Wildhorse Catskiing
Wildhorse BC Cat Skiing Review Wild horses couldn’t drag you away from Ymir, the home of Wildhorse Cat Skiing.
BC cat skiing is fabulous, but cat skiing in the infamous Powder Triangle is absolutely awesome. Wildhorse Cat Skiing is near Nelson, the cat skiing capital of the world. Some may dispute this claim, but with an average of 12.7 metres of annual snowfall, and plenty of terrain, you can’t go wrong. Wildhorse cat skiing is a haven for powder hounds – giddy up!
Cat Skiing or Cat Boarding Packages Wildhorse is one of only a handful of Canadian cat ski operations that provide the option of single day trips. Wildhorse also offers 2-5 day packages with the complete flexibility of starting dates (subject to availability). The multi-day packages include meals and accommodation at the Ymir Palace Inn. This old building has been lovingly restored. Some of the floorboards have a peculiar slope to them, the rooms are pretty simple, and some have shared bathrooms. However the antiques and heritage of the building add incredible charm and character. The quaintness is complemented by incredibly friendly hosts and great food.
Where is Wildhorse Cat Skiing Located? Wildhorse catskiing starts in the town of Ymir which is 25 minutes south of Nelson in the West Kootenays of BC. The locals will look at you strangely if you pronounce Ymir incorrectly. It’s “Why-Mer”, or as the joke goes – “Why Am I Here” or the short version is “Why-‘m-I-‘ere”? Ymir is only a tiny town, so don’t expect variety-packed nightlife or shopping.
From the Ymir Palace it’s a short drive up Wildhorse Creek Rd and then the ride up to the snowcat is in a plastic sled contraption towed behind a snowmobile. The fast gallop is a bit bumpy, but it’s novel and rather fun!
The closest regional airport is Castlegar (unaffectionately known as Cancelgar), and the closest international airport is Spokane (WA, USA) from which various transport options are available.
Wildhorse Powder Mining Terrain The operation is probably best suited to advanced skiers and boarders. The terrain on offer is incredibly varied including steep tree skiing as well as gentler open powder stashes. Particularly in the mellow areas, there are quite a few natural delights that you can jump off and plenty of fluffy pillows. There are also some alpine bowls that can be accessed depending upon snowpack conditions.
The land tenure of Wildhorse cat skiing is large, but some of it is shared with their
Ymir Yurts backcountry skiing operation.
More Reasons to Get Bucked By the Wildhorse One of the benefits of cat skiing with Wildhorse is the location considering the abundance of powder that falls, and its proximity to ski resorts such as
Whitewater and
Red Mountain. The ability to mix cat skiing and resort skiing can be great for those on a limited budget, although cat skiing with Wildhorse is so reasonably priced that you might not bother with skiing at the resorts. Multi-day packages start from about CA$400 per day which includes accommodation at the Ymir Palace and meals. Super great value!
Wildhorse is not a “company” but rather a small operation of which Trevor is the “lead wrangler”. The outfit like the horse is somewhat untamed. If you want to be picked up in a limousine, wear your matching Prada outfit and get completely pampered, then this cat ski operation is not for you (although you can get pampered back at the Ymir Palace). Wildhorse is suited to those who love a real adventure. The culture is very laid-back, friendly and relaxed, without compromising on professionalism - it’s fabulously wild!
See our
Wildhorse cat ski review for more information.
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