Day 3 was a combination for the first two. Bad visibility above tree line, but with the ongoing new snow some good skiing. Unexpected terrain contours in flat light are more forgiving with some light new snow on top.
Day 4 the modest accumulation of new snow continued, and the fluff factor was now above average for cat skiing. We still had to stay off the steeper south exposures as you would hit the crust under the new snow, but the guide did a good job avoiding that. However it was a frustrating day. There was a lot of fog along the Columbia River and Kinbasket Lake, so the helicopters could not get in to take us out. Therefore we stopped skiing at 1:15 after only 5 runs and 6,800 vertical. Back to the lodge, get all the luggage in a big trailer towed by one of the cats, and the cats finally set off at 2:45. At 4:15 we reached an exchange point where the new tour arrivals came in on a school bus. After luggage exchange we were off in the bus for another 1 1/2 hours. By the time we unloaded I left the small Donald airport north of Golden at 6:30 and got to Fairmont Hot Springs about 8:30.
Day 4 the modest accumulation of new snow continued, and the fluff factor was now above average for cat skiing. We still had to stay off the steeper south exposures as you would hit the crust under the new snow, but the guide did a good job avoiding that. However it was a frustrating day. There was a lot of fog along the Columbia River and Kinbasket Lake, so the helicopters could not get in to take us out. Therefore we stopped skiing at 1:15 after only 5 runs and 6,800 vertical. Back to the lodge, get all the luggage in a big trailer towed by one of the cats, and the cats finally set off at 2:45. At 4:15 we reached an exchange point where the new tour arrivals came in on a school bus. After luggage exchange we were off in the bus for another 1 1/2 hours. By the time we unloaded I left the small Donald airport north of Golden at 6:30 and got to Fairmont Hot Springs about 8:30.