Q. Why White Grizzly?
A. Because our services are what you are looking for. If this is not the case, please let us know what it is you are looking for, and we will gladly recommend another service provider that will best meet your needs.
Q. What is a typical cat-skiing trip like?
A. On the evening of your arrival, you will be greeted by your new family at the Lodge. Our guests arrive by 5:00 PM (Pacific Time). You can drive directly to the lodge. We will show you around the lodge and to your room. Once all the guests are settled, there will be an orientation, safety talk and an explanation of the daily routines. We rise fairly early, eat a wonderful breakfast, and leave the lodge shortly after. On your first morning we have group instruction and practice in the use of the avalanche transceivers, which everyone wears while on the mountain.
The snowcat leaves the valley floor each morning and transports the group and three guides to our skiing area. The top of runs is as high as 2500m (8200 ft). We measure our skiing in fun. Our philosophy is that powder is more fun when it is steep, and more turns are better than less. We play all day, every day. The number of runs in a day depends on the snow conditions and the strength and behaviour of the group. An average vertical per day is between 16,500 and 20,000 feet. If you don't wish to ski a full day it is possible to sit-out runs in the snowcat. We don’t stop for lunch so you get the most powder. You have access to all you can eat and both hot and cold beverages in between each run in the cat.
As long as it is safe, at the end of the day you have the option of a 1600m (vertical mile) run that takes us back down to the base or save your legs for tomorrow and enjoy a ride down in the cat to your apres-ski relaxation in the comfort of your own private lodge. We arrive back at the lodge to appetizers. Have a soak in the hot tub, get a massage, or relax, and work up an appetite for supper. Spend the evening enjoying the lodge, the views and socializing with your fellow guests.
Q. What do packages include?
A. All packages are priced in Canadian Dollars and include unlimited terrain, professional guides, all required safety equipment, cozy lodging, all meals (set plan), and unlimited deep powder mountain adventure. Add 12% HST. Extra night of accommodation, gratuities, powder ski/board rentals, souvenirs, massage therapy and alcohol are not included. Everything else is! Your adventure begin at 5:00pm sharp on the day of arrival and ends after skiing/riding your last day.
Q. When should I come for the best skiing?
A. This depends on what you are looking for. Although the weather is totally unpredictable, we usually describe December and January as having cooler temperatures, lighter snow and heavy snowfall. We usually have 5-6 feet of snow on the ground by Christmas. February and March typically get "sun breaks" between regular snowfalls. April offers the best chance for sunny days combined with excellent powder. On warm, sunny days our powder snow is well protected on our numerous north and east facing slopes. Each of these months are different, but not necessarily better than the other. We can and do get 12-36 inches of snow over night in any of these months. Conditions in the mountains can change dramatically. Do not despair if you hear discouraging reports shortly before your trip. Meadow Creek has a micro climate and snow here is often more abundant and colder than areas to our south.
Please note that the weather is totally outside our control and this is one area where we all have to work with what we get.Conditions are such that we get amazing skiing most of the time, unbelievably epic skiing some of the time, and occasional brief periods of good but difficult skiing.
Q. Am I prevented from skiing on days of heavy snowfall?
A. No. Our snowcat operates on days of heavy snowfall, often above the cloud layer. The terrain chosen is determined by snow stability, weather, visibility and snow quantity.
Q. Do I need to have an elevated ability level with previous powder experience?
A. Yes. Our terrain is really exciting, the treed and enormous bowl runs are steep. You should be able to handle steep tree runs in powder snow. Our guests come from many walks of life from young to not so young. Previous powder experience is a pre-requisite. You will be required to ski in control on various types of backcountry terrain and snow conditions including treed slopes. Most runs are 30-45 degrees, where many N. American Ski resorts call 35 degrees double black diamond.
You should have considerable experience at downhill resorts and have spent some time skiing off the groomed trails. With your skis (or snowboard) on, you should be able to make confident parallel turns and be able to side slip, step up sideways, traverse and make jump kick turns on terrain that can be difficult and steep. You should be in good physical condition. The better condition you are in, the more enjoyment you will get out of your vacation and the less likely you are to injure yourself. It is difficult to describe precisely the level of experience required to fully enjoy our cat-skiing services. Please do not hesitate to give us a call if you are unsure of your ability level.
Q. Do you recommend special equipment?
A. Yes. We recommend well vented helmets for travel in the backcountry. Goggles should be double lens and antifog. An extra pair is wise, as are extra gloves or mitts so you always have a dry pair. Clothing brought should be suitable for various winter conditions (layers) from snowy and cold to warm and sunny. The cat is heated, and convertible, so we can accommodate based on exterior temperatures. Dress at the lodge is casual. You will also likely want a camera, pair of sunglasses, lodge slippers, bathing suit, snow boots and sunscreen.
Our guests have more fun on shorter, wider powder skis. Our rental shop carries the Volkl Gotama, Volkl Mantra, Volkl Karma, K2 Apache Chief, K2 PhatLuv, Salomon Gun, White Dot One and White Dot Preacher in a variety of lengths. We also carry RadAir Tanker and Salomon snowboards. These "fat" skis and free ride boards enable advanced and expert powder skiers to ski ungroomed powder slopes with more confidence. Please note: while fat skis have made powder skiing accessible to more intermediate skiers, they have also given some skiers a false sense of their true ability. Our style of snowcat skiing is not recommended for either intermediate or novice skiers.
Q. Are snowboarders welcome?
A. Yes! Our guides have spent plenty of time on both skis and snowboards so they are very conscious of the particular concerns of each discipline (i.e. line choices, pointing out fun terrain features, and letting the riders know when to “point it”). Snowboarders, just like skiers, need to be accomplished, experienced riders who are able to handle any backcountry conditions including treed terrain. Our guides do a great job finding fall lines suited to both disciplines. It is a rare occurance, but snowboarders must be prepared to do some traversing and walking. Collapsible poles are not required.
Q. What is the accommodation like?
A. The Lodge is designed for powder enthusiasts, created from the log bounty of the area, hand crafted by the owners, thoughtfully designed with double and triple occupancy rooms and ensuite bathrooms. We cannot accommodate non-skiing partners. We would be happy to assist with your local accommodation arrangements prior to and following you White Grizzly Adventure.
Q. What about amenities?
A. White Grizzly offers full massage services with a privately designated room in the lodge. Our experienced massage staff will relax your muscles at the end of a hard day on the mountain. The Lodge facilities also include a covered outdoor hot tub, stretching mats, TV with VCR/DVD (sorry no cable, bring your own viewing material), games tables including foosball. We are also able to provide equipment for meetings and business conferences. Please contact us for your special needs.
Q. What communication services are available from the lodge?
A. We like to think that your winter adventure vacation is a great opportunity to "disconnect" from the world. However if you need to be connected, there is access to a single telephone line connection. We have a telephone and computer here that must be shared by all guests in the lodge. We also provide WI-FI connection. Guests can call out on the guest phone using a calling card or credit card. You can accept incoming calls at (250)366-4300. Messages (250)366-4306 can be left on the lodge business lines. We ask that you limit the length of your calls as a courtesy to other guests. Please be advised there is no cell phone reception in the area.
Q. Can I come alone or do I have to come with a group?
A. Guests arrive in any combination from alone to private groups of 12. We only run one cat per day, and it holds up to twelve skiers/riders. Rest assured that if you come in a small group or alone you will very quickly feel right at home and make new friends. Since we cater to a specific ability level and make “no bones” about it, you know what level of skiing/riding the other members have. Our lodge is an ideal facility for holding business meetings, entertaining clients, or hosting family gatherings.
Q. Do you take credit cards?
A. We take Mastercard and VISA for any payments at the lodge. Payment may also be made by cash, cheque or bank draft or electronic bank transfer. Please contact us for details.
Q. What about Tipping?
A. Gratuities are completely discretionary. The tips can be given to the general tipping pool or to the individual. On average tips are approximately 15% of your package price. Guests should be aware that cash is not available at the lodge. Lodge Staff, Cat Operators, and Guides, are included in the general pool. Massage therapists are separate from the general pool.
Q. What should I do if I require a special diet during my stay?
A. Packages include all meals starting with dinner the first night that you arrive. Meals at the lodge are presented to you by our renowned Culinary Team. The meal plan is set in advance and it is important for guests to inform us of any dietary restriction in the space for this on the Reservation Form (upon Booking). We have access limited selection of beer and spirits, so if you have preferences, please stop on your way to the lodge to stock-up on supplies for your stay. We can also assist you with wines if requested.Our team will make every effort to accommodate your needs.
Q. Where should I fly?
A. There are many choices for how to arrive to White Grizzly. The closest Canadian major centre is Calgary, Alberta eight to nine hours away. The beautiful drive west through Banff and Golden of the Canadian Rockies and Revelstoke of the Selkirk Mountains is well worth the trip. The closest American major centre is Spokane, Washington five hours away. If road travel is not your thing, then consider flying all the way to Castlegar in British Columbia. Only two hours from White Grizzly, it is the preferred choice for some. You can get to Castlegar by connecting through either the Calgary or Vancouver airports be advised that winter storms can prevent flights from landing on time. For this reason, we advise all guests to arrive a day early just in case.
Q. How do I get to Meadow Creek?
A. You can rent a vehicle (we recommend 4x4) from Castlegar, Cranbrook, Calgary, Kelowna, Spokane, or Vancouver. White Grizzly strongly recommends that our guests arrive a day in advance to avoid any possible delays. Please call or email for the most recent schedule and reservations.
Q. What about guiding and safety?
A. We operate with three guides for up to 12 guests.They are fully qualified as either a guide or a tail guide as defined by the HeliCat Canada Association. Once you arrive to the lodge the guiding staff will introduce you to avalanche transceivers and search techniques. Each guest is supplied with an avalanche transceiver to wear on the mountain.
Q. What is the annual snowfall?
A. This zone of the Selkirk Mountains is a powder-making machine! The typical snowfall in our area is 1,100-1,500 cm (36-50 feet) per winter season.This results in a snow-pack of 250-350 cm depth in most of the valleys for most of the season. White Grizzly is located where the moist storms from the Pacific Ocean collide with the cooler Arctic air from northern British Columbia. The result is consistent, deep dry powder from November to April, and even a few surprises in May.
Q. What is the winter temperature?
A. Typical winter temperatures are usually -5º C to -15º C (23º to 5º Fahrenheit), but in mid-winter they can drop as low as -30º C (22º below Fahrenheit). These lower temperatures are what give us the legendary super light, dry Kootenay powder. Our typically lower humidity makes the temperature feel slightly higher than the same level at higher humidity.
Q. What is the lodge and skiing elevation?
A. The lodge sits at 550 metres (1,800 feet) above sea level. White Grizzly’s runs begin as high as 2,500 metres (8,200 feet), with most starting at 2,300 metres (7,500 ft). The lowest pick-up is at 1,200 metres (3,100 feet).
Q. Where would you recommend I go for a few days of warm-up before I visit?
A. There are many ski resorts en route to our area, including Revelstoke Mountain at Revelstoke, Fernie Alpine Resort at Fernie, Whitewater at Nelson, Red Resort at Rossland and Schweitzer at Sandpoint. There are also many cat and heli operations in the area, many of which have mellow terrain perfect for warming up to your White Grizzly Adventure.
Q. Do I require insurance?
A. We strongly recommend trip cancellation, trip interruption and/or emergency evacuation insurance. We also recommend that all guests purchase travel or accident insurance. Your insurance broker can advise you about what other types of personal insurance you may require, such as disability insurance and life insurance.
