A Great Day of Cat Skiing

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A Great Day of Cat Skiing
Author: Lachlan Brown

Snowcat skiing offers strong-intermediate and expert skiers the ultimate powder snow experience.

Operators provide full-service guided tours into remote high-mountain regions. Powder snow and "fresh tracks" are the norm. Uphill transportation is provided by a tracked snowcat having warm, comfortable cabs. They usually accommodate 12 guests, two guides and a driver.

Some snowcat operators are based in towns or near highways and offer guests continued access to "civilization". In some cases, guests use local hotels and restaurants for accommodation and meals. Such operators may offer single-day trips.

Other snowcat operators use remote lodges high in the mountains, far from cars and telephones. These lodges provide a multi-day backcountry experience in the midst of pristine alpine wilderness. They also place guests very close to their skiing.

Many backcountry "cat skiing" lodges offer double-occupancy bedrooms complete with private ensuite baths. They have cozy and comfortable sitting areas, dining halls with cathedral ceilings, drying rooms for boots and outside clothing, games rooms, well-stocked bars and "commercial" kitchens. They offer exercise areas, video players, satellite telephones, perhaps a computer with Internet access and, of course, a well-stocked bar. Guests can enjoy a social drink and spectacular views while luxuriating in an outdoor hot tub, and then step right to their bedrooms for a shower or a nap.

No special equipment is required for cat skiing, just boots and clothing. Powder skis can be rented at the lodge. However, snowboarders should bring their own boards. Guests will make the most of their snowcat skiing tour by being in good physical condition.

Lodge life is informal and relaxed. Juice and fruit and coffee are served at 7:00 AM and a buffet breakfast is available at about 7:30. Snowcats depart between 8:30 and 9:00, when guests are ready.

The first day of a tour is special. Guides take the first hour or so to make sure guests understand safety procedures. Everyone has practice using the radio beacons that the operator supplies. No one goes out without one.

The first run of the day is rarely more than 20 minutes from the lodge and the last run of the day can end at the lodge door. During the day, the group moves around, sampling different areas and never staying long in any one spot. Each run is in fresh, untracked snow.

On "bluebird" days, the guide will head for the high alpine. Perhaps for two or three runs on a glacier before trying the big open slopes, taking a run or two in each before heading to the next. The highest skiing elevation can be close to 10,000 ft and the views are spectacular. There is always time to pause for pictures.

If visibility is poor or if the alpine snow is unstable, it's off to one of the many ridges to "ski the trees". Tree skiing is amazing! The tree-protected snow is usually deeper and softer than in the alpine. It is consistent, light, and there are no moguls. The short, fat "powder skis" are easy to control. Forget the trees. Just ski the openings! Intermediate skiers who may never before have skied in trees find that they can not only do it, but that it's fun.

In the old burns, the trees are gnarly, but very widely spaced. The living forest has closer-spaced trees, but offers beautiful glades and tree stands that may have been thinned. Some of the glades are as open as some ski-area runs. The old cut-blocks are great fun. Snow-buried stumps create "pillows", small mounds to ski around or "pop" off. Landings are nearly always the same, soft and forgiving. It's amazing!

Guests team up in pairs in the trees and the guide keeps a watchful eye. No one gets separated. When a guest "augers in", his partner or the tail guide or someone else is close at hand to assist.

The speed of the group depends on it's ability. A group of good skiers may ski non-stop to the bottom; perhaps 1800 or 2000 ft. of pure joy, with lots of "whoops" and hollers". Slower groups will stop more often to rest, share experiences, take pictures and "smell the roses".

Guides are very responsive to the needs of the group. The guests set the pace. There is no pressure to maximize equipment usage. Each group has a dedicated snowcat that moves at the pleasure of the group. Guides are expert at providing for different skiers in their group. Stronger skiers may enjoy some "steeps", "drop-offs" or other challenges, while others are guided down more "mellow" lines.

By the end of the day, everyone is tired out. Guests who tire early can "sit out" a run and keep the driver company on the way back down the hill. If a guest wants to quit for the day, a staff member will shuttle them back to the lodge on a snowmobile. It's all very relaxed and very friendly.

Packed lunches are eaten in the snowcats, as guests feel hungry. It's possible to browse all day on a selection of sandwiches, wraps, cakes, cookies, buns and drinks. "Hip flasks" are definitely NOT welcome. Guides are extremely safety conscious and they want guests to be alert and functioning well at all times.

At 4:00pm, guests are welcomed back at the lodge with special snacks or hot soup. Guests then have over two hours to relax, shower, read, play pool, soak in the hot tub or hold up the bar. Other diversions are possible. Guests might have the opportunity to try out a snowmobile for the first time, to learn how these machines are driven, and to do some exploring.

Dinner is served at about 7:00pm and is of very high quality. Most operators provide gourmet cuisine with extensive wine lists and will carefully cater to guests with allergies and special needs. No one "dresses" for dinner. It's a relaxed, laid-back and friendly affair. Staff mingles with guests and share tales of the day's conquests. Amusing speeches and special "award" ceremonies are common. Everyone gets to know one another. There are no "loners".

After dinner, guests disperse to read, watch a video or to congregate in the bar or games room for some friendly darts or pool. At about 9:30 PM guests start to depart for their beds. The bar usually shuts down by 10:30 PM. Everyone is tired and looking forward to the next day!

Some photos of cat skiers at play can be found by following the links located at the bottom of the Chatter Creek Cat Skiing photos Web page at: http://www.backcountrywintervacations.com/snowboarding-pictures.html " www.backcountrywintervacations.com/snowboarding-pictures.html

About The Author

Lockie Brown lives in Vancouver, Canada and skis on Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. He also organizes cat skiing trips for groups of friends to Chatter Creek Mountain Lodges, located about 120 km north of Golden, BC, in a snow belt in the Canadian Rockies. Chatter Creek has an informative Web site at http://backcountrywintervacations.com/ " http://backcountrywintervacations.com/

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A Day of Cat Skiing

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A Day of Cat Skiing
Author: Lockie Brown
Snowcat skiing offers strong-intermediate and expert skiers full-service guided tours into remote high-mountain regions. Powder snow and "fresh tracks" are the norm. Uphill transportation is provided by a tracked snowcat equipped with warm, comfortable cabs. They usually accommodate 12 guests, two guides and a driver.

Some snowcat operators are based in towns or near highways and offer guests continued access to "civilization". In some cases, guests use local hotels and restaurants for accommodation and meals. Such operators may offer single-day trips.

Other snowcat operators use remote lodges high in the mountains, far from cars and telephones. These lodges provide a multi-day backcountry experience in the midst of pristine alpine wilderness. They also place guests very close to their skiing.

Many backcountry "cat skiing" lodges offer double-occupancy bedrooms complete with private ensuite baths. They have cozy and comfortable sitting areas, dining halls with cathedral ceilings, drying rooms for boots and outside clothing, games rooms, well-stocked bars and "commercial" kitchens. They offer exercise areas, video players, satellite telephones, perhaps a computer with Internet access and, of course, a well-stocked bar. Guests can enjoy a social drink and spectacular views while luxuriating in an outdoor hot tub, and then step right to their bedrooms for a shower or a nap.

No special equipment is required for cat skiing, just boots and clothing. Powder skis can be rented at the lodge. However, snowboarders should bring their own boards. Guests will make the most of their snowcat skiing tour by being in good physical condition.

Lodge life is informal and relaxed. Juice and fruit and coffee are served at 7:00 AM and a buffet breakfast is available at about 7:30. Snowcats depart between 8:30 and 9:00, when guests are ready.

The first day of a tour is special. Guides take the first hour or so to make sure guests understand safety procedures. Everyone has practice using the radio beacons that the operator supplies. No one goes out without one.

The first run of the day is rarely more than 20 minutes from the lodge and the last run of the day can end at the lodge door. During the day, the group moves around, sampling different areas and never staying long in any one spot. Each run is in fresh, untracked snow.

On "bluebird" days, the guide will head for the high alpine. Perhaps for two or three runs on a glacier before trying the big open slopes, taking a run or two in each before heading to the next. The highest skiing elevation can be close to 10,000 ft and the views are spectacular. There is always time to pause for pictures.

If visibility is poor or if the alpine snow is unstable, it's off to one of the many ridges to "ski the trees". Tree skiing is amazing! The protected snow is usually deeper and softer than in the alpine. It is very consistent and there are no moguls. The short, fat "powder skis" are easy to control. Forget the trees. Just ski the openings! Intermediate skiers who may never before have skied in trees find that they can not only do it, but that it's fun.

In the old burns, the trees are gnarly, but very widely spaced. The living forest has closer-spaced trees, but offers beautiful glades and tree stands that may have been thinned. Some of the glades are as open as some ski-area runs. The old cut-blocks are great fun. Snow-buried stumps create "pillows", small mounds to ski around or "pop" off. Landings are nearly always the same, soft and forgiving. It's amazing!

Guests team up in pairs in the trees and the guide keeps a watchful eye. No one gets separated. When a guest "augers in", his partner or the tail guide or someone else is close at hand to assist.

The speed of the group depends on it's ability. A group of good skiers may ski non-stop to the bottom; perhaps 1800 or 2000 ft. of pure joy, with lots of "whoops" and hollers". Slower groups will stop more often to rest, share experiences, take pictures and "smell the roses".

Guides are very responsive to the needs of the group. The guests set the pace. There is no pressure to maximize equipment usage. Each group has a dedicated snowcat that moves at the pleasure of the group. Guides are expert at providing for different skiers in their group. Stronger skiers may enjoy some "steeps", "drop-offs" or other challenges, while others are guided down more "mellow" lines.

By the end of the day, everyone is tired out. Guests who tire early can "sit out" a run and keep the driver company on the way back down the hill. If a guest wants to quit for the day, a staff member will shuttle them back to the lodge on a snowmobile. It's all very relaxed and very friendly.

Packed lunches are eaten in the snowcats, as guests feel hungry. It's possible to browse all day on a selection of sandwiches, wraps, cakes, cookies, buns and drinks. "Hip flasks" are definitely NOT welcome. Guides are extremely safety conscious and they want guests to be alert and functioning well at all times.

At 4:00pm, guests are welcomed back at the lodge with special snacks or hot soup. Guests then have over two hours to relax, shower, read, play pool, soak in the hot tub or hold up the bar. Other diversions are possible. Guests might have the opportunity to try out a snowmobile for the first time, to learn how these machines are driven, and to do some exploring.

Dinner is served at about 7:00pm and is of very high quality. Most operators provide gourmet cuisine with extensive wine lists and will carefully cater to guests with allergies and special needs. No one "dresses" for dinner. It's a relaxed, laid-back and friendly affair. Staff mingles with guests and share tales of the day's conquests. Amusing speeches and special "award" ceremonies are common. Everyone gets to know one another. There are no "loners".

After dinner, guests disperse to read, watch a video or to congregate in the bar or games room for some friendly darts or pool. At about 9:30 PM guests start to depart for their beds. The bar usually shuts down by 10:30 PM. Everyone is tired and looking forward to the next day!

Over 350 photos of Chatter Creek terrain and of cat skiers at play can be found on the http://powder-skiing.blogspot.com/. " target=new>Chatter News Web page at: http://powder-skiing.blogspot.com/.

About the Author

Lockie Brown lives in Vancouver. He skis on Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains and organizes cat skiing trips for groups of friends. His favorite location is Chatter Creek Mountain Lodges, located in a snow belt near Golden, in the Canadian Rockies. Learn more about http://www.backcountrywintervacations.com/ " target=new>Chatter Creek snowcat skiing at http://backcountrywintervacations.com/

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A Canada Winter

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A Canada Winter
Author: Rudy Hiebert
The youthfulness of children, memories, and the young at heart melt the frozen grip of the dreaded season. Not all find it so terrible, just take a walk around the block before it thaws and you will hear snowmobiles and the shrieks of hilarity from kids sliding
down the hill. Our hill one winter was the chicken coop roof. The drift reached the eaves as the wind build it up one flake at a time.

The memories of Canadian winters are not all fun and good times. One comes to mind when the storm blew in and our family experienced the term "snowbound" first hand. To our fortune, Father had correctly predicted it by watching for and noticing the sundogs a couple of days previously. He made sure we had furnace oil, feed delivered for the cattle, chickens and so every mouth on the farm had something to eat for a week. The quarter mile corner drifted five feet deep with solid pack hard
enough to hold a D-9 Cat as it whittled away at it two days later.

Creativity and resourcefulness reigns in times like this. No time is wasted during a real Canadian winter in the country. Baling twine supplied a new use for raw material to braid a rug for the dog or just parking my boots after making the moonscape like round trip to and from the barn.

Mail was a long awaited sign of relief from the incarceration of what seemed like house arrest. The seed catalog was like a Bible for the spiritually famished pagan. It brought assurance that Spring was not far hence on the calendar and under the frozen ground buried by the days and nights of blizzards and an inch of ice.

When the sun shines during these winters it gives more light than on a smoggy July day. It's a good time to start some seeds. Seeing the seedlings poke out from under warmed soft earth sterilized in the oven between Mom's baking buns and bread sparks more than hope. Pride in our strength and courage to call it another winter sprouts thoughts of a good crop of grain and new spring calves.

While these memories flooded into a greying head, the stove cooled off so I will need to leave you start a stew as I reload the wood box and stoke up the
stove.

About the Author

Rudy is not looking back on nightshifts and sixteen hour shifts. Writing about his passion and experiences with Amsoil Inc. products and opportunities for more than fifteen years makes work he enjoys like a hobby. Like somone famous said, "If you enjoy what you do, you won't work another day in your life".

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4 Yamaha ATV Vintage Picks

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4 Yamaha ATV Vintage Picks
Author: Donovan Keithly
Yamaha has been a leader in the industry for years producing a terrific line of motorcycles, ATV's, snowmobiles, boat motors, and watercraft. They've have a terrific reputation for building quality products at a price that you can afford especially when it comes to ATV's. Here are 4 Yamaha ATV vintage picks.

And there reputation is second to none when it comes to producing high performance ATVs. There all terrain vehicle line up is superb and considered by many to be the best out of all the manufacturers. But let's step back in time just a little bit and have a look at the best vintage sellers ever.

1. Banshee
This is the ultimate performer when it comes to all terrain vehicles. The 347 cc liquid cooled engine with twin 26mm Mikuni carburetors makes this a real performer and the manual clutch, six speed transmission, and knobby tires make it a hard one to turn down.

This ATV handles the toughest terrain you can find and it's up for any challenge you can throw its way. It had an optimized braking system with dual front disc brakes and its light weight frame build at under 400 pounds made this a real treat.

2. Blaster
This low price ATV is a lot of fun and its so durable. It's well known for its responsive handling and agility and the 195cc air cooled engine with six speed transmission is a real hit. Here you'll find a comfortable ride and a lot of power so whether you plan to put this ATV to work or take it into the outdoors for some outdoor fun hunting, fishing, or camping it won't let you down. This was a machine you couldn't go wrong with.

3. Breeze
In 1997 Yamaha offered a full line of Breeze all terrain vehicles. This 124cc four stroke engine was the smallest four Yamaha produced so it made it a great choice for those teens 16 to 18. It had an automatic transmission and was a great machine to get to know the basics about an ATV. It has a fully adjustable throttle limiter and an extremely quiet USFS arrestor. Just as its name suggests riding this ones a real breeze.

4. Badger
This was the ultimate introduction of the era for riders over the age of 12 with an adult supervising. The 79cc four stroke engine was a great place to start and it gave the young ones enough power to have some fun and to learn to be a responsible operator.

The Badger's bigger siblings would be happy to accommodate the older and more experienced rider but for the beginner just new to ATVing this is a great choice.

It has light steering, excellent front and rear suspension, low horsepower, and low maintenance.

Today Yamaha offers even more choices and impressive choices I might add. Each year Yamaha runs with technology offering a new and improved product that's sure to impress you. That's why they remain an industry leader.

It's fun to look back in time and see where we've been and then to dream about where we might be going. These 4 Yamaha ATV vintage picks were some of the best Yamaha ever produced. Ever wonder what the future brings?

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Donovan has been a SUV owner for the past 10 years. He's an active outdoors person who loves to go off roading in his ATV. He has owned and operated countless ATVs over the years and shares his riding techniques as well as model reviews on his site. To find out more visit the ATV reviews website.

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