Skeena Cat Skiing

Overall Rating

Skeena Cat Skiing

Skeena Cat Skiing4.8/59
Skeena Cat Skiing4.8 out of 5 based on 9 reviews
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Skeena Cat Skiing
Skeena Cat Skiing
Not many steps to the snowcat each morning!
Not many steps to the snowcat each morning!
Skeena Cat Skiing backcountry base camp
Skeena Cat Skiing backcountry base camp
Plenty of wide open slopes
Plenty of wide open slopes
Skeena Cat Skiing Northern BC
Skeena Cat Skiing Northern BC
Plenty of terrain for fresh tracks
Plenty of terrain for fresh tracks
The top of many of the runs is pitchy
The top of many of the runs is pitchy
Staying at the base camp is very cool!
Staying at the base camp is very cool!
Skeena Cat Skiing Canada
Skeena Cat Skiing Canada
Plenty of beautiful slopes
Plenty of beautiful slopes
Lots of lightly treed terrain
Lots of lightly treed terrain
Skeena SnowCat Skiing Canada
Skeena SnowCat Skiing Canada
The guides are incredibly fun and professional (& enjoy themselves!)
The guides are incredibly fun and professional (& enjoy themselves!)
Skeena Cat Boarding
Skeena Cat Boarding
Skeena Cat Skiing Canada
Skeena Cat Skiing Canada
Powder skiing with Skeena
Powder skiing with Skeena
Skeena Cat Skiing
Skeena Cat Skiing
Skeena Cat Skiing
Skeena Cat Skiing
Skeena Cat Skiing
Skeena Cat Skiing
Skeena Cat Skiing
Skeena Cat Skiing

Skeena Cat Skiing

Overall Rating

Skeena Cat Skiing4.8/59
Skeena Cat Skiing4.8 out of 5 based on 9 reviews

Skeena Cat Skiing

Skeena Cat Skiing operates in Northern BC in Canada and offers an off-the-grid experience staying at a remote base camp in the mountains.

The cat skiing offers access to gorgeous deep powder, so head out with Skeena Cat Skiing and you’ll be skiing or boarding all the fresh powder you could ever fantasise about.

Base Camp Cat Skiing Packages

Whilst some other multi-day BC cat skiing outfits have luxury backcountry lodges (or somewhat rustic lodges), Skeena Cat Skiing is very unique because the backcountry lodging is at a remote base camp formed with large tents. It is incredibly cool! Open the tent door, step into the powder, and then wander 20 steps to the snowcat.

You may think that staying in tents is roughing it and whilst you won’t get pampered like at a luxury cat ski lodge, there are more creature comforts than you might expect for a camp. It’s not full-on glamping but there are tents with heating and power points, a heated shower block, boot dryers, nice meals, and professional massages on offer. A purr-ffect ending to a day of cat skiing in northern BC! Check out the Skeena Cat Skiing Backcountry Camp packages for more information.

If you are interested in more information or to book, you can make a booking request here.

Where is Skeena Cat Skiing Located?

The Skeena Cat Skiing is within the Babine Range of the Skeena Mountains in northern British Columbia Canada near Smithers. Smithers is home to the Hudson Bay Mountain Resort where you may want to warm up your legs prior to cat skiing (not open all weekdays).  

Skeena Cat Skiing is part of what the Powderhounds have dubbed the Northern Powder Highway, which is significantly less busy than the (southern) Powder Highway.

The easiest access to Smithers is via 1.5 hour flight from Vancouver. You can check out flight options here. Like other flights on medium size planes, you’ll want to take your boots as carry on luggage. 

The backcountry camp is up in the mountains at an elevation of about 1,200 metres. The quickest and most efficient way of getting to basecamp from Smithers airport is via helicopter (approx 30 mins). Helicopter access is available from mid Jan (as prior to this there are not enough daylight hours in the day to make this viable) to the end of the ski season. 

In the event that helicopter access isnt an option, access from the airport via heavy duty 4WD and snowcat, a trip that takes about 2.5 hours from the airport with a change-over from raod vehicles to snow vehicles at Suska Lodge.

You can really escape from the hubbub of the world considering the peacefully remote location of Skeena Cat Skiing in northern BC. It may seem a long way to go for cat skiing, but it’s reasonably quick to get to from Vancouver, and you don’t have the expense of a rental car. Compare this to some of the cat ski operations near Meadow Creek where you have to rent a car to drive yourself 5 to 6 hours from a major airport to the lodge.

If you really do love to drive long distances, you can drive to Suska Lodge which is:

  • 432km northwest of Prince George
  • 1,200km north of Vancouver
  • 154km northeast of Terrace (where there’s another regional airport)

Skeena Cat Skiing Snow & Terrain

Skeena Cat Ski Terrain

Skeena Cat Skiing operates on a portion of the second largest heli/cat skiing tenure in North America (30,000 ha), so there are plenty of fresh tracks to be had.

The terrain has a range of aspects and there’s plenty of north facing slopes. The terrain includes alpine powder bowls as well as steep open tree skiing. The terrain is diverse so it can cater to strong intermediates, but it’s best for advanced riders as well as expert skiers and boarders who want to play in amongst the varied terrain.

The elevation of the terrain ranges from about 1,760m down to approximately 1,200m or lower when temps are cold. The average vertical drop of the runs is about 1,200 feet (366 metres), with a typical day providing about 10 to 16 runs. Snow conditions and the speed of the group are factors that will dictate the amount of vertical skiing/snowboarding each day.

Each group has an experienced and qualified lead and tail guide, and you only have to share all the untouched snow with a maximum of 11 other guests.

Snow

The Skeena Mountains receive an abundance of snowfall, but even with all that powder an experience with Skeena Cat Skiing will just leave a powder hound panting for more!

The tenure has long been known as a crazy snow belt. The warm most Pacific air collides with the cold dry air from the interior to form perfect snow. The Skeena Mountains are east of the Coastal Mountains so they still get the big volumes of snow, yet the powder is dry relative to that of the Coastal Mountains.

The powder is sometimes bottomless and powder skis heighten the awesome feeling of floating. If you don’t have your own powder skis, Skeena Cat Skiing has a good range available to rent.

SKEENA CAT SKIING INC. ALL-INCLUSIVE PACKAGE TERMS AND CONDITIONS - Winter 2023

GENERAL TERMS & CONDITIONS


All-inclusive packages include hotel pick up (3 pm on the day before first ski date) and delivery back to the Smithers Airport or hotel after skiing on the last ski day, all meals, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, lodging at the Backcountry Base Camp, full days of cat skiing, one guide for every 6 guests, use of a transceiver and a transceiver lesson (on first ski date), emergency medical and evacuation insurance. Packages do NOT include equipment rental, alcoholic beverages, transfers outside of the scheduled pick up and delivery times, travel and cancellation insurance, taxes. In the event of circumstances beyond the control of Skeena Cat Skiing Inc., at the Backcountry Base Camp, Skeena Cat Skiing Inc. reserves the right to cancel a ski day or days as per Paragraph below Cancellation by Skeena Cat Skiing Inc. Transfers outside the scheduled pick up and delivery times are not allowed. In the event, that a transfer outside the scheduled times is required, the guest will pay all associated costs.

RESERVATION OF SKI DATES


To secure a reservation, each guest must fill out the online Registration form. Once the deposit of 25% of the full package price is received by Skeena Cat Skiing Inc., your trip is booked! Deposits must be paid by credit card and the remaining balance of 75% of the full package price by October 15. After October 15, the balance payable will be charged to your credit card.

RELEASE OF LIABILITY


Every guest is required to sign a Release of Liability form before skiing commences. A SAMPLE form can be downloaded here. Skeena Cat Skiing Inc. strongly suggests that you read and understand the Release of Liability before you arrive for your cat skiing trip.

CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS


Ski packages are for specific dates and are fully transferrable to another person(s). There are no refunds, either total or partial for any unused services.

Cancellation by guest: If a guest cancels prior to October 15, the deposit amount will be refunded by Skeena Cat Skiing Inc. less an admin fee. If a guest cancels after October 15,the full amount paid will be retained by Skeena Cat Skiing Inc. and Skeena will try to reserve your spot to another guest, your payment will be applied to a future booking less and given discount.

TRAVEL AND CANCELLATION INSURANCE

Skeena Cat Skiing Inc. strongly suggests that guests purchase trip cancellation insurance. See travel insurance options here >>

Powderhounds' Review

This review was conducted in 2017 and information in italics outlines elements that have since changed and/or improved.

Our trip to the backcountry camp of Skeena Cat Skiing was a major highlight of our 2 month recon trip to Canada and Alaska. It was soooo much fun! Skeena Cat Skiing is a far cry from some of those extravagant heli and cat ski operations, where you may feel like you’re sitting around at a posh private school alumni gathering with your blazer and tie on. This is not a refined operation – it’s delightfully raw and wild. Don’t worry - everything’s well organised, incredibly safe and there are adequate creature comforts, but the fun crew are soooo relaxed (lead by owner Jevon who seems to laugh constantly and curse nearly as much!). With the team’s influence and considering the fabulously remote location, it’s impossible not to fully unwind too. I think it’s the most relaxed I’ve felt in a long time!

Of course even though we had an absolutely fabulous time at Skeena Cat Skiing, this adventure may not be ideal for everyone. Our review covers different aspects of their operation so you can determine if Skeena Cat Skiing is likely to align with your priorities. It’s our job to critique even the smallest potential shortcoming and we don’t provide full marks for everything. 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 Skeena Cat Skiing fares against other mechanized backcountry operations.

Pros
  • Skeena Cat Skiing base camp is an amazingly unique experience. And the camp has adequate heating, amenities and frills that even a soft woman like me was more than happy (ecstatic actually)!
  • Inexpensive relative to other Canada cat skiing with remote lodging (particularly in high season).
  • You don’t need to rent a car.
  • The service levels are very high and Jevon and all the staff have a very diverse set of skills.
  • Whilst some of the well known BC cat skiing operations are sold out for the following season by March or April, it’s relatively easy to book into Skeena Cat Skiing. The profile of Skeena is likely to increase quickly, so this pro might not last for long!
Cons
  • Despite all the trimmings, it’s still a form of camping and if you’re seeking sophisticated lavish accommodation, then this is not for you.
  • It’s a long trip from the main highway to the base camp in a 4WD and snowcat, but this sort of emphasises how special it is to be completely away from it all  
  • True tree skiing terrain is somewhat limited.
Pro or Con Depending On Your Perspective
  • Not everyone likes to head outside to the outhouse in the middle of the night but if this bothers you, you’ll undoutbedly sort out your own system for this (all tents now have porta potty toilets)
Powder Snow
The mountains are well located not too far away from the coast so it gets plenty of precipitation, but far enough away so the quality of the powder isn’t wet. There’s no cited statistic for the amount of snowfall received on average, but it’s a mighty lot. The area is renowned for being in a very reliable snowbelt.

A warm spell had hit all of BC when we visited, and like most BC cat skiing outfits, they don’t have the option of going really high into the alpine to get away from the crusty snow. And Skeena Cat Skiing doesn’t have a lot of tree skiing so there isn’t much terrain that’s protected from the sun and wind. Thankfully it snowed every day whilst we were there, so the snow quality progressively got better and better until it was divine. It wasn’t waist deep but fluffy enough to have a really fun time!
Overall Terrain
The tenure is rather large so the guides have plenty of slopes and aspects to choose from, and to ensure fresh tracks (at least for most of the run). Skeena Cat Skiing has some very impressive terrain, particularly up high where the slopes are delightfully steep without being ridiculously scary.

The usual run length is shorter than some of the other BC cat skiing operators, and is more typical of that of US cat skiing. The cited average vertical drop per run is about 1,200 feet (366 metres), yet our runs were shorter than this (285m on average), probably due to the previous warm temps. Personally I don’t mind short runs, but it contributes to reduced efficiency and less daily vertical which was evident in our daily stats. If you’re one of those folks that seek quantity and not just quality, you might want to go heli skiing or get in very early with one of the big cat ski operations.

(More terrain has been opened up in the alpine and tree skiing zones)
Alpine Terrain
Like most cat skiing operations, Skeena doesn’t have true high elevation alpine terrain, but more sub-alpine slopes with smatterings of trees. This terrain is the forte of Skeena Cat Skiing. When I first looked at it, the powder hound in me just started drooling.

Many of the runs started with a lovely steep pitch of medium length before it benched out and the trees thickened a little. Whilst there weren’t really couloirs or the like, or many cliff lines, there’s enough variety for most advanced and expert riders.
Tree Skiing
Tree skiing is a small limitation of Skeena Cat Skiing. Unlike Selkirk Snowcat Skiing that started in 1975 and has had decades to glade the trees, Skeena Cat Skiing is a newbie and will need more time to perfect some of the runs with a chainsaw.

The “tree skiing” where the vegetation was sparse was great, but as we got further down, the trees were very tight and not naturally gladed, and the only egress was via narrow naturally cleared gullies. There definitely wasn’t enough space for fresh tracks for 4 guests let alone 12.

(Skeena now has an annual brushing and glading program. Many areas have now been gladed, which has opened up lower runs)

Strong Intermediate Terrain


Skeena Cat Skiing has lots of terrain ideal for intermediates. Particularly if the snowcat did short runs in the mid zones, there are mellow bowls and gentle meadows with only sporadic trees. Ideally you’d need to book your own private cat with other strong intermediate riders, otherwise the expert riders might not be too happy with you!
Advanced Terrain
Skeena Cat Skiing has fantastic advanced terrain with a combination of open steeps, and more mellow meadows and light trees. If the tree skiing was more open lower down, the terrain would score full marks.
Expert & Extreme Terrain
When the snow pack is reasonably stable there are lots of steep pitches for bombing down. It’s not Alaska-type heli skiing terrain though, as it doesn’t have an abundance of cliffs and rock features, but there are plenty of things to huck off and some pillow lines.
Guiding
We felt very confident in the guides’ abilities, and great teamwork was evident between the lead and tail guide. They provided clear and concise instructions, and communicated hazards without over-doing it. For example, they always let us know if we were about to cross a cat track and re-grouped appropriately. There weren’t any powder pigs in our group, but it was still nice that the tail guide provided some direction regarding taking turns.

And whilst not essential to being a great guide, they were loads of fun which added to the stoke levels of everyone!
Cat
The snowcat was pretty impressive and the layout of the cabin was ideal for cat skiing with back steps, all forward facing seats, great views from the top seats, and a very sociable set up. The snowcat cabin fit out is something that will probably evolve with time. There were no hooks, water bottle holders or storage features, so it was hard to leave anything in the cat without it flying around and ending up on the floor on the trip down.

(Skeena has added two Pisten Bully snowcats which provide larger room inside for comfort and storage and the ride is smoother and faster.)
Avalanche Mitigation Strategies
The guides dug various pits and communicated with guests about their decision-making and why we were to ski one aspects versus another. The guides were full time so it was easy for them to know the intricate history of the snowpack during the season, and despite not needing to handover to other guides they were still meticulous with their note taking and meetings.

There aren’t a lot of mechanized backcountry operators in the region to share avo info with, but they communicated well with Skeena Heli regarding conditions and slides.

A radio and backpack with a shovel and probe was provided to some guests, but not all.

(All guests are provided with a radio and a backpack with shovel and probe)
Safety Briefing
The safety briefing was efficient and very good but it didn’t cover all aspects that are covered by some other operators, such as shovelling and probing techniques and backcountry hazards such as tree wells. What to do in the event of witnessing an avalanche wasn’t covered particularly well.

(Skeena has updated the safety briefing including the addition of a safety video).
Frills
Skeena Cat Skiing provided the essentials but not a fully luxurious experience, which is in line with what we’d expected for this operation. Lunch consisted of a nice roll and fruit, and chocolate bars and muesli bars were available for snacks. There was no hot soup, tea or coffee, and no home made slices or nibbles. Water bottles were provided but a texta to write names on them would have been handy considering they ended up on the floor after every run.

Other frills included a good range of rental skis, transport from the airport, and massage services. An official photography service wasn’t provided, but our tail guide was a professional snowboard photographer and was happy to share some pics with guests.

(Lunches and snacks have been upgraded)
Accommodation
It’s hard to rate a base camp against some of the luxury backcountry lodges of heli and cat operations that would score full marks. It definitely wasn’t extravagant accommodation, but it was incredibly unique and felt pretty special. Surprisingly there were lots of creature comforts despite it being a camp, such as boot dryers and a massage service. It was also pleasantly surprising to find that not only did the shower have hot water, but the shower building was also heated. Our spacious tent had a proper door and was well insulated and warm.

The food was very nice without being epicurean (the dessserts were particularly yummy!) and there was a small range of alcohol available for purchase (you could also BYO if you had something special you wanted to drink).

The internet service was only intermittent and when it was working it was very very slow – pretty much what you’d expect for being out in the middle of nowhere.

The lodging scores extra points for the high levels of service. The staff all pitched in but the manager in particular was a very busy bee serving drinks, meals, and shovelling snow to make nice paths to the tents and out house.
Value for Money
Similarly, it’s hard to compare value for money for a remote camp versus luxury lodging. It’s obvious that a lot of work goes into forming and maintaining the camp, so it wasn’t surprising that the dirt cheap prices of the 2017 season have been raised a little for 2018. Nevertheless, Skeena still remains one of the least expensive of the Canada cat ski operators with remote lodging during high season.

Other add-ons were inexpensive such as ski rentals and alcohol (and being able to BYO some alcohol certainly keeps costs down).

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. You can also look at the readers’ reviews of Skeena Cat Skiing Base Camp for other perspectives.

Skeena Cat 2020

Charley Traylor
09/02/2020
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Rider Type
    Snowboarder
  • Rider Age
    36-50
  • Rider Ability
    Advanced
  • Country
    United States
  • Admin Rating
    4

Skeena Cat 2020

Charley Traylor
09/02/2020
The Skeena Catskiing experience is exceptional. Basecamp may be no frills but the terrain is deluxe, powder is deeply plush and staff are genuine. We stayed for 3 nights and skied 3 days and I don’t think I could have skied another run I was so exhausted after 13K vert/day. (Would highly recommend renting a powder specific board from the ski shop in Smithers.) Staying at basecamp meant we were on the first run each morning within 10 minutes of leaving camp in the cat.

Guides are diligent about keeping it moving and want to get max runs in each day. The guides worked hard to open new terrain on the last day. Each day it snowed and it just got deeper and deeper. As a snowboarder I appreciated the solid fall lines to get out and that most runs ended right on a road so I felt confident I wouldn’t get too far off track if I wanted to explore.

The most unexpected experience of the trip was the interaction with the unpretentious Skeena staff. They are obviously integral to keeping the operation running, but their grit, determination and enthusiasm for what they are creating in the B.C. backcountry is inspiring. We researched a lot of catski places but chose Skeena because it is the furthest north, reports the coldest temps and moisture is always around.
See our video here

Way Cool!

30/04/2017

POWDERHOUNDS.COM

Powderhounds Ambassador
Powderhounds Ambassador

POWDERHOUNDS.COM

Powderhounds Ambassador
Powderhounds Ambassador
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Rider Type
    Skier
  • Rider Age
    36-50
  • Rider Ability
    Expert
  • Admin Rating
    5

Way Cool!

30/04/2017
Staying at the base camp was very cool
Nice steep lines
Top Dog coming out of the whiteroom
I was looking forward to the challenge of roughing it a bit at Skeena Cat Skiing to try to prove to myself that I wasn’t as unadventurous and soft as I thought I was becoming. I knew that it wasn’t going to be full-on camping in those freezing little tents that seem like they’ll blow away at any minute, or where I’d have to use baby wipes to bathe, and potentially wear the same socks for 4 days. But I still thought it would test me!

I’m not sure if I was disappointed or pleasantly relieved that the backcountry camp wasn’t roughing it at all! Heated tents with proper beds – tick! Hot showers and heated shower room – tick! No squatting to go to the toilet (yes I’m female) – tick! Masseuse – tick! Nice food and plenty of alcohol – had it in spades! Relaxing couches, a fire, fun company, and of course I had fresh socks!

And most importantly I got to do my favourite pastime – cat skiing! I love cat skiing! And getting to take only 20 steps through the fresh powder to the snowcat in the morning, made it even better!

A warm spell had hit all of BC before our arrival but thankfully the snow quality got progressively better each day, with a small to moderate amount of fresh snow everyday. To say that the skiing was lots of fun was an understatement! Many runs started with a very steep open pitch, which petered out to smatterings of trees, and some runs went low down to denser trees where the gullies were the only real exit.

Some pros: unique backcountry lodging (hence the 5/5 rating here); nice steep pitches at the start of many runs; don’t need a rental car to get there; high levels of service (Kevin in particular went above and beyond); fantastic guides; and relatively inexpensive.

Cons: not enough tree skiing and princesses need not apply.

You can check out our more detailed review of Skeena Cat Skiing for more information, and our cat skiing ratings to see how Skeena compares to other operators.
See our video here

Tremendous experience

Lee Lau
01/04/2017
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Rider Type
    Skier
  • Rider Age
    36-50
  • Rider Ability
    Expert
  • Country
    Canada
  • Admin Rating
    3

Tremendous experience

Lee Lau
01/04/2017
Skeena Cat
Jevon is the lead guide
One of many alpine bowls
Fine dinner
Fine food
From start of the trip to the end the folks at Skeena Cat have excellent superior customer service. Snow quality was excellent but that is out of the control of operators. What is in their control is delivered with professionalism eg terrain selection, group management, group pace and also last but not least, food, apres-ski and accommodations.
See our video here

Skeena Cat Skiing

Mark Lawson
17/03/2017
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Rider Type
    Skier
  • Rider Age
    66-75
  • Rider Ability
    Advanced
  • Country
    USA
  • Admin Rating
    4

Skeena Cat Skiing

Mark Lawson
17/03/2017
With little more info than a spare website, a party of seven of us based out of the Denver made the decision to take a leap of faith and book a week straddling February and March 2017 at Skeena Catskiing in New Hazelton, Canada. We decided to go the cat skiing route after realizing that it was considerably less expensive than heli-skiing and more reliable as well, since a cat can go in weather that a helicopter won't go due to visibility and associated risk. The website indicated two options: stay in a lodge or in tents in a camp. Well, we were not interested in sleeping in tents in northern BC!

However, after talking with Lynne at Skeena, we were swayed by her argument that by staying at the camp you are shaving 3 HOURS of daily travel by Suburban and then by snowcat each day. So, done deal - camp it would be.

We flew into Smithers, BC on a Sunday evening. We were met by personnel from Skeena with two Suburbans and a trailer to carry our luggage. After 1 3/4 hours ride with a brief stop at the lodge and another 45 minute snowcat ride on a road only navigable in winter, we arrived at the camp. The camp consists of 6 two person shelters/mini-Quonset huts, a common area Quonset hut where meals are prepared and served and where the skiers and staff hang out, a two-shower building, and a two hole outhouse.

This is not a luxury experience, so if this is what you want, you will not be happy here. There is no tv and very limited internet access. However, if you have a spirit of adventure, enjoy powder skiing with a variety of terrain that includes pistes, meadows, glades, tree-skiing, and gullies that take you to pickup points, seek an intimate after-ski atmosphere with fellow skiers and staff, and excellent food for a reasonable price, this is the place!

The snow quality was very good thanks to the ability of the guides, Isaak and Karla, to know where to find areas of untracked good snow when it had obviously been several days since there had been a snowfall. Fortunately, we then had three days of varying amounts of new snow so that finding pockets of untracked was not an issue.

The accommodations are quite serviceable and warm. I am glad that I brought along a pee bottle which let me avoid having to go outside in the middle of the night to visit outhouse/nature.

I can't over emphasize how much I and our whole group enjoyed every member of the staff. Javon is the owner who had the vision, scoped out the terrain, built the roads, and hired the staff. He is down to earth, direct, competent, and involved in all aspects of the everyday operations. Lynne, his mom, handles all the booking, communications, marketing, and administrative duties. She is as personable, warm, and helpful a person as you will meet anywhere. Kevin , who has been with Javon, from the beginning, does just about everything that needs to be done in the camp. He does it all with an ever present smile and a ready hearty laugh. His music playlist is fabulous. Logan, the cat operator, has an incredibly wry sense of humor for such a young guy. It was eye opening to ride in the cab with Logan and see how skilled he is in continually sculpting the road on his way to each pickup point. Mindy, the chef, prepared great meals - turkey, halibut and shrimp, pork, and beef, rich but light desserts, and after-ski appetizers. Lunch was eaten on the mountain or in the cat. Karla, the tail guide, is also a masseuse - Thai massage. She is a slight gal who may be tougher than nails. She is also a hunting guide in the Yukon in the off-season. Isaak is the lead guide. He's the one who analyzes the snow pack, finds the powder, and leads the way down. He also guides for an Alaska Heli-ski operation.
In summary, the Skeena experience exceeded all our expectations, from skiing to ambience to staff.
See our video here

3 day package skeena cat skiing

Neil
22/02/2017
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Rider Type
    Skier
  • Rider Age
    36-50
  • Rider Ability
    Expert
  • Country
    USA
  • Admin Rating
    1

3 day package skeena cat skiing

Neil
22/02/2017
We had a great time skiing amazing powder. Great people at the lodge, great guides with excellent driving skills! Had a ton of fun and can only recommend it.
We skied in groups of 9-13 people.
See our video here

I'll Be Back

21/02/2017

John

Powder Connoisseur
Powder Connoisseur

John

Powder Connoisseur
Powder Connoisseur
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Rider Type
    Skier
  • Rider Age
    51-65
  • Rider Ability
    Expert
  • Country
    Canada
  • Admin Rating
    4

I'll Be Back

21/02/2017
Some of our lines
Hard not to have fun!
If you're seeking a remote backcountry alpine experience, surrounded by a tremendous range of outstanding terrain, Skeena Cat Skiing has much to offer. Nestled in a saddle at 5000ft, a 6 minute cat ride from your first run of the day, base camp provides cozy two person accommodation in rigid frame tents and a great atmosphere in which to relax after a day on the slopes. It's hard to imagine this level of comfort in a camp environment. This is my third trip to Skeena and we've had great powder each year. I'll be back!
See our video here

Skeena Cats is Awesome

Tom Goddard
19/03/2014
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Rider Type
    Skier
  • Rider Age
    36-50
  • Rider Ability
    Expert
  • Admin Rating
    3

Skeena Cats is Awesome

Tom Goddard
19/03/2014
Tom Goddard Skeena Review
Skeena was a great time. The snow and terrain were excellent. We had 3 days of blue bird no wind mostly above treeline skiing. It had snowed about 40 cms 5 days prior and by the 3rd day of skiing (snow day +8 days) there were still lots of untracked areas. The lodge and hospitality are very well done. Its not ultra fancy but its well appointed and finished. It's by no means rustic. The guides and hosts mingle well with the guests for a great apres ski evening.
See our video here

Great snow, great party

Steve Genn
02/04/2013
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Rider Type
    Skier
  • Rider Age
    36-50
  • Rider Ability
    Intermediate
  • Admin Rating
    4

Great snow, great party

Steve Genn
02/04/2013
Steve Glenn Review of Skeena Cat Skiing
We knew that the snow on the north coast would be great when we booked a trip with Skeena. Even in BC the snow quality on the north coast is legendary. What we were surprized at was the extremely warm welcome that Lynn and Jevon and Hatha gave to us. Skeena added an extra trip at the end of their season just to accommodate us and filled the extra seats with local skiers (Smithereens and Terracites).

We skied late both days, one day we didn't get back to the lodge until 7:00 pm. The lodge is new and clean, think boutique hostel, and the food was like downtown Vancouver. It's a super easy flight out of Vancouver or Kamloops. We're already planning our trip next year.
Steve Glenn Review of Skeena Cat Skiing
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Incredible Terrain, Amazing Time

Jamin Stokes
17/07/2012
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Admin Rating
    4

Incredible Terrain, Amazing Time

Jamin Stokes
17/07/2012
I've been to several cat operations in BC and, as anyone who has been before knows, it's one of the best ways to ski possible. Last year my group chose Skeena because we couldn't go until late in the season and were hoping to still get some good snow. Skeena is the farthest north of all the cat ops in BC (but still very easy to get to). Needless to say we were not disappointed. We were there the last week they were open and still had incredible conditions.

My favorite thing about Skeena was the huge lines we were able to get. After riding some of the runs I remember looking back up and thinking "Wow, we really just did that line from a cat?" Truly incredible terrain here. If you're looking for huge lines from a cat this is the place to go.

The staff and food were very nice and we all got along well. It's a super laid back vibe around the lodge.

Being their first year in operation not everything was finished in the lodge. This may bother some people who want 5 star accommodations, that's not why I go cat skiing though. If you're there to ski amazing terrain with great hosts and awesome guides, this is the place.
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Skeena Cat Skiing - Backcountry Basecamp DETAILS
Price p/p From price based on 3-day/3-night package twin-share in low season for 2024.
Base/invoice currency is in CAD ex taxes (5%).
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 2,886

BASECAMP CATSKI PACKAGES
3 & 4 Days | Lodging in Backcountry Tents

Location: Canada | Tour Focus: Guided | Terrain Focus: Backcountry
Ability: Advanced to Expert
Price p/p From price based on 3-day/3-night package twin-share in low season for 2024.
Base/invoice currency is in CAD ex taxes (5%).
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 2,886
Looking for an amazing powder adventure with a difference? This amazing backcountry base camp package offers incredible snowcat accessed powder skiing with lodging in well equipped tents in the backcountry, quality meals + hot tub. 3 & 4 day package options. Easy access via helicopter. More
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Fixed Date(s)
Days
Price
Availability
Fixed Date(s): Mar 22 - Mar 24, 2024
Days: 3
Price: USD 2,886
Availability: Sold Out
Fixed Date(s): Mar 25 - Mar 28, 2024
Days: 4
Price: USD 3,700
Availability: Available
Fixed Date(s): Mar 29 - Mar 31, 2024
Days: 3
Price: USD 2,886
Availability: Available
Fixed Date(s): Jan 11 - Jan 13, 2025
Days: 3
Price: USD 2,553
Availability: Available
Fixed Date(s): Jan 14 - Jan 17, 2025
Days: 4
Price: USD 3,404
Availability: Available
Fixed Date(s): Jan 18 - Jan 20, 2025
Days: 3
Price: USD 2,553
Availability: Available
Fixed Date(s): Jan 21 - Jan 24, 2025
Days: 4
Price: USD 3,404
Availability: Available
Fixed Date(s): Jan 25 - Jan 27, 2025
Days: 3
Price: USD 2,664
Availability: Available
Fixed Date(s): Jan 28 - Jan 31, 2025
Days: 4
Price: USD 3,552
Availability: Available
Fixed Date(s): Feb 01 - Feb 03, 2025
Days: 3
Price: USD 2,886
Availability: Available
Fixed Date(s): Feb 04 - Feb 07, 2025
Days: 4
Price: USD 3,848
Availability: Available
Fixed Date(s): Feb 08 - Feb 10, 2025
Days: 3
Price: USD 2,997
Availability: Available
Fixed Date(s): Feb 11 - Feb 14, 2025
Days: 4
Price: USD 3,996
Availability: Available
Fixed Date(s): Feb 15 - Feb 17, 2025
Days: 3
Price: USD 3,108
Availability: Available
Fixed Date(s): Feb 18 - Feb 21, 2025
Days: 4
Price: USD 4,144
Availability: Available
Fixed Date(s): Feb 22 - Feb 24, 2025
Days: 3
Price: USD 3,219
Availability: Available
Fixed Date(s): Feb 25 - Feb 28, 2025
Days: 4
Price: USD 4,292
Availability: Available
Fixed Date(s): Mar 01 - Mar 03, 2025
Days: 3
Price: USD 3,219
Availability: Available
Fixed Date(s): Mar 04 - Mar 07, 2025
Days: 4
Price: USD 4,144
Availability: Available
Fixed Date(s): Mar 08 - Mar 10, 2025
Days: 3
Price: USD 3,108
Availability: Available
Fixed Date(s): Mar 11 - Mar 14, 2025
Days: 4
Price: USD 3,996
Availability: Available
Fixed Date(s): Mar 15 - Mar 17, 2025
Days: 3
Price: USD 2,997
Availability: Available
Fixed Date(s): Mar 18 - Mar 21, 2025
Days: 4
Price: USD 3,700
Availability: Available
Fixed Date(s): Mar 22 - Mar 24, 2025
Days: 3
Price: USD 2,775
Availability: Available
Fixed Date(s): Mar 25 - Mar 28, 2025
Days: 4
Price: USD 3,404
Availability: Available
Future rates & dates are currently not yet available for this operator. Click here to enquire.
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