miles of powder mountains of fun

Transcription

1 miles of powder mountains of fun SNOWCAT SKIING Nick & Ali Holmes-Smith and Tom & Carolyn Morgan RR#2, Site 23, Comp 11, Chase, BC, Canada V0E 1M0 Phone Fax

2 Cover photo Anstey Lodge Photo by Nick Holmes-Smith Tsuius Lodge Photo by Brad White

3 welcome For enthusiastic powder skiers and snowboarders, Monashee Powder offers exhilarating snowcat excursions through untracked powder. We re located in the Monashee s, the most westerly range of B.C. s Columbia Mountains. Renowned as the birthplace of both heli and snowcat skiing, the Columbia Mountains are blessed with fabulous alpine bowls, steep tree runs to valley bottom and more powder snow than you can possibly imagine. Our Bombardier snowcats with comfortable passenger cabins will transport you up the mountain. Our guides will then lead you through the unspoiled powder, down to a snowcat pickup point. Our large skiing areas and the Monashees dependable snowfall assure fresh powder on every run. For your safety, all our lead guides are either UIAGM or ACMG certified, with extensive guiding experience in B.C. s mountains. They carefully consider the ability level of the group so everyone has a great run. Please be aware, though, that we cannot eliminate all the risks of the backcountry.* * Before skiing, you must sign a Release from Liability and Assumption of Risks. 1 Tsuius Lodge Photo by Lutz Sackman 2

4 our company Monashee Powder Adventures has been treating snow junkies to world-class powder skiing since From a 12-guest tent operation, we ve grown to two mountain lodges about 65 kilometers (40 miles) apart. Both lodges are on the snowy (western edge) of the Monashee Mountains, an area famous for consistently heavy snowfalls. In fact, a Canadian snowfall record was established between our two lodges. The original lodge at Tsuius Mountain, south of the TransCanada Highway, is accessed from Vernon, B.C. via Highway 6 East to Cherryville. The new Anstey Lodge, located north of the TransCanada Highway and accessed west of Revelstoke, starts its first season in Company buses and snowcats transport guests to each lodge, so we ve arranged convenient meeting places along the highways. Each lodge houses 24 guests plus staff. Our chefs and bakers prepare exceptional meals using premium local ingredients like wild B.C. salmon and organically raised bison, and lamb. To complement the cuisine, each fully licensed lodge serves a selection of awardwinning wines. Therapeutic massage is available, and each lodge has an outdoor hot tub. RESPECTING THE MOUNTAINS For Monashee Powder Adventures, environmental responsibility is a serious commitment. We strictly observe the code of best practices of B.C. s heli and snowcat skiing industry, which we helped develop. This code covers such issues as wildlife avoidance, fuel storage and litter prevention. Recognizing that B.C. s Mountain Caribou population has decreased over the past century, our company has initiated and is funding an important project. Using Anstey Lodge as a base, a full-time researcher will travel throughout the Monashee Mountains near Revelstoke with a mandate of maintaining a separation between the Mountain Caribou and skiers and snowmobilers. 3 Tsuius Lodge Photo by Dan Hudson Tsuius Lodge Photo by Graham Genge 4

5 Anstey Tsuius trip schedule Guests arrive the evening before their trip dates. BREAKFAST 7:00 Wake-up call 7:30 Full breakfast in dining room Lunch buffet is set out early for guests to prepare their lunches. SAFETY BRIEFING & SNOWCAT ORIENTATION (Prior to skiing on your first day) Safety briefing, training session with avalanche beacons and avalanche transceiver search practice Signing of waiver of liability HIT THE SLOPES On the first morning, we depart from the lodge between 9:30 and 10:00 am. For the rest of your trip, the cats leave at 8:30. Lunch is eaten in the snowcat between runs. We return between 4:00 and 5:00 pm. We often ski right back to the lodge as our last run of the day. From December through early February, we operate on Mountain Time to get people out of bed earlier and lengthen the ski day. Our goal is to give you as much skiing as possible while keeping you safe. If you re feeling tired, you can sit out some runs. To prevent injury or incident, please give full attention to your guide s instructions. APRÈS SKI After skiing, enjoy appetizers and drinks at the bar. Guests can then soak in the hot tub and enjoy a massage. DINNER Each evening, our excellent chefs prepare a gourmet four-course meal. LAST DAY OF SKIING Pack your gear first thing in the morning so you can ski as late as possible. After skiing, we return you to your vehicle. When booking your flight home, please be aware that we cannot take individuals out of the lodge early. 5 Tsuius Lodge Photo by Nick Holmes-Smith 6

6 tsuius lodge Located on the site of our first snowcat operation, Tsuius (too-soo-yoos) offers 66 square kilometers (17,000 acres) of steep, open bowls, well-spaced trees and snow over 60 feet a year! The lodge s high elevation means short morning cat rides to access the skiing. Tsuius Mountain s long ridgeline offers five alpine ski zones. On clear days, we spend most of the day in the alpine bowls, finishing some of the runs by skiing down through the trees to the snowcat. Overall, we spend more than half of our time skiing at tree-line and above. On snowy days when alpine visibility is poor, we ski in the trees and cut-blocks Monashee tree skiing at its best! Some of our runs Jagermeister, for instance extend through the cedar canopy forest to valley bottom. The cut-blocks offer a terrain park experience with humps, pillows and rolls. ACCOMMODATION At 1610 m (5300 feet), Tsuius Lodge is among B.C. s highest cat or heli skiing lodges, offering spectacular views of the surrounding Monashee Range. Our lodge comfortably accommodates up to 24 guests, with two or three guests per bedroom and shared bathrooms. At Tsuius, most trips run Friday to Sunday and Monday to Thursday. We offer some two-day trips early in December. Artistic rendering of the Anstey Mountain Lodge anstey lodge Experience incredible powder skiing at our new Anstey Lodge, located in the Monashee Mountains 40 miles north of Tsuius Lodge. The top of the mountain offers views of the Anstey Arm of Shuswap Lake to the west and the rugged Monashees to the east. With approximately 125 square kilometers (32,000 acres), it s one of the largest cat skiing operations in existence. The vertical drop of most runs is 450 to 1000 m ( feet), with one run exceeding 1500 m (5000 feet)! With long ridges to provide routes for drop-off roads, existing logging roads at valley bottom for quick pickups, abundant open bowls and fabulous Monashee tree skiing, Anstey Lodge s terrain is perfect for snowcat skiing. ACCOMMODATION At 1750 m (5700 feet), Anstey Lodge offers outstanding views and spectacular skiing below the lodge. Its central location allows efficient use of the large area with snowcats. This new lodge accommodates two guests per room, with private bathrooms. A few single rooms will also be available. 7 Photo by Lutz Sackman 8

7 frequently asked questions HOW GOOD A SKIER MUST I BE? Guests must be, at minimum, strong intermediate AND THE FOOD? Monashee Powder employs excellent chefs. They skiers capable of dealing with deep powder snow in prepare a selection of hot and cold breakfasts daily. the backcountry. A visit to Monashee Powder will Guests pack their own lunches from a buffet table usually include runs in open bowls and steep tree that includes a variety of sandwich fillings as well as runs. While powder skis make skiing deep snow fresh fruit, tasty salads and pastries. To allow more easier, you will still require a certain level of expertise. time for skiing, lunch is eaten during ascents in the We reserve the right to restrict guests unable to keep snowcat. Each evening, you ll enjoy a delicious four- up with the group from skiing (without refunds). course gourmet dinner. Baked goods are made daily HOW MANY RUNS SHOULD I EXPECT EACH DAY? We normally ski 8-14 runs per day. On the first day of your holiday, you will likely ski approximately on the mountain. WHAT IF I HAVE SPECIAL DIETARY REQUIREMENTS? Our chefs can cater to any special dietary requirements 12,000 vertical feet. On subsequent days you will and food allergies. We ask all guests to complete typically ski between 13,000 and 18,000 vertical feet. and return the enclosed registration form so we can WHAT ABOUT SNOWBOARDERS & TELEMARK SKIERS? We welcome everyone to come and enjoy our be fully prepared. CAN I BRING MY OWN BEER AND WINE? Please do not bring beer: it is heavy and often powder. Snowboarders and telemark skiers need explodes on the snowcat ride up. You may bring wine. to be experts capable of handling all backcountry conditions including treed terrain. Our guides do their best to accommodate all our guests. Collapsible poles that can be stowed in a small pack are recommended for snowboarders. WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE? Both lodges are in very snowy locations, receiving about 60 feet of snowfall per year. In December and January, you can expect the daytime temper- atures to be -5 to -15 o C. In February and March, 0 to -10 o C is normal. Brief periods of very cold Arctic air can bring temperatures of -20 to -30 o C. Please be prepared for all mountain weather conditions. (We charge a corkage fee of $10.00 per bottle.) DO YOU OFFER GROUP DISCOUNTS? We reward the organizers among us. Fill the cat with a group of 12 and receive one seat free! Some restrictions apply to discounted packages. Tsuius Lodge DO YOU HAVE SPECIAL POWDER SKIS? We have a selection of fat powder skis available for rent. Poles are included but you must bring your own ski boots. The majority of our guides and guests use the wider powder skis, as they maximize enjoyment on the slopes. Photo by Brad White WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING? Ski clothing suitable for all conditions and temperatures Ski boots Ski goggles Casual clothes and slippers for the lodge Snow boots Bathing suit for hot tub As you ll access the lodge via snowcat, we ask that you minimize the weight of your luggage. 9 10

8 reservations & bookings To book a ski holiday, call: RESERVATION CANCELLATION (North America) If you cancel your reservation prior to November 15, your deposit will be refunded if and when we fill the (fax) spot with another person and will be subject to an monasheepowder@idmail.com administration fee of $50.00 per seat. If you cancel A 25% deposit is required at the time of booking. your reservation after November 15, all monies paid will be refunded if and when we fill the spot with PAYMENTS another person and will be subject to an administration fee of 5% per seat. If the seat cannot be filled, Full payment is due prior to November 15. Payments can be made by: you will forfeit all monies paid prior to the date of Cheque the cancellation. If we fill the cancelled seat at a VISA reduced standby rate, we refund only the amount Money order paid by this last-minute guest (less the cancellation Bank wires send to: fee). Monies on deposit will not be carried forward CIBC CATT OO to future seasons Avenue, Vernon, B.C. V1T 2C The reservation and cancellation policies used by Account name: Monashee Powder Adventures Monashee Powder Adventures are standard in this Account number: # industry. Transit number: #00260 REBOOKING POLICY Bank number: #010 Guests have first option for the same dates the following season. For example, if you ski with us on the first Please identify all payments with your name weekend in February, you will have the first option for and address. the first weekend of February next year. This option Payments in US funds will be credited to your expires on the last day of your ski holiday. To keep your account at the current bank rate. Note that mail dates, we must receive your deposit by the last day of from the US can take as long as three weeks your trip this season. The deposit for the following ski to arrive. season is 25% of the total package price. No dates can be held without a deposit. Your reservation will be cancelled automatically and your deposit forfeited if we have not received full payment by November 15. Trips booked after November 15 are payable in full at the time of booking. CANCELLATION INSURANCE We recommend that you purchase trip cancellation insurance and medical insurance if you are a visitor to Canada. This will cover you in case of injury or sickness prior to your ski trip. Please contact Travel Underwriters at if you have difficulty finding trip cancellation insurance. REFUND POLICY We cannot guarantee the conditions you will encounter on your ski holiday. Generally, you will encounter good or excellent conditions. Occasionally, conditions will be fair, and very occasionally they will be poor. No refunds are provided if the quality of skiing does not meet your expectations. A snowcat can operate in virtually any type of snow and weather, and we have a back-up snowcat in the event of a breakdown. However, if we cannot operate our snowcats, we will provide a skiing credit on the unused portion of the ski package. This credit has no cash value and is valid until the end of the following ski season. Under no circumstances is Monashee Powder Adventures responsible for guest s inconvenience or travel expenses. EVACUATION INSURANCE Monashee Powder Adventures offers insurance to cover the costs if you need to be evacuated from the mountain by helicopter, snowcat or snowmobile. The cost is $5.00 per person per day. We strongly advise all skiers to take this policy. If you choose not to purchase this insurance, you will be responsible for all costs related to an evacuation not covered by medical insurance. For evacuation insurance, please add $5.00 per person per day to your final payment. REGISTRATION FORMS Along with your statement mailed out in mid- October, you will receive a registration form. Please complete this form and promptly return it by mail or fax. We update our records every year, so please answer all questions even if you are a returning guest. GROUP DISCOUNTS Groups of 12 skiers receive one free spot. Groups of 24 skiers receive two free spots. As these discounts are offered in recognition of the responsibilities assumed by the group s organizer, the organizer must: Collect all funds from the group members and pay with ONE CHEQUE no later than November 15. Payments made by VISA for discounted packages will be subject to a 2.5% surcharge. Provide Monashee Powder with a group list. Notify us immediately by phone or of any changes or additions to the group. Ensure that all group members return their registration forms and receive a copy of the information booklet. Additional copies are available from our office or can be downloaded from It is the responsibility of the group organizer to fill cancellations. If Monashee Powder is asked to fill spots, the group s discount will be forfeited. EXPENSES We accept cash, cheques, VISA or MasterCard for liquor, merchandise, ski rentals and ski trip deposits