Beginner's Guide to Cat Skiing in BC

After arriving at the Smithers airport off a direct flight from Vancouver, I’m ushered to a nearby helicopter and whisked from a lakeside tarmac westward towards the Skeena Mountains.

Below me, I watch rivers wiggle through a diverse landscape as frosty wetlands turn to evergreen forest. The mountains are shrouded in fog and clouds, hinting at the snow that hides within. The pilot deftly winds his way through gentle valleys to find his way up. As the clouds become thick and snow begins to fly, I turn and smile at my friend beside me. We are going cat skiing. It doesn’t get much better.

Cat skiing is powered by big, strong, tractor-like machines called cats, with heated cabins fitted on their backs to carry skiers and snowboarders to powdery peaks. Think of it like a chunky shuttle bus capable of fulfilling your deepest powder-filled ski dreams.

Compared to more known heli-skiing experiences, cat skiing tends to be slower and a bit more relaxed and social. Guests can converse openly in the cabin, crank the tunes, shed layers of outerwear freely and snack away while being shuttled to the next drop off point. The ability to access day packs while inside the heated cabin can be a major plus for many. It’s also considerably more affordable.

Sure, you may not get back to the top as quickly as in a helicopter, but this more relaxed pace allows for more connection with the land, as well as family and friends or the new ski pals you’ll bond with over this intimate experience in the mountains.

I’ve come to Skeena Cat Skiing almost 10 years after I first visited. Back then, it was a plywood shack and a communal chili pot for dinner, but the skiing hinted at something greater. Nearly a decade later, the same down-to-earth, mom ‘n’ pop vibe lives on, but when it comes to professionalism and safety (not to mention terrain), Skeena Cat punches well above its weight.

Skeena Cat’s truly unique basecamp has evolved into a series of insulated yurts buried in metres of snow, with doorways hollowed out to allow access to comfortable sleeping quarters. It’s an experience that feels intimately tied to the wilderness of Northern BC, but the biggest benefit is the camp’s quick and easy access to the alpine—there’s no time wasted getting above the treeline.

Smithers is a two hours from Vancouver via daily commercial flights. From the Smithers airport, you’ll board a helicopter for a short flight to Skeena Cat Basecamp. Flying into Terrace (200 km from Smithers) and driving to the Smithers airport to meet the helicopter is another option. Multiple skiing and snowboarding destinations, like Shames Mountain, Hudson Bay Mountain, and the Hankin-Evelyn Backcountry Recreation Area can be accessed from both these cities.