Powder Snow
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The powder quality is pretty typical of the BC Interior with delightfully deep dry snow most of the time. And much of the snow is well protected by the trees and the aspect, so the snow quality is well maintained. Unfortunately prior to our visit there’d been a warm spell, so whilst the powder was really good at the top, the powder got rather heavy towards the lower parts of the runs.
As to be expected for the Selkirk Mountains, the snow falls in abundance but the actual volume is questionable. In some parts of Retallack’s website they cite 7-13 metres of annual snowfall, whilst their statistics page states an average of 15 metres of snow per year.
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Overall Terrain
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At 38 square kilometres (9,500 acres) the Retallack terrain is only moderately sized relative to other BC cat skiing, and with two cats running, the terrain size is just adequate to ensure fresh tracks. Whilst it appears that Retallack has variable terrain, unfortunately we didn’t experience this and every run had a feeling of déjà vu.
A huge plus for the operation is that the steep runs are long and the pitch generally continues right down to the cat track, with very few run outs or traverses. The whole run is a quality experience. The exception to this was one run we did that crossed a switch-backing road about 8 times, and the repeated 12 foot drops onto the hard cat track were very unenjoyable.
Another downside to our experience was a 20 minute ski down the cat track to the lodge at the end of the day, with occasional short-cuts over icy bumps. After skiing deep powder, riding the kitty litter was very uncool.
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| Alpine Terrain |
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| Retallack has a moderate amount of alpine terrain, some of which has a smattering of trees. The pitch in these areas is generally rather steep, so the likelihood of being able to ski these areas is very dependent on snowpack stability. |
| Tree Skiing |
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| Retallack describe their two types of tree skiing as “tree skiing” (ie tight trees) and “gladed skiing” (with a bit of space between the trees). We didn’t get to experience much of the latter. Very short stretches were in slightly open areas (generally where we took the photos) but otherwise every run consisted of steep pitches (beyond 35 degrees) with very tight trees. Some of the tree wells were huge, so the pillows of snow in between the trees were very narrow. The tree skiing was bordering on being for experts only, and was perfect for very technical skiers and riders. |
Strong Intermediate Terrain
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| Whilst Retallack’s website states that they can cater to intermediate riders, I don’t think I’d believe it! Retallack has absolutely nothing suitable for intermediate skiers or snowboarders. |
Advanced Terrain
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Retallack’s terrain is probably not well suited to lower end advanced riders unless they take it really easy (or unless avalanche conditions allow full access to the alpine areas). The ability to do this may be dependent upon the guide. We had a few people in our group that were struggling somewhat with the terrain, but the guide just kept forging ahead.
For strong advanced riders, the terrain is superb. A little more variety would have scored them more points here.
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Expert & Extreme Terrain
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| Some of the tree skiing is best suited to experts considering the steep pitch and tightness of the trees. The occasional cliff-ette was present in the trees and there are more cliffs and rocks to huck off in the open areas. |
| Guiding |
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| The guiding was essentially really good, but had a few minor shortcomings. The guiding was a little loose at times with inadequate re-grouping; particularly a concern as we had a first-timer in the group who managed to board past the group on a couple of occasions. The guides were loads of fun but one lacked a little in the professionalism stakes (see below). |
| Snowcat |
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The snowcat cabin was reasonably well set up, with only minor limitations. All seats faced forwards which made for a very comfortable ride. Only the jump seat faced backwards, which surprisingly the guide didn’t offer to sit in. One shortcoming was that the lunch and snack bins were stored on the floor in between the seats, which made it difficult to walk in and out of the cat without tripping over them. Lastly the velour chairs were brown with yellow speckles that looked like baby sick. Of course this isn’t really an important aspect of the quality of the snowcat!
Retallack have the advantage of backup snowcats in case of mechanical failure.
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Avalanche Mitigation Strategies
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| Safety is Retallack’s number one priority and this is communicated to guests and evident in the efforts they put into avalanche risk mitigation. They occasionally blast with explosives, but generally rely on slope selection to minimise risk. The snow and avalanche management system is comprehensive including weather monitoring, avalanche forecasting communications, twice daily guide meetings, well qualified guides, and sometimes they send an additional snow safety team into the field for additional testing. On-site slope testing and good instructions from the guides also minimised the risk. Three safety backpacks per snowcat were distributed amongst the guests. These contained a shovel and probe, and one pack had a radio. |
Safety Briefing
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The indoor component of the safety briefing regarding general backcountry hazards covered most things. However the briefing had little structure to it so the guide seemed to forget some elements, and then remember them later. Whilst it was a good briefing, it didn’t leave you brimming with confidence.
The practical outdoor avalanche transceiver training was really comprehensive and included shovel and probe techniques. However the professionalism of the guide was somewhat surprising. He made yellow snow in the presence of female guests whilst simultaneously providing part of the briefing!
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Frills
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| Retallack provides pretty good frills. The sandwiches for lunch were simple, but the multitude of snacks and sweet treats, and the hot tea added to the “niceties” of the cat skiing experience. Retallack have a large range of powder skis and snowboards for rent, so you’ll be able to feel like a hero out on the snow. |
| Accommodation |
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The culture of the lodge is a highlight of the operation, and the multiple common areas ensure that everyone’s needs are met. You can party on, play games or chill out. The hot tub is a central hub of festivities and the massage services are also very popular.
The rooms have twin or double beds and an ensuite which is a bonus (although I’ll try and forget my cold shower experience!). The home-cooked meals are also a feature, and if it weren’t for all the energy being expended during the day, the food would definitely result in a fat-cat belly.
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Value for Money
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The cost per day for the cat skiing package (that includes meals and accommodation) is slightly above average when compared to other BC cat skiing operators. However considering the quality of the lodge, the meals and the powder, it’s money well spent! Unfortunately the use of powder skis and snowboards is not included in the package and attracts an additional fee.
The day skiing is very well priced, although this is only available on a standby arrangement.
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