Grizzly Gulch Snowcat Skiing Experience?

[Long Duck Dong]

My wife, for my birthday, just gave me a day's skiing with the Alta Snowcat Guides in Grizzly Gulch Bowl. I was under the impression that the area is not avy controlled, so do they not allow the cats into the gulch whenever there is fresh snow? Has anyone ever done this cat skiing stuff up there? I'd be curious to hear any feedback from people. Much thanks.

[A-wreck]

Wow. You just asked the question I wanted to ask.

So if I may hijack here: Are there any other cat op's in/near slc that are better, cheaper, more terrain?

[A-wreck]

I just called there. Sounds like kind of a pain in the ass. GG is south facing causing the conditions to be less than desireable more often than not. They have only run the cat 3 times this year. No reservation is set in stone, you wait until they say they are going and, if you can make it, then you can go. They don't go on storm days. And they typically don't go immediately after storms.


SO. Anyone have any other suggestions?

[ScottG]

Is a 5 hour drive "near"??
Grand Targhee cats are fun (but getting pricey).
they usually run, but are very cool about cancelling for bad snow.
they last about a week and a half after a storm.
Fully avvy controlled slopes.

[spanky]

I got to do it last year. Timed it perfectly - got out on a bluebird day after a 3-day storm. There are some here that'll say it's a waste of money cause anyone can hike it and it's not extremo terrain. But for an EC backcountry JONG like me, this was a good first out-of-bounds experience.

It took two years before I was able to time a day when I was out there and the cat was running. Mostly, they don't run because of avalanche conditions.

The operation is run by Alta Ski School, there are 2 Alta patrol guides and up to 11 paying customers. The patrollers were really cool. They didn't care about controlling where the group skied or farming the turns because the weather forecast was not looking good and the snow was quickly baking in the sun.

Also, the cat driver said something along the lines that Alta actually owns the land in Grizzly Gulch and there is discussion about possibly putting lift service there.

[A-wreck]

I must be retarded because I can't find a website for snowcats at Grand Targhee.

Has anyone done it at solitude?
Which is better?

[Red Baron]

Solitude doesn't have any snowcat accessed terrain; they do have a cool BC touring program, though. also you can check outwww.pccats.com for some near Park City, or head for Powder Mountain, where you can get as many $5 tow-ins as you'd like.

[Long Duck Dong]

Thanks for all the input guys. Cool pics Spanky.

[Duker]

SO. Anyone have any other suggestions?

powder mountain has $7 a run cat rides. It get used a lot but its still fun. OR I could rent you a cat for a day and you could have all sorts of fun.

[Snow Ranger]

I believe park city also runs cats out in the uinta's not sure on the price and I have never done it so I can't tell you what the terrain is like.

If you are motivated (ride lift, hike then ski. repeat as often as one day allows) and for the last run make sure you have parked your car in the opposite canyon or ride the bus up one canyon and down the other (the bc gates must be open) you can access more vert and terrain for the price of a lift ticket at Solitude or Brighton then you would get with 5 runs of Alta cat skiing. Same with Powder Mountain and Snowbasin