Poster: A snowHead
|
Howdy, just wanted some opinions on when to do a catboarding day at Whistler over a 10 day holiday. I mean I'd like to get my legs back in the game for a couple of days but I normally get fatigued by day 3 and power through to the 5th day when I generally get a second wind and go on to the end. So with the option of only 1 shot at it (unless its amazing) I really wanted to time it right and thought to ask how others might do it.
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Helicopters (which you're not asking about) often are unable to fly in Whistler because of the weather. It snows a lot, and the temperature of it isn't always conducive to flight, For those you want to book as early as you're comfortable with, in case you get skunked by the weather and need to shift your trip backwards.
Cats are much more reliable. There are still a couple of scenarios which prevent them running once the season's underway: rain top-to-bottom; not enough snow to fill in old tracks. Those are fairly uncommon, but if you're nervous then simply leave a gap before the end of your trip so you've some flexibility if the weather's uncooperative.
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
I thought that too @Alastair Pink and fortunately, thanks to your post, I wasn't disappointed
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Really? Wow! Then you guys need to head over to the thread 'Spyder tailored fit ski trousers' it's all about finding tiny trousers for arachnids!
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
I've never seen a spider with fat legs.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Best Spider-dog video ever......
@Gainz, I'll let you know, I've just rebooked my aborted Japan trip from last year - I've a week in Furano and 9 days in Niseko. I'm intending to hit up Niseko Weiss for a day - Did you head there?
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
@rogg, yes mate I done a day at Mt Weiss. Was the best day overall on the snow for me. We had a semi pow day in Niseko but it didn't last long enough.
As for the others - shame on you (includes you admin)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Is that a Toxic Avenger mask? Cool.
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
I've been to Whilster three times over the last five years, each trip consisting of 10+ days on snow.
On two of the trips I enquired about SnowCats and Helis and on both I didn't go due to weather, already booked up by other people or lack of (fresh) snow.
Even went on a cancellations list to no avail
Its not always in your sphere of control
They don't run every day
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
|
|
|
How do you get attach the snowboard bindings to the cat?!
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
Did a day with those guys in January, showed all the time, but we got I think 6 or 7 runs in through the trees. It snowed so much our tracks were filled in on some runs by the time we got back to the top. ( We didn't ski the same run twice, just could see where had previously been) Definitely recommend it, we had a mix of skiers and boarders. Only one chap ended up in a tree well......
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
Powder mountain is who we're looking at, from your experience guys how tough is the advanced group?
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
Haha me too... Every time I saw the title in New Posts I got the image of snow-/wake-/kite-boarding over some cats - to the point that I had to finally take a peek. Which frankly is a bit more dubious than cats doing those activities. I'll take a long hard look at myself.
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
It depends. Full disclosure: I run the booking system and website for Powder Mountain. And they don't do discounts I'm afraid. Most of this also applies to other operators in other locations of course.
Short version: it'll work out fine.
The way it works is that people sign up and say what their experience is, then the operations people try to "group them up" into compatible groups. Sometimes there's only one cat running (it depends on the number of guests and available fresh lines), other times there will be two. As everyone goes up in the cat together, there's not that much flexibility there (this is a good thing... wait a sec...). The limiting factor even with a professional group is the speed of the cat descending, so there's really no race to the bottom, so a wide range of ability can actually work in one cat. Better, they have two guides... one at the front and one at the back. If you have a wide ability difference, the group can split with one guide each. If there's a very wide gap, very slow people can be "leap frogged" if the cat's working the same area.
I would call into the shop, or give the operations manager (Gord) a call and talk it through with them just before. They'll know what sort of people they have, and they'll be interested to know what you want to do. They do that stuff (not me), so I can't really talk you through it. On the plus side, if you're really struggling you can ride down in the cat and not slow anyone else up (it happens, but it's very rare).
It depends what you mean by "tough". PM me if you want to be more specific. But really it'll be fine - be honest when talking to them about your experience and they'll make sure you get in the best place. They want everyone to have a great day, so they are keen to help.
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
Thanks philwig, I'll go with the advance group and step up my game me thinks!
|
|
|
|
|
|