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Cat Skiing in and around Colorado
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So I've never thrown down the cash to go on a cat ski trip, but I think this year I'm gonna look into it. I've heard some good stories about them and it sounds like an experience I need to have at least once. I can go on day trips on sleds with friends once in a while to places like Vail pass, is cat skiing much better? Worth the money? Can anyone recommend a particularly awesome trip and/or company (day or longer, doesn't matter)? Time of year doesn't matter.
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These dudes rock and I have no affiliation with them but skied with them maybe 6 days.
http://www.steamboatpowdercats.com/ability/index.htm
As for cat skiing and its value I can only comment on my past experiences so here they are.
1 - You're nearly guaranteed powder, its amazing what a good job they do finding fresh powder even if it hasn't snowed for a week plus. All the guides will be incredibly knowledgeable about slopes that hold good snow well and will plan your day around them.
2- You need to realize unless you book the entire cat you're subject to skiing terrain that everyone can handle....meaning far too often you're not on challenging terrian. Don't go cat skiing and expect to drop 20+ cliffs or ski steeps....go simply for the pow pow. Though both can happen so it's a little situational.
3- The value - hard to say, if you know you're not going to get many pow days one year then yes yest it is worth it. You'll get around 12-14 runs that will all be quality!
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Well in my oppinion sled skiing is way better. its faster and you are with your crew, you can go wherever you want to ski. and snowmobiles are bad ass. in a cat you can get stuck with slow old guys and you can really only ski as fast as the cat moves, so 7-10 runs a day depending on timing, and genrally youre restricted to 1 zone for the entire day. You need to check out irwin cat skiing up here in the butte. its back open as of this year and you could get on for a real reduced rate if you came at the right time. if you have dates in mind let me know and I can give you prices. Irwin is super nice cat skiing though. youre looking at about 500 for a full day if you get on the trip last minute. smail you know how to get a hold of me, if youre interested give me a call and we can work it out for you. Irwin is a friend of the shop and they want to get more skiiers like us out there.
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Haha, ya I was gonna shoot you a text and ask about it. Maybe we'll just have to go sledding in the Butte area sometime then.
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interested as well
on a sort of related note
I almost did a day at monarch cat skiing
We got there after it having dumped all week and the information people told us that it was going to be the first day the cats ran that year. That plus the snow i was really stoked.
Here is the wack part, we show up to the cat office area and they say they have no record of our reservation, and the didn't have a driver or guides for that day.
That was probably the most bummed i have ever been.
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