2010 Could be a Great Year to Try B.C. Cat Skiing

[Tony Crocker]

Last week's e-mail:
From: Erin Cumming
Sent: June 28, 2009 2:44 PM
To: Tony Crocker
Cc: Chatter Creek
Subject: Chatter 2010

Hey all!!!

Chatter has asked me if they can put the remaining seats from our cat up for sale on their website. I thought I'd give one more try - do you know of anyone who might be interested in joining us next year?

So far, it's:
[5 people have signed up for 2010 out of the 24 seats this subgroup has controlled since Lockie Brown set it up]
Jan 29-Feb 2, 2010 - $3630CDN + tax

Let me know asap!

Thanks,
Erin

I realize that few if any of you FTO regulars will be tempted by this. But I think there's greater opportunity illustrated by this situation. The Chatter website only shows scattered openings for 2009-10 (and none for our time). So they are probably giving repeat customers more time to renew before opening up to the public.

So out of curiosity I checked Island Lake:
http://www.islandlakeresorts.com/winter/Rates.asp Only 5 out of 35 trips sold out.

Mid-January to mid-March at both Chatter and Island Lake would normally be sold out well before now to repeat customers. The economy didn't hit much last year because booking and deposits for 2009 were made in winter/spring 2008. But when it came time for 2009 customers to renew for 2010, it looks like many of them did not. These are marquee snowcat operations. There are a bunch of lesser known places that rate to have plenty of vacancies.

I believe that in winter 2010 there will be unprecedented opportunity to score snowcat/heli skiing on relatively short notice. Maybe even with discounts, which Island Lake offered a few times in 2009. Fly to interior B.C. for a couple of weeks, stay in reasonably priced lodging somewhere like Nelson or Revelstoke, and start calling around a few weeks before you go, continuing once you arrive. With exception of remote lodges like Chatter Creek where the logistics won't work, I can already attest that some of these places will bend their rules about multiple day or full week bookings. I got 2 days at Wiegele booked only 3 weeks ahead in 2007, and the day at Eagle Pass this year reserved only 3 days before. In the latter case it was so short notice that I even knew they were expecting new snow the day before I would ski. At any rate, reserving even 2-3 weeks ahead will raise your odds of good snow well above the traditional client who reserves a year in advance.

When the consumer has the economic leverage, don't be shy about trying to use it!

 

[socal]

I realize that few if any of you FTO regulars will be tempted by this.

I know I am if you're looking for people to fill out the group let me know. A few of us have considered heading up to BC for a week and 4 days of cat skiing sounds great. I like your idea of last minute, but considering that I can't spend 2 week up in BC (and away from work) it's seems like it'll be tough to actually find a somewhat last minute heli/cat deal and actually find flights that don't cost a fortune. If I can get a decent deal and book it in advance I'm fine with that. Utah's my last minute weekend spot, and Baldy/Waterman for the weekday.

 

[Tony Crocker]

I know I am if you're looking for people to fill out the group let me know.

Yes, they are looking. There have been 2 cats for this group the past 3 years. I was in the slower cat but one of the faster people in it for 2009. Ben Solish was in the faster cat, as are the 4 remaining people signed up for 2010. SoCal would fit it just fine there.

I like your idea of last minute, but considering that I can't spend 2 week up in BC

The Chatter Creek dates are Friday-Tuesday. My trip has been ~10 days during the past 3 seasons. There's no reason someone couldn't go up there for one week. The reason I suggest 2 is that distances between places can be long, and if the weather says one region is better than another you can be looking at a 7+ hour drive to relocate. That was Kicking Horse to Red Mountain in 2005, and Calgary to Blue River in 2007.

Assuming that keeping costs and flexibility manageable are priorities for a 1 week trip, I would recommend flying to Spokane and driving to Nelson.
1) Southwest services Spokane so air prices are competitive.
2) There are numerous cat operators within 2 hour radius of Nelson: Baldface, Valhalla, Big Red, Retallack, White Grizzly. I've probably left a couple out. Fernie/Island Lake/Powder Cowboy are 5 hours from either Nelson or Spokane.

Downside is that snow reliability is less than some of the places farther north if it's warm and/or rainy. My time at Chatter would have been mediocre in 2007 or 2009 around Nelson/Fernie. Snowfall is abundant, 400+. Most years you will be fine if you do it in January or February. Retallack was great powder in late January 2000 even though last big dump was 2 weeks before. It would be much less likely in March with that weather pattern.

 

[Tony Crocker]

I believe that in winter 2010 there will be unprecedented opportunity to score snowcat/heli skiing on relatively short notice. Maybe even with discounts, which Island Lake offered a few times in 2009. Fly to interior B.C. for a couple of weeks, stay in reasonably priced lodging somewhere like Nelson or Revelstoke, and start calling around a few weeks before you go

Done, both booked today:
Mustang Powder Jan. 25-27, 25% discount.
Island Lake Feb. 4-5, 35% discount

Chatter Creek is in between, Jan. 30-Feb. 2, booked last year at regular rates. Chatter is mostly sold out for this season and thus not a great bet for the last minute strategy. Nonetheless with the above results I'm inclined not to book cat skiing a year ahead at full price for awhile.