Know Before You Go
Cat Skiing & Ski Touring

Answers to all your burning questions.

When are you open?
We welcome guests for cat-skiing from mid December through the start of April.

Do you offer summer accommodation?
We do, please contact us with your requests. We are a great location for events or a quiet get-away.

How much snow does White Grizzly get?
We average between 1000-1500cm (390-590”) of snowfall per season. Our snowpack usually maxes out between 250-350cm (98-140”).

What elevation are you at?
Our accommodation is located in Meadow Creek at 550m above sea level and our skiing is from 2100m down to 1400m.

What’s the weather like on the mountain?
Temperatures range from 0C to -25C (32F to -13F) but usually it hovers somewhere in between. It snows a lot. Seeing rain in the valley forecast? Odds are it will be snowing on the mountain. 90% of our winter days have some sort of cloud cover.

What is the terrain like?
Our catskiing predominantly operates at the treeline and below. We have expertly gladed tree corridors as well as pillow lines and open spaces. Think black diamond runs at your favourite ski resort but with fresh pow.

What sort of ability is needed?
You must be confident skiing all types of terrain in deep snow, especially steep trees and you must be physically fit enough to ski all day for the duration of your trip. We cater to advanced and experienced skiers/riders. When you inquire about a booking we will talk further to gauge your ability level. White Grizzly is for purists.

What does a typical catskiing ski day look like?
Breakfast is at 715am and you will be on the road heading to our staging area at 8am. It is a 20 minute drive from the lodge to where we jump in the cat. The last run is usually around 3pm and you will be back at the lodge around 430pm for aprés. Dinner is served at 730pm. How you spend the rest of your time is up to you!

How much skiing do you do in a day?
Most groups ski between six and nine runs each day.

When should we visit?
There are no bad times. It can snow at any point in the winter season and our catskiing terrain is well protected from the worst of the sun and wind.

What should I bring?
Boots, skis or snowboard along with all your regular ski outerwear. Helmets are mandatory. Regular clothes for lodge chilling. We will provide you with backpacks with all the safety equipment you need. You can choose to use either our regular packs or avalanche airbags.

Does the cat have heating?
Yes, it is nice and toasty for the rides uphill. Guests usually use the ride to play music, eat snacks and catch their breath before the run.

What certification do your guides have?
Our guides are all highly qualified and certified to industry standards.

Will I be required to sign a waiver?
Yes, all guests must agree to the waiver upon booking and then will be required to sign a physical one upon arrival at the lodge. This is absolutely mandatory. Our waiver can be viewed here.

What’s included in the price?
All accommodation, food (breakfast, lunch, aprés, dinner) and all mountain activities. Plus you can go home with a set of professional photos from your trip. Emergency medical evacuation insurance is included.

Can I book out the entire lodge and snowcat?
Absolutely! If we have a 12 person trip open then you and your friends are welcome to book the entire place.

What are your sleeping arrangements?
Guests sleep in the main lodge which has five bedrooms with a mix of double and triple occupancy. Prior to arrival we will contact you to best allocate the space.

Can I bring my own booze?
Absolutely. If you need something picked up on your behalf, please let us know well before your arrival and we can help you out.

What are your age requirements?

Minimum age to visit White Grizzly is 16.

Do you offer massage services?
We do, massages can be booked when you arrive or prior to your trip.

What’s the best way to travel to White Grizzly?
If you are outside of driving distance, then travellers usually fly into Spokane airport, Washington, and then hire a vehicle. International flights are also available into Cranbrook or Kelowna.

How do I get to White Grizzly?
Allow a two hour drive from Nelson, through Kaslo. If you are coming via Revelstoke then allow four hours and be aware that the Trout Lake Road (Highway 31) from Galena can be closed due to avalanche control and is a winding, often unplowed dirt road. We recommend Highway 6 to New Denver across to Kaslo instead. Contact us for travel advice from other locations.

I have to cross the border, do you have any advice?
Here is a link for all BC border crossings. Please check your relevant one for opening hours – https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/do-rb/provinces/bc-eng.html

What time should I arrive?
We ask that guests arrive between 4 and 6pm prior to your first day of skiing.

What time is checkout?
On your last day of skiing you will leave from our staging area to head off to your next destination. We also offer an additional nights stay on select trips for $285 per person (apres/dinner/breakfast included), which means you can head home the following morning by 9am.

Can I rent skis or snowboards?
Yes, certainly, this can be arranged upon your arrival. Guests bring their own boots. We have poles free of charge.

How can I offer gratuities?
Gratuities are customary in this industry and always hugely appreciated. If you think our team did a great job and went out of their way to ensure you had an awesome time, then a tip will mean a lot. You can use cash or card when you checkout at the end of your trip.

Do you have Wifi?
Yes!

What happens if the snowcat breaks down?
Our maintenance team keeps our equipment in good condition so problems are rare. But don’t worry, we always have a backup snowcat on standby.

What is your cancellation policy?
All bookings are non-refundable. We strongly suggest purchasing cancellation insurance – We recommend Acera Travel Insurance & Uniglobe Travel Insurance who have an understanding of the mechanized skiing industry.

Do you recommend taking out insurance?
As with any trip overseas, international guests should take out a travel insurance policy that covers them for any accidents or medical issues. We recommend Acera Travel Insurance & Uniglobe Travel Insurance

Are there any Covid restrictions in place and does this impact the experience?
We follow the guidelines provided by the government of BC. If there are any major Covid policies put in place then we will inform all arriving guests.

Book Your Trip

Our trips fill up quickly so to ensure your spot we recommend booking as early as possible. Once you send us an initial inquiry, we will get back to you to confirm a few details, and then get you all booked in for an amazing trip!

Contact Us

Packages

See cat ski pricing and packages.

Availability

Request a reservation

Booking Policies

Familiarize yourself with policies and liability waiver.