Your safety is our top priority at Catskiing Georgia.
Safety in a remote mountain environment:
Bakhmaro is a remote mountain environment. Safe catskiing depends on more than snow and snowcats. It depends on experienced guides, disciplined daily planning, clear communications and realistic decision-making as conditions change.
At Catskiing Georgia, safety is built into how we run each day – from guiding and group management to communications, equipment checks, and emergency preparedness. Our aim is not only to maintain safe margins but also to create the best possible skiing and riding experience for the group
Updated for the 2026/2027 Winter Season
Lead Guides: The IFMGA/GMGA Standard
All of our trips are led by GMGA / IFMGA-qualified mountain guides. This is the highest international certification available, encompassing rigorous training in avalanche hazard forecasting, technical mountain rescue, and high-consequence risk management.
Our guides combine this global certification with an unmatched local advantage: seasonal and historical continuity. Our team consists of local Georgian experts who have guided these specific mountains for over 10 years . We don’t just know the standards; we know how the Bakhmaro snowpack has behaved every winter for a decade.
A Stable Local Team
Our strength in Bakhmaro comes from continuity: our team consists of experienced local Georgian guides and drivers who return season after season . This deep local knowledge of the terrain and weather patterns is a critical component of our safety and decision-making framework .
The guide team is trained in:
- Emergency first aid / wilderness first aid
- Avalanche hazard forecasting
- Mountain rescue procedures
Our snowcats have a maximum group size of 12. We maintain a 1:6 guide ratio, with a lead guide and tail guide for each group. This supports both safety and group flow in remote terrain.
Guides carry essential safety and communication equipment, including:
- Medical packs
- Radios
- Satellite communication
HOW WE PLAN EACH DAY
At the start of each day, our guides assess:
- Current conditions
- Weather forecasts
- Terrain options
- Group ability and pace
- Operational risks and margins
That plan is not fixed. Guides reassess conditions and risks throughout the day as new observations and information come in, adjusting terrain choice, pace, and route planning accordingly . If conditions do not support the original plan, we change the plan.
COMMUNICATIONS & COORDINATION
Reliable communications are essential in a remote catskiing operation.
We use a professional mountain radio communications setup that includes three radio repeaters installed across the mountains we ski, providing three dedicated channels to cover the area. We also carry one satellite phone per snowcat as backup communication.
Guides, drivers, and lodge staff stay in constant contact to ensure plans, timings, and changes are communicated instantly.
OUR GUESTS: YOUR ROLE IN SAFETY
We want you to have a great trip and feel confident in the group. Your role is vital .
- Listen to the guides and follow all instructions
- Be honest about your ability, fitness, and any medical issues
- Look out for one another in the group
Insurance Make sure your insurance fully covers the altitude and activities you are doing. Many policies are region-specific, so please verify that Georgia is covered. Your policy should include:
- Mountain search and rescue
- Medical treatment
- Cancellation cover
Required Safety Equipment Everyone on our trips must have fully functional:
- Transceiver
- Shovel
- Probe
- Avalanche backpack
- Helmet
Manage your margin: ski and ride within your limits
We want you to have an incredible trip, but Bakhmaro is not the place to push your physical limits or try high-risk manoeuvres. Deep powder can feel forgiving, but it can hide serious hazards such as tree stumps, fence posts, cables, and waterways beneath snow features.
Because we operate in a remote region and access to hospital care takes time, we ask guests to keep a conservative margin. This is the time for controlled, high-quality skiing and riding — not unnecessary risks.
Listen to your guides: staying on line
When your guide asks the group to follow a specific line or stay within tracks, please do so. There is always a reason, including:
-
Safety & terrain management: avoiding localized avalanche risks, terrain traps, or out-of-sight hazards
-
Infrastructure: navigating around submerged local features such as fences or cables
-
Snow preservation: protecting lines and keeping good options available for later in the day
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
Our guides are trained to provide immediate on-mountain response and first aid using the specialized equipment they carry.
The closest hospital is in Kutaisi, typically reached via mountain evacuation and vehicle transfer. For on-mountain evacuation and response, we utilize:
- Defibrillators (AED)
- Medical rescue sleds
- Wilderness medical kits
- Backup snowcats and snowmobiles
WHY THIS ALSO IMPROVES YOUR TRIP
Strong operations do not only reduce risk—they improve the quality of the skiing . Clear planning and communication help us adapt to changing conditions and make better terrain choices. That is a big part of what makes a successful week in Bakhmaro .
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do you manage avalanche risk?
We manage risk through the strict application of international IFMGA standards combined with deep local historical data. Our guides are experts in avalanche hazard forecasting and use a disciplined daily protocol: We assess conditions continuously and choose terrain based on current snowpack, weather, and group ability. Daily plans are adjusted as conditions change; if the safest decision is to move to a different area, we do so.
We have 10+ years of historical observations in Bakhmaro. While we follow international guiding protocols for terrain analysis, our decisions are also informed by a decade of seeing how these specific slopes react across different seasonal cycles . If the technical data or our historical experience suggests a change is needed, we adjust our terrain choice immediately to maintain the highest safety margins.
What qualifications do your guides have? Our lead guides are IFMGA-certified, the highest international standard for mountain guiding. Tail guides are typically IFMGA guides, aspirants, or experienced ski guides, ensuring a professional 1:6 ratio.
What happens if weather or visibility changes? We use our local terrain knowledge and radio network to relocate to areas that offer better visibility, such as tree-line zones, ensuring we maximize your riding time even when mountain conditions shift. However, safety is always our priority – our guides will make a call to rest or stop if they feel conditions are unsafe for the group.
What safety gear do guests need? All guests must have a transceiver, shovel, probe, avalanche backpack, and helmet. We maintain a high-quality rental fleet of avalanche safety kits if you do not wish to bring your own.
What happens in a medical emergency? Our guides coordinate responses via our repeater radio network and satellite backup. We utilize on-mountain equipment like defibrillators and rescue sleds to stabilize and evacuate guests for onward transfer to Kutaisi.