Tell me about this cat skiing then
Combine a snowCAT with some backcountry SKIING, and you get cat skiing. Snowcats go by many names: groomers, piste bashers, pistenbullys, snow ploughs. Traditionally, they’re used to make smooth, in-resort trails. However, with cat skiing, they act as transport to get you to incredible wilderness ski areas. And once you reach the bottom of your first fresh powder run, the snowcat is there to pick you up and take you to the top of your next line.
Snowcats have the potential to cover far more ground and to access far more remote backcountry areas than you typically could with lift access or ski touring. Away from the crowds, zero lift queues, pristine powder, first tracks, and dramatic backdrops that steal your breath away: that’s how we do cat skiing.
Snowcats
Snowcats are converted by adding a purpose-built cabin which can comfortably carry a group of around 14 people. Modern cats are powerful, more capable of covering ground quickly, and can manage complex, steep terrain. Manufacturers continue to make them more economical and sustainable – some already embracing the environmental advantage of HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) as a fuel.
The drivers are multi-tasking specialists: they are local area experts, who navigate and clear deep snow, choose safe paths, and work with mountain guides on route and location choices throughout the day, depending on conditions and fresh information received first-hand or from other guides and drivers who are in radio contact.
As well as providing rapid transport, and protection from the elements, there is the added convenience of having plenty of space to bring more with you than if you had to squeeze everything in your rucksack for the day. We pack a big lunchbox and thermoses for everyone to take a hearty mountain-side break. You can take extra layers and spares to leave in the cabin if you aren’t using them. Budding or pro photographer? Bring your drone, 360 cameras, GoPro fittings and only take out what you need for each run.
And in a disco emergency, the snowcat can also function as a makeshift dance floor.
Cat skiing experience
What does a typical day look like? After a hearty Georgian breakfast, the gang steps outside to see the snowcat parked up and waiting outside the lodge. It’s a team effort, as everyone loads the skis and boards onto the snowcat. The guides run a transceiver check and then it’s time to climb into the cabin and settle in for the ride.
The ride up
Sometimes it’s a chatty cabin, sometimes silent – the beautiful views are so distracting as the snowcat sweeps between rows of huge pines and then past open slopes that fade away to distant, endless mountain ranges. Bakhmaro village lies empty, abandoned for winter, with its ghost cabins and cottages drowning under metres of snow.
In the front cabin of the snowcat, the temp gauge by the driver reads -13°C this morning. The snowcat slows to a stop and the cabin door swings open, with a grinning driver who is waving everyone out of his snowcat and down the steps. The guides have already unloaded most of the skis and boards already – they make quick work of it. So… step into those skis and boards, ratchet boots up, fasten up backpacks, open the avalanche trigger (don’t worry – you’ll get reminded pretty quick by the guides if it isn’t!) and check out those views. Everyone ready? Guides give final instructions. There’s no time wasted. The gang is off following the lead guide, whilst the tail guide picks up stragglers and Instagrammers.
The run down
There are party runs together on mellow open snow fields. And when the terrain calls for more risk management, it’s one-at-a-time pitches. Style it out – everyone’s watching 😅. Only the group’s tracks lie behind in the snow – and there’s a fresh untouched bowl lying ahead. The gang cuts through some trees at the end, and bursts out the bottom to see the snowcat approaching. Dust some snow off grinning faces and fat skis, close those avalanche triggers, load up the kit, load up people – rinse, repeat!
On a standard day in Bakhmaro, the snowcat usually takes a group for about 10 runs. This does depend on conditions and location. Fresh, deep snowfall slows the driving down in order to clear the tracks. And further afield spots take longer to get to – where the reward is longer runs and fantastic snow. It typically rounds up to about 4500m vertical in a day.
After the last run, it’s time to roll back to the lodge for a refreshing sauna and ice cold beer before a dinner of incredible Georgian cuisine.
Who is cat skiing for?
Cat skiing comes with all of the associated dangers of backcountry skiing: freeriding (or off-piste skiing) is a physically demanding activity in a remote, extreme and changeable environment. That’s why we always make safety our priority and have two qualified guides per snowcat, and expert local drivers who know the area like the back of their hand.
Ability and fitness
Cat skiers and snowboarders should have off-piste experience and need a good level of fitness. Of course, having a snowcat means it’s possible to get a break between runs. Even if anyone gets tired, they can stay in the cat to skip one or two, then rejoin the gang after a breather. However, they still need to be fit, strong and confident enough to ride the different snow conditions and backcountry terrain of any single run down.
Avalanche awareness
Avalanche safety experience is a must. There are no exceptions. Always carry a transceiver, shovel, and probe in your avalanche bag. At Catskiing Georgia, we start day one of every trip with a training session to check safety equipment and make sure everyone knows what to do in case of an avalanche. So whilst you don’t need this experience prior to joining our trips, we make sure you have sufficient skills before going out.
It’s ok to ask
It’s a good idea to check the terrain and recommended ability level for any trip that you’re joining. People’s perceptions of their own ability vary, and so do trip descriptions. One person’s expert is another’s intermediate. If you’re ever in the slightest doubt, just contact the cat ski operator or mountain guide to talk through any questions you have.
Cat skiing or lift-access freeriding?
Have you ever experienced the February school holiday lift queues in France? What about the lift lines at Revelstoke? Ever wondered where all of last night’s fresh dump of powder went, when it’s all tracked out by 10:30am? (yes, Chamonix, we’re looking at you.) Or perhaps you’ve been swept up in the closing of a Folie Douce mountain bar, and joined the other 250 drunk skiers weaving down the final home run?
Resorts are flooded with accommodation, dining and late night party choices. It’s easy to jump on a lift and cruise down the pistes or sniff out the powder pockets. Some people love the company and the highs of sharing good times with as many people as possible. They love the buzz of the crowd and the energy of thousands of similarly-minded folks. Why not join the herd, as they’re all looking for the same good in-resort times. Lift access and resort skiing ticks their boxes.
But us? Well, we love the wild, raw nature vibe; getting away from it all. Sharing adventures with a smaller crew and being immersed in where we are staying. Cat skiing is an escape into the wilderness. And we reckon it’s an unbeatable, magical experience to cat ski in Bakhmaro.
Cat skiing or ski touring ?
Ummm, pizza or pasta? Can you compare these?! Well, let’s try… Ski touring is great, but it’s much more about earning your turns and enjoying the (usually) long hike up. Usually the descent is a much shorter part of the day.
Snowcats go much faster than a ski tourer or split boarder. So it’s possible to cover much larger areas, and ski in a greater variety of places. If conditions aren’t so great in one area, no problem, you can try another without blowing the entire day’s plans. And it’s all about the descent, as the snowcat does the hard work going up.
So if you’re more about the down than the up, cat skiing is a pretty mint option for you! And if you’re into both, why not combine them? How about 3 days of cat skiing and 3 days of ski touring to mix it up and get the best of both worlds?
Cat skiing or heli skiing?
Heli skiing is cat skiing on steroids. The chopper (helicopter) can go faster and farther. Travelling by air gives you access to areas even the snowcats couldn’t reach. And with extended range and remoteness, you’ll find more virgin snow and insane lines. Can you tell we love heli skiing too?!
Let’s get back to our other love: cat skiing. It’s a lot cheaper than a chopper, and more people fit in. It’s also the perfect all-weather option, as the helicopter can’t go out in bad weather. When you’re grounded and the storms are in, a snowcat can plough through the snow and take you to the protection of the forests to enjoy all of that fresh powder.
If this hasn’t helped you make a decision, why not do both? You can book half or full days of heli skiing if you’re on a cat skiing trip with us. Get in touch and we’ll let you know more.
Cat skiing locations
The American continent has a variety of cat ski operators, from north to south: BC Canada, Alaska, Colorado, Chile, Argentina. Join the Kiwis for some cat skiing on the South Island, if you’re headed for the southern hemisphere.
There are fewer options in Europe. Check out Macedonia and Kosovo. Or come to Georgia for the uniquely reliable snowpack, vast area, magical landscape, professional qualified guiding and of course, our warm welcoming hospitality and culture!
I would say that we’re not biased, but hey, we are… and proudly so 😉 🇬🇪
Sign me up!
Good choice 🙂 Check out our cat skiing trips in Georgia and availability. Get in touch with us if you have any questions at all. Trust us on this: cat skiing in Bakhmaro is the absolute freeride dream!
