Whitewater B.C. Opinions...

[powderpyg]

Baldface Cat Ski out of Nelson.

I don't believe they do less than a week at a time

[snowave]

They are a little out of our price range anyway (Baldface)..with the helicopter fee an all..


We did Fernie Wilderness Avdentures last year on a whim..it was our first CAT experience..that were cheap, (about $280 CDN /day) and it was fun, but the terrain was rather mellow.. Some of those other places look feasible. Anyuone ever heard of CAT POWDER SKIING in Revelstoke? they seem to have good last minute prices..although, they skunked us last year at the last minute..and gave our seats to some "snowboarder mag" people, or so they say..Luckily, we hadn;t gone out of our way yet to go there..

BTW, thanks for the ski town bar link JR..did some cut and paste for my trip notebook....(I get a bit anal that way)..but hey, if its for good beer and fun times, its all good..better than sitting in Travel-lodge on a Saturday nite..?

[Beaver]

I went for dinner in Nelson last night to a little place called Kas. A little dumpy looking little building but man, the food was fucking amazing. Highly recomended.

Does Nelson still have a pealer bar?

[powderpyg]

Does Nelson still have a pealer bar?

Nope, you gotta go to the "Gar" for that...or sometimes the Ymir Hotel, right Gonzo

[Honc]

Nope, you gotta go to the "Gar" for that...or sometimes the Ymir Hotel, right Gonzo

Time your trip with the coming of "Charlie's Angels".

I'm pretty sure that this event doubles as the Ymir town hall forum.

One guy yells, "Titties!" as loud as he can and the whole bar seconds the motion. Democracy in its most basic form. Beautiful.

[snowave]

Last thing..

Rogers Pass..I have heard of the place many times before, but have no idea what its like. My only experience with something that "may" be similar is Loveland Pass. Is it along those lines? Drop in off the road, ride back down to the road below, hitch up....?

If so, is this place of decent Avy concern?..We honestly don't have the time/space to bring much touring stuff on this trip, so if it is considered to be a big slide hazard by any means (which I understand most stuff unpatrolled/outside of a ski area is) We will most likely just slow down on our way by and watch...I usually don't condone ever riding outside of a ski area without the right equipment, but I really have no idea what to expect from Rogers..
Thanks again for any info!
edit: I may have found my answer doing some research!

[Foggy_Goggles]

Last thing..

Rogers Pass..I have heard of the place many times before, but have no idea what its like. My only experience with something that "may" be similar is Loveland Pass. Is it along those lines? Drop in off the road, ride back down to the road below, hitch up....?

If so, is this place of decent Avy concern?..We honestly don't have the time/space to bring much touring stuff on this trip, so if it is considered to be a big slide hazard by any means (which I understand most stuff unpatrolled/outside of a ski area is) We will most likely just slow down on our way by and watch...I usually don't condone ever riding outside of a ski area without the right equipment, but I really have no idea what to expect from Rogers..
Thanks again for any info!
edit: I may have found my answer doing some research!

Don't go to interior BC w/out tourning gear or knowledge, seriously. No, it is not anything like GaperPass except that the snow is white. Most of the ski areas have sidecountry zones that get hit pretty hard but are not patrolled/controlled (Fish Bowl, Ymir peak or whatever its called, the hike at Red - Roberts?). I suck with remembering names.

[Beaver]

Rogers pass - start at the road, walk up as long as you want or light permits then ski back to the road. Terrain consists of everything from low angle sliding to steep trees, big open alpine bowls, glaciers, cliffs, couloirs.....y'know, the usual [announcer voice with reverb] big mountain skiing[/announcer voice with reverb] stuff. There is a hotel at the summit that offers skier rates that are pretty decent. Definately need avy gear. There is no ski resort nearby. There are area that you are not allowed to ski because if you kick off a slide you put the highway at risk and because you could step on an unexploded mortar shell or even get picked off the mountainside by mortar fire. Generally people sign in before they head out touring. They were going to start charging a user fee a few years ago but I think they bailed on it. I know that when I was last up there 2 years ago there was no fee.

[Beaver]

If you have touring gear and you don't bring it to Red/WH2O you will kick your ass all the way home. Lots of amazing short tours from the hill.

[snowave]

Thanks for the heads up. RP is what I gathered from the minimal research I did, and your info about sums that up. Not something to be done without the right equipment.

I have to admit, my partner and myself are not Backcountry gurus..we have done a bit.... mainly through semi-patrolled gates at ski areas with guides or experienced locals, and rented equipment more than what we own, but not much more than that.

This trip (as most of ours are!) is more about travel, good times, enjoying new places and people, and mainly lift served terrain(..and of course, finding great new beers).

Cat skiing is about as adventurous as we will get on this trip unless there is an opportunity for some reasonable out of bounds stuff that is reasonably accessible, safe, and legal. (I know those words don't go too well together either!) If thats the case, we will look into rented some equipment if that is possible.


Thanks...

[Beaver]

In Canada we don't have "gates" to the b/c. You just leave the ski resort wherever the fak you want and go wherever you want whenever you want in general. Once you leave the area you are on your own. If you fuck up and get injured or lost you better have someone expecting you at the end of the day who can call you in as missing and presumed fucked.

Having said that, at Red there are lots of short tours to amazing skiing that are well traveled and generally safe. Judgment calls are in order sometimes but places like Grey or Roberts trees are pretty safe. You can get from the top of the chair, to the top of Roberts and back to the top of the chair in about an hour if you know where you are going and haul ass.

This is Roberts bring your touring gear. You'll kick your ass all the way home if you don't.
http://www.firsttracksonline.com/red4.jpg

[powderpyg]

Having said that, at Red there are lots of short tours to amazing skiing that are well traveled and generally safe. Judgment calls are in order sometimes but places like Grey or Roberts trees are pretty safe. You can get from the top of the chair, to the top of Roberts and back to the top of the chair in about an hour if you know where you are going and haul ass.

The same can pretty much be said for Whitewater, most of what is toured to can be seen and accessed from the chairs. The patrol are a pretty kewl lot (led by Kirk Jensen of RAP Films fame) and are more than willing to advise of the current conditions. Touring gear here is a definate plus also, unless it pukes while your here...then it's Backside Betties!

[snowave]

OK, now you guys got me itching and dreaming..thanks.

So...help again..I'm sure you all own your AVY gear...We have limited gear, so we would need to rent our stuff. Do you guys have any suggestions/favorites for places that you may know who rent in Rossland or Nelson?

Thanks again for your help..It is greatly appreciated.

[Boundary Rider1]

In Nelson , try Valhalla Pure / Roam (Both on Baker street) or Kootenay Experience ( Maybe see Wildhorse cat skiing note before) for hiring any additional avy gear. But then again as an Aussie I know nothing

[JR]

I know Trevor at Kootenay Experience is none to popular with some here, but he has always treated me pretty well. But I only buy gear from him and then I grind him. He does rent everything you might need to go touring though.

I'm not sure if ROAM rents stuff or not.