Itinerary

Day 0- Arrival day (the day before the first day of skiing)

Helicopter transfer from Smithers airport directly to basecamp approx 30 mins).

If helicopter transfer isn't available, transport from Smithers Airport (or a hotel in Smithers) at a pre-arranged time to the snowcat staging area. Transfer luggage into the snowcat for trip up to the backcountry base camp. Settle into back camp. 

Day 1 - 2/3/4 – Cat Skiing Days

Mornings
Each day you will awaken to a scrumptious breakfast. Daily breakfasts consist of fresh pastry, cake or muffins, home-made granola, yoghurt, home-canned fruit (peaches/pears) or fresh fruit, toast with home-made jams/jellies...set up as a self-serve buffet. A cooked breakfast is also served daily and is anything from simple bacon and eggs to fritattas, quiche and crepes. Breakfast is held in the common tent where you will also be briefed on the snow conditions.

During the Day
On your first ski day you will be provided with avalanche safety gear and you will be provided with a short session on how to use the equipment.

Throughout the day you will be provided with non-alcoholic drinks, snacks and light food on the snowcat so you don't miss any valuable skiing time.

An average day is 10 - 16 runs (10,000 to 14,000 vertical feet) and they have been known to do as much as 20,000 feet of vertical in a day. This highly depends on the speed of the group and whether you are there to max the vertical or to enjoy the moment and relax a bit.

Afternoon
In the late afternoon you can take a well earned rest in your tent, relax in the hot tub, or join in on après ski appetizers and drinks whilst socialising and reminiscing about the great day of skiing. There is very limited wifi internet available for you to catch up on emails with your family and friends (but not enough to download/upload photos and videos each day).

The bar will be open serving beer, wine and hard liquor.

Evening
Each night you will be refuelled with a 3 or 4 course dinner. The types of cuisine served include organic local beef, lamb and chicken, as well as wild meat (venison, moose, elk) and fish (salmon and halibut). After dinner if you are still peckish there is fresh fruit and cookies set out, plus a variety of other snacks to munch on (and any leftover dessert).

Then it's off to bed for a good night's sleep in your cozy tent to rejuvenate the body before doing it all again the next day. 

Departure Day

After a full day of cat skiing (including breakfast and lunch on the run) and après ski appetizers in the afternoon, you will be transferred to Smithers Airport for your journey home or onwards.

Ideally you will transfer via helicopter or via oversnow & road if helicopter service is not an option.

There are evening flights to Vancouver or you may choose to stay in one of the Smithers' hotels.

Lodging

For guests at the Skeena Cat Skiing backcountry camp there are six, twenty 12x12 insulated "bedroom" guest tents, each with 2 single beds (or a king bed), a propane heater, coat rack, night table and electrical outlets so you can charge your phone/camera/computer. Comfortable bedding and towels are supplied, plus porta potty toilets.

There is a 40 x 60 common tent which provides ample space for the kitchen, dining and lounge area. The wood-burning space heater provides the heat as well as a cozy atmosphere. There is a drying tent that is heated to dry out your boots, gloves and outdoor apparel.

The well heated shower house has shower stalls, sinks and flushing toilets. Skeena Cat Skiing supplies organic shampoo, conditioner and soap. There is also a double outhouse.

There is no TV, no cell service and very very limited internet access. In addition to skiing and snowboarding gorgeous powder, a major objective of your stay at base camp is to fully relax and get away from it all.

Backcountry base camp

Your cozy room

..the communal tent

2025 Rates, Inclusions & Add-Ons

3 day package:$1,150 to $1,450 per day
4 day package:$1,150 to $1,450 per day

• prices / invoice currency is in Canadian dollars
• prices are ex tax
• prices are per person
• days outlined are cat skiing days, with guest arriving the day prior to the first day of skiing

Inclusions

• Guided cat skiing (max group of 12 with 2 guides)
• Double or twin-share backcountry tent-style accommodation with heating
• Avalanche transciever use & instruction
• Transport between Smithers airport and backcountry basecamp
• All meals, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages (buy alcohol as you go) & more....
• Comfy bedding & towels, shampoo, conditioner & soap

Add-ons

• Ski rentals - $40 per day
• Helicopter transfer from Smithers Airport to Basecamp (estimated at CAD $400 p.p. round trip - to be confirmed)

Not Included

• Flights - search for cheapest flights here
• Travel insurance - buy travel insurance online here
• Ski & snowboard rentals
• Personal items and services (alcoholic beverages, tips etc)

SKEENA CAT SKIING INC. ALL-INCLUSIVE PACKAGE TERMS AND CONDITIONS - Winter 2023

GENERAL TERMS & CONDITIONS

All-inclusive packages include hotel pick up (3 pm on the day before first ski date) and delivery back to the Smithers Airport or hotel after skiing on the last ski day, all meals, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, lodging at the Backcountry Base Camp, full days of cat skiing, one guide for every 6 guests, use of a transceiver and a transceiver lesson (on first ski date), emergency medical and evacuation insurance. Packages do NOT include equipment rental, alcoholic beverages, transfers outside of the scheduled pick up and delivery times, travel and cancellation insurance, taxes. In the event of circumstances beyond the control of Skeena Cat Skiing Inc., at the Backcountry Base Camp, Skeena Cat Skiing Inc. reserves the right to cancel a ski day or days as per Paragraph below Cancellation by Skeena Cat Skiing Inc. Transfers outside the scheduled pick up and delivery times are not allowed. In the event, that a transfer outside the scheduled times is required, the guest will pay all associated costs. 

RESERVATION OF SKI DATES

To secure a reservation, each guest must fill out the online Registration form. Once the deposit of 25% of the full package price is received by Skeena Cat Skiing Inc., your trip is booked! Deposits must be paid by credit card and the remaining balance of 75% of the full package price by October 15. After October 15, the balance payable will be charged to your credit card. 

RELEASE OF LIABILITY

Every guest is required to sign a Release of Liability form before skiing commences. A SAMPLE form can be downloaded here. Skeena Cat Skiing Inc. strongly suggests that you read and understand the Release of Liability before you arrive for your cat skiing trip. 

CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS

Ski packages are for specific dates and are fully transferrable to another person(s). There are no refunds, either total or partial for any unused services.

Cancellation by guest: If a guest cancels prior to October 15, the deposit amount will be refunded by Skeena Cat Skiing Inc. less an admin fee. If a guest cancels after October 15,the full amount paid will be retained by Skeena Cat Skiing Inc. and Skeena will try to reserve your spot to another guest, your payment will be applied to a future booking less and given discount.

TRAVEL AND CANCELLATION INSURANCE

Skeena Cat Skiing Inc. strongly suggests that guests purchase trip cancellation insurance. See travel insurance options here >>