Ski touring in a cat skiing operation: Not such a silly idea
Ski touring at White Grizzly is designed for backcountry skiers and riders who want to explore spectacular alpine terrain in the Selkirk Mountains. The White Grizzly terrain is immense and offers a variety of steep slopes, alpine couloirs, mellow snow dunes, and everything in between.
You begin the day with a snowcat ride to the treeline, it's like starting your tour halfway up the skin track. The snowcat isn't there to replace the work; it's there to skip the approach, and to bring you somewhere above treeline. From there, the day unfolds on skins, shaped by the snowpack, the terrain, and the group moving through it together.
But it's not just about skiing. The experience is only complete thanks to your stay at Wild Bear Lodge, a luxurious backcountry retreat, and genuinely, a very special place. Our private chef takes care of you while you relax in the sauna beside the Lardeau River. A private cabin awaits, offering a silent and replenishing night.
A small group for a big adventure. A secluded lodge in the forest, with unique access to pristine alpine wilderness.
How the Day Unfolds
The day starts with breakfast at the Wild Bear Lodge, followed by a short five-minute drive to the snowcat staging area. Enjoy the ride with a second breakfast, take in the terrain, and talk through the plan.
The staging area sits at approximately 650 metres. From there, the cat delivers us to treeline or into the alpine, usually between 1,800 and 2,100 metres. At that point, the engines shut off, skins go on, and the touring day begins.
Terrain, Objectives, and Decision-Making
When the snowpack allows, the terrain opens up to several significant alpine objectives, including Phaedo Peak (2,403 m), the Headwall Couloir (2,550 m), and an unnamed peak rising to 2,566 metres. These objectives offer a mix of open alpine features, rolling snowfields, and steeper slopes. Expect a full alpine touring day with real vertical, real terrain, and real consequences, managed carefully by experienced ACMG guides.
One Zone, Top-to-Bottom
Most days are spent entirely within the remote White Grizzly terrain, allowing for longer runs (a single run could be as long as 1,200 m of downhill for 500 m of uphill only, thanks to an efficient cat bump). You start high in exposed alpine terrain and finish deep in classic Kootenay glades—well-spaced trees that ski beautifully when the weather closes in.
Once we're out there, it's just the group, the guides, and the mountains. No lift lines. No crossover traffic. Just a full day immersed in one zone.
On clear days, views stretch across the valley to the Purcell Mountains, adding a sense of scale to an already committing environment. You can also spot Mount Marion, the rugged Goat Range in the Selkirks, and even the Bugaboos.
A secondary snowcat bump may be used to regain alpine elevation for another objective. It's like Uber, but louder, and with caterpillar tracks.
Back to the Lodge
At the end of the day, transport returns the group to the Wild Bear Lodge, where après is waiting for you. The sauna is hot, and for those who want it, a cold plunge offers a sharp reset after a full alpine day.
Dinner is served around 7 p.m. The pace slows. Stories surface. Gear dries. Then it's back to your private cabin to rest up for whatever the mountains have planned tomorrow.
Ski Touring at White Grizzly isn't about maximizing laps, it's about exclusive access, quality terrain, and shared days in the mountains.
Our trip lasts three days, so you take the time to unplug. There are only 6 guests at the time, because intimacy is what will make your trip so special. Each cozy cabin sleeps two guests, and comes with a private bathroom. Sleep matters. Privacy too.
Is this for you?
This trip is for those who value serious days in the mountains, and a seriously comfortable stay in a luxurious backcountry lodge.
For those who crave big days in the alpine, but also long sessions in the sauna.
For those who move fast, but also for those who go slower.
For those who appreciate the silence of pristine wilderness, and the loud joy born from flowy turns.