rider Ability
    Expert
  • Country
    USA
  • Admin Rating
    5

Selkirk Wilderness Cat Skiing

Bob Legasa
21/10/2012
Bob Lagesa Selkirk Wilderness Skiing Review Selkirk Wilderness cat skiing was the firstever cat skiing operations and it was the brainchild of Alan Drury a man known for living life to the fullest. Allan has since passed away but he and his wife Brenda built a legacy opening up Selkirk Wilderness Catskiing 37 years ago. Located in Meadow Creek, British Columbia which happens to fall smack dab in the middle of the infamous Selkirk Mountain range.

With over 600 inches of annual snowfall and mind blowing terrain it’s no wonder they choose this zone. Selkirk’s tenure is as big as Vail, Aspen, Whistler, Blackcomb all combined and this mixed in with some of the best tree skiing around taking your adventure to the next level, OVER THE TOP! SWS Guides like Jason Remple who’s been guiding guests around the SWS tenure for 19 years will put you on the money. So you like it little more open, ask Jason and he’ll show you plenty of big wide open bowls and faces to shred. Myself I live for the fun, steep pillowed zones that are common throughout their tenure. C’mon who doesn’t love getting a little air and landing in the deep freshies?

Des at SWS The SWS lodge is huge and it was designed with their guests in mind. It definitely has that down home comfortable feel when you return after a long day of shredding the pow. For those with some tired muscles, take a soak in the outdoor tub or kick back with a cold Kokanne in the après bar and game room. Food is top notch with plenty of it and the rooms, big, warm and comfy.

Over the years there have been a lot of changes at SWS but the Drury’s original vision have held steadfast as one of the premiere cat skiing destinations in the world. This place has the history, the vibe and more important the terrain.
See our video here

Nirvana on Skis

Patricia Clapp
11/11/2011
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Rider Type
    Skier
  • Rider Ability
    Advanced
  • Admin Rating
    2

Nirvana on Skis

Patricia Clapp
11/11/2011
Skied SWS for ten years, with a few extra weeks thrown in for pure pleasure. Loved it, still love it, but am now leaving it for the younger crowd while I shred every bit of powder I can at my local hill.

Great Memories of Wonderful White Wilderness Weeks there!
See our video here

Awesome

Karma Halleran
05/11/2011
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Rider Type
    Skier
  • Rider Age
    36-50
  • Rider Ability
    Intermediate
  • Admin Rating
    1

Awesome

Karma Halleran
05/11/2011
Don't know what else to say....snow lovers can fill in the blanks...AWESOME!!
See our video here

SWS Review

Jay
07/03/2011
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Rider Type
    Skier
  • Rider Age
    36-50
  • Rider Ability
    Advanced
  • Admin Rating
    2

SWS Review

Jay
07/03/2011
Triple AAA operation. Staff at all levels are experts at what they do: customer service, safety, and attention to detail.

Terrain is off the hook - open bowls, narrow chutes, tight trees, glades - it's all accessible, challenging, and fun.
See our video here

The Original and the Best

16/07/2010

POWDERHOUNDS.COM

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  • Admin Rating
    4

The Original and the Best

16/07/2010
Go cat skiing with Selkirk Wilderness Skiing and you may become snow-vanistic for the rest of your life. When Alan Drury picked out the spot for the first-ever cat skiing operation he did an amazing job. The snow falls in huge volumes and then gets “refrigerated”, and the diversity in terrain is incredible. And with over 35 years to refine the terrain, the operators have gladed some areas to perfection.

Pros of SWS: quality and quantity of the snow; variety in terrain; a well organised operation; outstanding attention to safety aspects; a comfortable and powerful snowcat; fantastic staff; and lots of culinary delights.

The only con is that Selkirk Wilderness Skiing is based in Meadow Creek and is not particularly close to major airports so it takes a while to get there. However many people are happy to make the journey as this is all part of the amazing powder odyssey.

SWS offers the ultimate in cat skiing – become empowdered!
See our video here
Selkirk Snowcat Skiing Packages
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Selkirk Snowcat Skiing DETAILS
Price p/p From price based on 6 nights twin/double-share room and 5 days cat skiing in high season 24/25.
Base/invoice currency is in CAD ex taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
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SELKIRK SNOWCAT SKIING
6 Nights/5 Days or 3 Nights/3Days

Location: Canada | Tour Focus: Guided | Terrain Focus: Backcountry
Ability: Strong Intermediate to Expert
Price p/p From price based on 6 nights twin/double-share room and 5 days cat skiing in high season 24/25.
Base/invoice currency is in CAD ex taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
Enquire Enquire
The Selkirk Classic package includes 6 nights of lodging in the Selkirk Wilderness Lodge plus 5 days of cat skiing. The ultimate powder holiday starts on a Sunday afternoon and goes until Saturday morning. Shorter trips available during the fringes of the season. More
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Fixed Date(s)
Days
Price
Availability
Fixed Date(s): Dec 12 - Dec 21, 2024
Days: 10
Price: Enquire
Availability: Sold Out
Fixed Date(s): Dec 22 - Dec 27, 2024
Days: 6
Price: Enquire
Availability: Enquire
Fixed Date(s): Dec 27 - Feb 26, 2025
Days: 62
Price: Enquire
Availability: Sold Out
Future rates & dates are currently not yet available for this operator. Click here to enquire.
DETAILS
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