Help me pick a cat op...

[Helldawg]

OK, so after using the search functions here, and at 2 other ski forums, and based on personal recommendations, I've come up with a short list:

Island Lake
Monashee
Mustang
Valhalla

Now, I'm not necessarily stuck on going to Canada, it's just that they seem to be the ones most commonly recommended in North America. I'm open to US ops as well.

But I would appreciate any input based on personal experience. Pick one from above, or add your own suggestion, and give me a few reasons for your choice.

I wanted to do it this year, but $$$ did not permit. So I'm banking about $1500 now, and saving monthly for next year.

Here is the type of skiing I am NOT interested in;

-Highly technical, no fall zone terrain
-Super steeps
-Cliffs/mega hucks
-spooning tracks in 30 degree, wide open pow fields

So I guess that leaves;

-Moderately steep terrain
-Chutes and couloirs that are wider than 20 feet
-Small hits/pillows
-Good tree skiing
-OK, and maybe a few low angle pow fields just for some bluebird hero turns

I have skied single day cat ops at Targhee, Alta, and PowMow, and have typically been among the stronger skiers of the group.

So any leads will be appreciated, thanks a lot.

[mntlion]

the biggest things for cat/heli skiing are the group's ability, the groups ability to listen, snow stability, weather. And you can't control ANY of them.

The things that you listed are all doable at any of the operations.

I assume that for $1500+ you are looking at a few days? Don't go with a company that offers day skiing and week skiing. You have to get the "new guys" up to speed each day, and the guide has to find out of they can listen. They are not in the flow yet too

A plus for Island lake is that you can fly into calgary and it is only 4 hours from the airport. Anything Neslon based is far away from anything.

Also cat vs heli as a price per day vs vert skied is about the same.
A huge spring cat skiing day = 20K ft, normal = 10-15K. A heli day usually starts at 20K and huge spring, glacier fast day = 50K. Prices are $400-600 vs $800-1200 a day.

[Caucasian Asian]

I would look into Powder Cowboy instead of Island Lake Lodge. They're both owned by the same group, but they run in diferent areas and stay at diferent locations.
From what I got from the guides at PowCow last month, PowCow usually gets more Euro guests and Island Lake gets more NA guests. If they were to stereotype the clients they said that the Euros tended to be better skiers than the NA clients.
http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...=powder+cowboy

edit: I just rebooked for a four-day trip next year. Can't wait to go back.

[Helldawg]

K, will check PowCow out.

Any other suggestions/comments?

[altabird92]

Cat Ski Mt. Bailey is sweet. Lots of snow and great trees.
In oregon, near bachelor

[jfost]

Baldface Lodge out of Nelson - our custodian at Mt. Carlyle is a guide at Baldface - he says it rocks!

[powderhound100]

my parents have been to island lake a couple times and love it, they like it better then CMH. great food, good skiing, good guides (and a tail guide) each group has their own cat. If there is a shitty run you can just hang out in the cat.

He doesn't do super super steeps, or mega hucks for sure.

[Steven S. Dallas]

I would go with declawing.

[lobstahmeatwad]

I would go with declawing.

I thought veterinary thread when I first saw it. LOL.