Cascade Powder Cats

[The AD]

Just got an email from them:

Hello Skiers and snowboarders,

Yes it is true Cascade Powder Cats is opening 1800 acres
of PRIVATE Stevens Pass backcountry for 2004/2005. CPC
and Leavenworth catskiing have merged to create Cascade
Powder Cats 2 LLC. Our new base is 4000' and our ridge is
6000' +. We will have a mid mountain yurt for your
enjoyment. We are all excited about this new opprotunity
and we think you will be too. More info to come soon.
Spread the word.

Now for the Ski Bonkers Special. We are offering a full
cat MIDWEEK special (BRING UP TO 10) for $2250 + tax. To
take advantage of this special you need to put a $50
NON-REFUNDABLE deposit down before Mon Sept 7th, 2004 and
have a credit card on file. Then pick your date before
Oct. 31st 2004. We will not charge the balance until you
ski your date.

Come to Ski Bonkers and say hello to Tom and the gang and
see our funky Ski Burban. Any questions on the specials
please call Doug at 206-396-5379/cell or 1-877-754-2287.


All of us at CPC2 LLC look forward to seeing you in the
hills of Stevens Pass

Doug

So I guess this means there won't be a cat operation near Snoqualmie Pass anymore.

[joshbu]

I did the "old" CPC twice. I found thier terrain in snoqualmie to be a little on the boring side. I never did have a whole group of stone faced pow killas, but still. Plus, it's an area that sees a lot of sled traffic, which certainly keeps you on your toes on the cat roads.

Still on my todo list: mt. bailey.

[Buster Highmen]

Bailey absotroutly roolz. Let me know when you go.

[1080Rider]

If y'all got some places to go this winter I may be convinced to come over and drag yer asses around w/ my sleds. I'm hoping to buy a new one in the next few months. If that's the case I'd love to come over and be showed around. What you guys think?

[Buster Highmen]

I don't know of any sleddable spots around here. Most of the decent terrain on the W. side of the cascades is below some gnarly hanging valleys and often in some "protected" zone.

The old CPC terrain might be available, but a lot of that stuff on the E. side of the Cascades is private forestry land. So, as far as I can tel around here, if it's public land and decent skiing, it's protected.

I know the road above Verlot on the Mountain Loop Highway above Granite Falls turns is 'bilerable, but all the hiking I've done up there is in pretty dense woods.

Anybody else know of a 'bilerable slot in the WA Cascades within 2 hours of Seattle?

[1080Rider]

We've got some decent places here, the problem is that most isn't above treeline like in the cascades. If we had about 3,000 more feet of elevation it would be amazing. You guys are always invited for a weekend over here too if you want to make the jaunt. Lemme know if you hear of any places.

[Innominatus]

Originally posted by Buster Highmen
Anybody else know of a 'bilerable slot in the WA Cascades within 2 hours of Seattle?

Maybe Kachess Lake area? All I can think of is logging roads and maybe some skiable clearcut zones. I think you're right about skiworthy terrain and snowmobile access being more or less mutually exclusive.

Some maps for the explorin':

WA SnoMo Parks -- I-90 Corridor

WA SnoMo Parks -- North Cascades

[Buster Highmen]

Originally posted by Innominatus
Maybe Kachess Lake area? All I can think of is logging roads and maybe some skiable clearcut zones. I think you're right about skiworthy terrain and snowmobile access being more or less mutually exclusive.

The patchwork property partitions between private land and logged USFS make skiing out there tricky, since neither Plum Creek nor Weyerhauser seem to be thrilled about the public on their land. I know some hardcore bc skinheads that have been hassled out there. But that is where CPC was, up from Kachess towards Stampede Pass.

So these folks typically ski around the I-90 corridor.

Now they're getting hassled if they ski at Alpental and skin up towards the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Ze USFS gestapo get their moustaches bent out of shape over it now.

[Buster Highmen]

Come to think of it, there is some great skiing to be had up Blewett Pass, but there's some rude avie hazard paths in order to get up there. Driving up there in the summer is spooky due to rockfall.

[1080Rider]

That's so funny. Over here we tool around where ever we like. There are signs telling you you're leaving one ownership and entering another but I've never even seen anyone out there "watchin" the land let along bothering people. Maybe we just don't have enough people wandering around the woods to care. I'm glad it is the way it is here.

[PNWbrit]

Originally posted by Buster Highmen
Now they're getting hassled if they ski at Alpental and skin up towards the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Ze USFS gestapo get their moustaches bent out of shape over it now.

Herr Kommandant Larry Donovan strikes again?

[BakerBoy]

Hey, definitely come check out Cascade Powdercats this winter. I may be guiding for them off and on, as my boating buddy is also their operations manager. I've checked out the new terrain, and its pretty rad. There's even talk of installing a poma lift at some point and putting in a couple more yurts. They don't have a problem with sleds if its people they know, so if you want to go ride around the cat area, lemme know.

As for sledding, tons of stuff on Stampede Pass. I've done a bunch of riding in that area, and never been hassled. Good stuff back in there.

[Game Over]

1080, Buster-

Mt. Bailey- you said yourself it rules, why not make the jaunt down here. I never understand people who have knowledge and access to sleds PAYING to ski Bailey. Totally legit to ski, sled, drive you own snowcat on--whatever, it is a National Recreation Area.

edit-
of course, I have never done it.

[The AD]

Originally posted by Buster Highmen
I know the road above Verlot on the Mountain Loop Highway above Granite Falls turns is 'bilerable, but all the hiking I've done up there is in pretty dense woods.

Since you mentioned it, what about Mt. Pilchuck? There used to be a ski area there after all, so there should be some cleared areas left.

[Buster Highmen]

Ever seen Mt. Pilchuck? Go through Verlot, take a right once you go over the bridge and drive up that road to the end.

No way could anybody (sane) person snowmobile up that thing. The liftline is a cliff.

[Buster Highmen]

Originally posted by steepconcrete
1080, Buster-

Mt. Bailey- you said yourself it rules, why not make the jaunt down here. I never understand people who have knowledge and access to sleds PAYING to ski Bailey. Totally legit to ski, sled, drive you own snowcat on--whatever, it is a National Recreation Area.

edit-
of course, I have never done it.

Oz would bust your ass and chew you ears off.

[Game Over]

Originally posted by Buster Highmen
Oz would bust your ass and chew you ears off.

Whaddya mean? What can he bust me for? I know guys who ski 5 minutes behind the guides, accessing it with sleds there 4-5 times a year, never any problems, (edit-they do make sure that they are with clients and not bombing)..they are slednecks, have a cabin at Dimond Lake and ride up there every weekend. I just have never done it...

[Buster Highmen]

I mean he would likely walk over and klonk you one. I think they (Mt. Bailey Snowcats) have an exclusive permit for the acreage they ski.

Mebbe not...if your friends manage it without being hassled, great.

[Game Over]

I dont know, I just know what they have told me.

I know there is a groomed snomo trail to the summit, along with like 300 miles of groomed trails all over that area. I also dont think there is a permit, especially for a snow-cat operator, that would allow them to restrict foot access to public land. I can see not allowing snomo's....I gonna know fo sho before I ever think of skiing it.

edit-
http://diamondlake.net/grooming.html
trying to find this really cool map.

[Buster Highmen]

I remember that what OZ said, it's OK for the snomos to stay on the trail, even up to the summit. But I thought that OZ told be that the ski terrain is theirs alone.

Anyway, it's be a hell of a haul for 1080. There's definitely more accessible stuff for him closer to home.

I think Innom & BB hit it: out towards Stampede. If we have sleds, then mebbe we won't get hassled like the telehippies do.

[joshbu]

Originally posted by steepconcrete
Whaddya mean? What can he bust me for? I know guys who ski 5 minutes behind the guides, accessing it with sleds there 4-5 times a year, never any problems, (edit-they do make sure that they are with clients and not bombing)..they are slednecks, have a cabin at Dimond Lake and ride up there every weekend. I just have never done it...

The more I think about this, the more I think it's crap. For two reasons.

1. Mt Bailey is one the last no-bullshit places you can go and rip for a reasonable price. You gotta support companies like that, not poach their shit.

2. It's a safety and legal hazard. As a guide, I have no idea if the yahoos above me are going to overload the slope with too many skiers and cause a slide.

2a. They might try some "I was just following those guys" bullshit in court.

2b. Worse, they might trigger a slide that takes out my party.

Now, you say your buddy waits 5 minutes. That's very nice, but it's still no good from a guide point of view. If I have to stop for an injured skier, or just to have a rest or shoot some photos? Now I have to worry about what the people following me are doing? What if they trigger a big climax slide? Those can do some pretty amazing things like go uphill. Even if I have stopped in what's traditionally a safe zone, I still might get wiped.

Following cat guides around = not cool. If you're going to sled tour, find your own area. Tell the cat people where you're going to be.

[Zeedashbo]

Originally posted by 1080Rider
If y'all got some places to go this winter I may be convinced to come over and drag yer asses around w/ my sleds. I'm hoping to buy a new one in the next few months. If that's the case I'd love to come over and be showed around. What you guys think?

no problem. cascade powder cats kinda broke into some of our smowmobile terrain around stevens, but the dude who runs cpc is a good guy and doesn't mind if we poach their cat roads. oh, and one of the best snomo places is......lake wenatchee on the east side of stevens. and i'll get shot if i tell you about the stuff at baker.

[optics]

Originally posted by Buster Highmen
Let me know when you go.

Ditto.

[Game Over]

Funny that you got so worked over it JoshBu, cause I actually wrote a post then decited not to post it (cause this is a BAD hijack and who really cares)...anyway in the erased post I was saying basically the same shit you said in a lot less words--like dropping on top of people on suspect shit, no matter where, is totally fucked and deserves a ass beating. Im not condoning these people and in hindsight I amybe would tell them this this is fucked, but I dont think it will matter to them. Think about me a mid20s hippy telling a lawyer, a developer, and a lumber mill owner- these bigshot Bill Brasky type 50-60 year olds that it is not cool. Please.

Im not going to ski there with these dudes, they are my friends dad and his crew, local bigshots Repubs, but I don't think you can call it "poaching" its a loophole, and I am sure these guys would know if they could get busted or not, they all have $20k tricked out sleds that Im sure they don't want confinscated, but I dont know for sure, so havent and Im not planning on doing it.

Once again I dont condone these peoples actions, I am only under the impression that there is a loophole.

Anyhow, I want to go check out Bailey Snowcats badly.

[joshbu]

Originally posted by steepconcrete
Funny that you got so worked over it JoshBu, cause I actually wrote a post then decited not to post it (cause this is a BAD hijack and who really cares)...anyway in the erased post I was saying basically the same shit you said in a lot less words--like dropping on top of people on suspect shit, no matter where, is totally fucked and deserves a ass beating. Im not condoning these people and in hindsight I amybe would tell them this this is fucked, but I dont think it will matter to them. Think about me a mid20s hippy telling a lawyer, a developer, and a lumber mill owner- these bigshot Bill Brasky type 50-60 year olds that it is not cool. Please.

Im not going to ski there with these dudes, they are my friends dad and his crew, local bigshots Repubs, but I don't think you can call it "poaching" its a loophole, and I am sure these guys would know if they could get busted or not, they all have $20k tricked out sleds that Im sure they don't want confinscated, but I dont know for sure, so havent and Im not planning on doing it.

Once again I dont condone these peoples actions, I am only under the impression that there is a loophole.

Anyhow, I want to go check out Bailey Snowcats badly.

Yeah. I don't doubt it's legal. It's just a total viloation of backcountry code.

It might be fun to get a group of absolute rippers and then lead those guys down a chute with a mandatory 40 foot air. A good long slog back up might make them think twice about following the cat guides again.

Perhaps with a little more planning we can do a Bailey mini. You, me, Buster and optics is 4 already.