Tucker Mountain (Copper) question

[johnnash]

Hi, I'll be skiing Copper Jan 25-27 with 3 teenage boarders, and the Tucker Mtn snowcat sounds like fun. But 2 quick questions:

(1) I see this is on a first-come-first serve basis, so what is a realistic expectation about the wait?
(2) We've never done back-country and I just want to be sure we're not getting in over our heads. We can all handle steeps fine, as long as they're reasonably wide and not solid moguls (eg, we enjoy Mineral Basin in Snowbird and the back bowls at Vail), but we don't have experience in glades. Are there lines you can ski on Tucker that don't require skiing through dense trees, or at least don't combine trees and steep pitch?

Thanks for anyn info.!

 

[CO_knuckle_dragger]

To get to the cats you will need to get to the top of the front side of Copper and then drop off the back (the cat is off to skier's right). When you are standing on top of the ridge you will be able to plainly see the terrain you would be entering from the top of the cat track.

I've never ridden the cat, but the terrain it serves looks a lot more mellow than the stuff you can hike to from the top of the ridge. Its not bad at all really... But I also haven't been there in a couple seasons and have no idea what the conditions are like.

 

[ChrisC]

Hi, I'll be skiing Copper Jan 25-27 with 3 teenage boarders, and the Tucker Mtn snowcat sounds like fun. But 2 quick questions:

(1) I see this is on a first-come-first serve basis, so what is a realistic expectation about the wait?

During the week, there was no wait - maybe 1 cat if you showed up at the end. However, only one was running - so you could watch the 'snail' make its way up and down.

(2) We've never done back-country and I just want to be sure we're not getting in over our heads. We can all handle steeps fine, as long as they're reasonably wide and not solid moguls (eg, we enjoy Mineral Basin in Snowbird and the back bowls at Vail), but we don't have experience in glades. Are there lines you can ski on Tucker that don't require skiing through dense trees, or at least don't combine trees and steep pitch?

Thanks for anyn info.!

This is not really backcountry skiing. Very similar to Vail/Snowbird - but less traffic so no moguls. Maybe cut-up crud at the worst. But it faces north, so quality should be quite good. There are no glades really - so do not worry about trees.

However, to set some expectations. The cat takes you no where near the summit of Tucker Mt. It takes you up to the start of the ridge to hike up to Tucker Mt. If you ski where the cat lets you out - it is maybe an intermediate meadow between the two sides of the valley.
Most hike a bit to get up to the ridge a little. Few do the 15 min hike to get to summit.

I did it once for the experience. And then hiked for some powder. Hey, it's free. Still fun. But unless you are going to hike, it's not worth repeating. That is why the lines for a free cat are short.



Here are some pics. The red shows the cat path. It ends in the saddel.

Hike to summit.

The lift served side of the valley. The terrain is as good, easier to access, but faces south.

 

[johnnash]

Thanks much. Great pix and very helful information.

 

[Admin]

Probably the best answer to a question I've seen around here! Nice work, Chris.