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When it snows in Whistler, it snows even harder at Powder Mountain Catskiing. We traditionally get 40% more snow in a storm cycle than Whistler Blackcomb. That means if you want to ski or ride powder on your trip to Whistler, you want to come skiing with us.

The anticipation starts when you meet up with the maximum of 11 other people in your group. You'll be talking about all the turns you're going to make; how much fun you are going to have; all the face shots you're going to get; all the stuff you are going to jump off.

Sitting in the cat as it climbs up the mountain you look out the window. You'll see the snow getting deeper and deeper as you get closer to the powder runs, giving you butterflies. Seeing huge mountains all around brings back the feelings you had the first time you ever went into the mountains. Excitement, anticipation, nervousness, and best of all exhilaration.

Stepping out of the snowcat at the top of the run, whether it's your first time ever in a snowcat or your 100th trip, seeing all that powder with no one around to track it up other than you and the other people in your group is something you'll remember forever. Clicking in your bindings after listening to the guide describe the run you are going to take makes you so excited you feel like a five year old on Christmas morning.

The days, weeks, and months of waiting for this exact moment are over: you're finally here. You drop into the run and sink your first turn. It's everything you've dreamed of. It's the best thing ever, and it's only the first turn of the first run of your first day.

At the end of the day you check out the photos from the day at our base lodge before you ride back in the Powder Mountain 4x4 vans to Whistler. Boisterous laughter and shouts of "great run"; "It was so amazing"; "I didn't think it was going to be that good or that easy"; change to silences that fill the van with just as much enjoyment as the laughter did moments ago. People you didn't know at the start of the day have now swapped email addresses and phone numbers to make this magic happen again. You realize that the silence in the van is everyone thinking: "This was the best day ever!"

7.00am - 7:20am

Free pick up at Gone Bakery in the Village Square. Be dressed and ready to ski except for your boots. We drive you and your equipment to our simple base lodge where you meet your guides. The Powder Mountain base Lodge is 20 minutes south of Whistler on Highway 99 at the Chance Creek turn off.

Gone Bakery has amazing food, baked treats and coffee so arrive a little early and have breakfast (not included) before we take off at 7:20 am for your day in the backcountry. You'll be glad you did. Please be on time. Time wasted is skiing wasted. You can never get back turns you missed.

8.00am

At our simple base lodge we have a cozy fireplace and bathroom facilities. After a short talk on the day's proceedings and a safety briefing regarding snowcat procedures, we load up the snowcat and head out into the backcountry.

9.15am - 9.45am

You step out of the snowcat and begin a quick orientation is to make you feel comfortable and to ensure you are familiar with our safety procedures and equipment. After that, it's time to get our first taste of the day's snow. You will be at 6,500 feet altitude, clicking into your bindings for the first run of the day. The first run is always a mellow one to let everyone get warmed up. This allows the guides to get an idea of the ability level of the group. The groups' ability and snow conditions determine what kind of terrain and runs we will be riding.

3.00pm - 3:30pm

The end of your day depends more on the energy level of the group, snow and weather conditions etc, than what time it is. We ski down the cat road as a fun alternative to riding home in the snowcat. If you are feeling tired, you can also get back in the snowcat at any time on the ski-out for a ride home.

4.00pm

You return to our Base Lodge and re-live the day checking out all the photos from the day, then transfer into our 4x4 vans and head back to Whistler.

5.00pm

You are usually back in Whistler by 5:00pm.

To get the most out of your day there are a few things you can do to make it even more fun.

Two Weeks In Advance

Contact Summit Sport in the Hilton Hotel for your rental fat skis. You definitely want to be skiing on fat skis. Half the effort, twice the fun. Tell them you are coming with us and they set you up with the right stuff. Ask for the K2 Coomba. The money it costs for the rentals is worth every penny when you have the best day ever because you had the right skis for the job.By booking online with them more than 48 hours in advance they give you a great discount.
As Burton is one of our sponsors we have a good stack of the best powder boards on earth for you to demo. They are free to demo, but you need to book in advance.If you aren't riding a powder specific board it's time to demo one. It will change your life. The Malolo and Fish boards from Burton are the best powder boards we've ever ridden... and we've been riding since 1980. Email us your choice of Malolo or Fish and your height and weight, stance and angles and we'll have it all set up for you at the lodge when you arrive.
Drop us a line if you have any special dietary needs. Java at Nestors makes our lunches and they are awesome. No matter what your needs they will make you a great lunch.
Book one of our photographers. Nothing is better than having the best day of your life and having the pictures to prove it. Just about every photo on our site is a guest in the midst of an epic day. Send us an email saying you need the photo proof and we'll take care of the rest. The photographer is $75.00 for the day. We sort all the photos from the day and we send you on CD a copy of every photo of you from the day.

The Day or Evening Before

Get a hot wax done on your skis or board the day before and your day will be so much better. You don't get as tired and you have more fun when you glide instead of having a slow board.
Pick up your rental fat skis and scope out Gone Bakery in the Hearthstone Lodge so you can roll up half asleep the next day and look like a local. If you are in the Village Square, look for Moguls Coffee Shop, then enter the door on the left side of the archway by the Bookstore. Gone is down the hall.
Stretching before you go and when you come home will make your body happy. You'll also ride better.

The Day of your Trip

Meet at Gone Bakery before 7:20 AM. If you need to buy breakfast before you go, arrive early. Their coffee and breakfast burritos are the local's favorite.
Dress for the weather, like you would for a regular day at a ski resort. We ski runs in the high alpine and tree runs in the sub alpine. Layering is always the best way. One of the great things about catskiing compared to heliskiing is you can leave your pack in the snowcat. Having the correct clothes will help you have a great day.
Bring an extra sweater/goggles/gloves if you like. It's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
Snack throughout the day. We have healthy hearty sandwiches on board as well as baked snacks for you to nibble on. Keeping your energy up with great food is a big part of staying warm and having energy to ski and ride our great snow.
We have bottles of water in the cat so you can drink whenever you feel the urge, or bring your own hydration pack. Dehydration takes away your energy.
Bring a friend, so when you get home you have someone to re-live the epic day with. Your friend can also back you up on your stories when no one believes how much fun you had.
Don't feel as if you have to rush or keep up with the group. Relaxing and enjoying the day is the key. The cat will be there to pick you up because it's your private cat. Slow the pace down, get some pictures,admire the view and make some great runs with your friends.
The lead guide sets the line down the mountain to the pick up or meeting point. The second guide AKA "The Tail Gunner" makes sure that everyone in the group knows what's going on, and points out the sweetest lines. This is really nice if you are learning to ride powder as they can give you tips that will make the learning curve that much quicker. The Tail Gunner skis or rides down last making sure everyone went in the right direction and also makes sure that everyone is safely down to the cat.

The best thing is to remember you aren't at a ski resort. There is NO RUSH. And it's Only friends on a powder day.

Quality	This is the Whistler you came for... No lift lines no crowds and great snow all day.
Value	At $479 + GST a full day of skiing or boarding is far more economical than heliskiing in Whistler. This is the most affordable way to get a true backcountry experience in Whistler. A day skiing at Powder Mountain Catskiing is a full day. The average day is 6-10 runs and the record is 15. We are as happy to ski more than the average as you are. There is no charge for extra runs.
Flexibility	Regardless of your ability we can choose the perfect runs for you. With two certified guides and our relaxed pace, it's the ideal choice for those who want to learn to ride powder OR for those who can shred with the best. Relax in the cat for a breather, or go for max vertical.
Terrain	Powder doesn't last long in Whistler. At Powder Mountain Catskiing, we never run out of powder. With only 12, 24 or 36 people skiing the 4,300 acres and five peaks, we run out of legs before we run out of fresh powder. Our powder is fresh, not farmed. Catskiing is like the best day ever on Whistler Blackcomb — just without the crowds and the hardpack.
We Ski Every Day	Snowcats can take people skiing in all conditions, so snowcat skiers don’t get shut down due to weather like heliskiers do. That means when it’s dumping, you’re skiing. Some of the best days we have are when it’s snowing so hard helicopters are unable to fly. The harder it snows the better the skiing. Instead of being stuck in Whistler Village, waiting for the the top lifts to open, or the helicopters to start flying, you could be in one of our snowcats being taken safely into the mountains and skiing what could be your “BEST DAY EVER”.
Accessibility	Catskiing is for everyone. If you can ski Whistler Blackcomb, you can ski with us. We have runs from green circles to black and double black diamonds. No matter where we go there is an easy way down. Almost anyone can catski, and have a blast doing it.
Safety	Your safety is our prime concern. We constantly monitor snow and weather conditions throughout the day so you can be as safe as possible in the backcountry. Everyone wears a transceiver and is trained to use it during our safety orientation session.