Area Activities

Dining and Nightlife

• Alpine Grind - My favourie place for latte with extra foam and a muffin. Great lunches too
• Flying Steamshovel- Downtown Rossland Pub, centrally located, good solid food, nightlife, and rooms upstairs as well
• Gabriella's - apres-ski and dinner at this fantastic Italian/Mediterranean restaurant in Red Mountain Village
• Goldtown Dining Room - in the Prestige Inn, varied menu, including kid's options
• Idgie's Restaurante - in Rossland, high quality, healthy meals, especially the seafood. Will also cater wedding groups
• Mountain Gypsy - the Gypsy At Red is a fine dining restaurant in the Red Rob's condo building at Red
• Drift Izakaya- downtown Rossland adult-only sushi lounge
• Old Firehall - excellent live jazz, wine bar, and dinner. Usuallya $15 cover, but well worth it.
• Red Room - lounge at the Prestige with live music on weekends, good food and beer - try the yam fries.
• Rock Cut Pub - pub on the highway between Red and Rossland. Good for fajitas, and beer and wings, and they have a pool table. We can drop your group off there after skiing, and you can watch your ski photos on the big screen there if you like.

Activities

• Ainsworth Hot Springs - Natural hot springs, about 1h45mins north, past Nelson BC
• Red Mountain Resort - the best lift-accessed gladed tree skiing in the world - mix a few days at the resort with a few days of cat skiing, you're staying at the resort anyway
• Redstone Golf Resort - Cat skiers also tend to be golfers. Come back in the summer and enjoy the newly redesigned Redstone course. If you like it so much you want to move there, let me know.'
• Trail Aquatic Centre - a good activity during your rest days, the indoor pool, waterslide, hot tub, steam room, and fitness centre is in Trail, only a 15 minute drive down the hill, and a very nice facility
• Whitewater - We think that a perfect week would be 2 or 3 days at Red, with slopeside lodging, 3 days of cat skiing at Big Red Cats, and a day skiing at Whitewater ski resort, followed by dinner and last evening overnight stay in Nelson. Not a large ski area, but very picturesque, excellent snowfall, and only an hour away. We can arrange a great ski safari package including cat skiing, and lifts and lodging at Red and Whitewater.

Services

• Betty Go Hard - our lodge managers, Natasha and Ian Lockey, run a women's adventure business
• Bhubble.com - Rossland community & events
• Canada Ski Quest - skier improvement courses with level 4 CSIA instructor Mark Impey
• Century 21 - Paula Gaul -offers "cat skiing rewards" to her buyers, sellers, and referrers
• Rossland Secondary School / Red Ski Academy - One of the best high schools in Canada, according to Maclean's magazine, teams up with the most winning ski racing club in Canada, providing a flexible academic schedule and top-notch coaching to produce some of the best ski racers of the future. Free-skiing stream also available if traditional racing isn't your thing.
• Rush BC - provides the "Red Express" shuttle from Spokane Airport, and can arrange ski safari packages including transport and cat skiing at a couple of different cat operations and resorts between Red and Revelstoke. They also have the "Adrenaline Cafe" in the Prestige hotel
• Tourism Rossland - a good website including links to the other tourism providers in Rossland. They also staff the Visitor Info Centre downtown
• The JRP - these guys take awesome photos, are web developers, and also operate the Cat Skiing Canada website

Shopping

• Butch Boutry - ski shop in Rossland, expert bootfitters
• Powderhound - Outdoor store, skis, clothing, gear, and alpine touring equipment rental. The owner was a top mountain guide.
• Ross Vegas boardshop - Snowboarding fashion, and more, in downtown Rossland

Gear

• Fresh Air Experience - Ski shop in Kelowna, sells Rossignol products and, well, they're just friends of ours
• Mammut - We use the Mammut Barryvox and Pulse transcievers
• Rip Curl - When Kieren was a national team ski racer, his roommate in Europe was Dan, the son of the founder of Rip Curl. We've had a liking for them ever since. They sell snowboard jackets and pants as well as surf wear.

Meals

Lunch is provided and is eaten during ascents in the snowcat, which allows us more time for skiing each day. We focus on whole and organic foods as much as possible, with two sandwiches, two cookies, and an apple per person, as well as water. If you don't like ham sandwiches, please tell us in advance and we'll make you something else.

Cat Skiing Days include

• Lunch
• Snacks
• Water
• Avalanche safety gear
• Safety briefing
• Qualified guiding
• Transport between Red Mountain and the BRC snowcat staging area.

Packages include

• Lunch
• Daily cooked breakfast
• Snacks
• Water
• Avalanche safety gear
• Safety briefing
• Qualified guiding
• Transport between Red Mountain and the BRC snowcat staging area.

Big red lodge includes

The luxury ski lodge includes 6 bedrooms, 2 living rooms, 3 full washrooms, and all the amenities, including:

• Hot tub
• BBQ
• Wireless internet
• TV & DVD player
• Wood Stove
• Gas fireplace in the second lounge room
• Central Heating.
• 2 high quality beds in each room

Not included

• Airport Transfers

Description

For groups staying in the Big Red Lodge the guide will meet their group in the lodge on your 1st day of cat skiing. Your guide will present a briefing on safety, show you how to use avalanche transceivers and then take you outside the lodge to practice group rescue and transceiver use. Your guide will then transport your group right from the Big Red Lodge directly to the waiting snowcats. From the time that you leave the lodge to thetime you start you 1st run is as little as 30 minutes. As you are all returning as a group, you do not require the safety briefing on subsequent days.

Now for the real luxury...

An optional private chef is available to cater your stay. For only and additional C$25 per person plus ingredients per day, you will get après-ski prepared snacks, a 3 course dinner, and breakfast supplies. No shopping or dishes to do! A massage therapist is also available at the Big Red Lodge if booked in advance. The lodge is only 150 metres from the lifts at Red Mountain Resort for those who would like to combine resort skiing with their cat skiing vacation.

A Typical Day at BRC

• 0730 - If you are staying at the Red Shutter Inn, the managers will ring a bell to call you all down for cooked breakfast. If you aren't staying at the Shutter, you'll have to arrange your own breakfast.
• 0750 - You may not see a toilet for a while... consider this before leaving your lodging
• 0800 - Be at our office at 0800 - a couple of minutes earlier if you are renting skis. The office is at the base of Red Mountain ski resort in Rossland BC. The address is 2-4430 Red Mountain Rd - it is in the Red Robs condo block, just before the Red Shutter Inn. If you get to the roundabout, you've gone too far. You will be required to sign a liability waiver and assumption of risks form which waives your rights to sue us, our staff and suppliers, and the Crown, for pretty much any reason. ne too far. There is limited parking available here. Please don't park in front of the restaurant, they don't like it. The main resort lot isn't far away if our lots are full. If you are planning on driving your own vehicle up behind our bus, rather than riding the bus, it's ok to park at the restaurant, just don't leave it there all day.
• 0830 - The buses and your vehicles depart by this time to head for the cat staging area.
• 0900 - Avalanche beacons are handed out, and some basic instruction and practice on how to use them is carried out at the cat staging area.
• 0930 - Board the snowcats
• 1000 - First of many descents. You will keep going all day, eating your lunch between runs in the snowcat. There could be anything between 6 and 16 runs per day, depending on the group ability, size, snow speed, run selection, and time of season. Usually an advanced group gets 10 runs or so, but that's a rule of thumb. You'll just keep going, and the cat will usually be waiting for you at the bottom of each run.
• 1500 - Last run is called in.
• 1600 - Get off of the snowcats, return your transceivers.
• 1645-1700 - Return to Red, find a hot tub and a nice cool beverage and relax

Notes

Lunch is provided. Please advise in advance if you are vegetarian, or have food allergies or aversions such as nuts, gluten, or meats with cheese. Please also advise the guides if you have any medical issues which could become important in a rescue situation.

You are welcome to bring additional snacks as well. While drinking alcohol while skiing is not permitted, you are welcome to bring cold cans of brew for the cat descent after your last run. There is space in the cat for a backpack with things such as extra mitts, goggles, hand warmers, layers.

You will be provided with an avalanche beacon and shown how to use it. If you have your own, and feel that you will be more competent with your own as you have practised with it, you can bring your own instead.

Each group will have a couple of backpacks with probes and shovels, and group members will take turns carrying them and riding at the back. You are also welcome and encouraged to bring your own if you have them; the more shovels the merrier.

Expert Catskiing

Expert is nearly the top level of the 4 different levels that we offer - you should be able to ski double black diamond runs with confidence and style. About 40% of our guests choose this level. For the 2011 winter season about 230 of our runs are expert runs. This normally relates to the steepness and the terrain features. Normally expert runs are in the 35-50 degree range for steepness. At this level, we will ski non-stop, fast paced, challenging descents consisting mainly of steeps and tree runs. This group will constantly push our guides to ski and ride faster down steeper and longer runs in their bid for maximum runs. Sometimes we will ski runs that have greater risk - in which case your guide may send each person down 1 at a time.

Skiers and snowboarders at the expert level:

• have significant and extensive powder experience.
• are comfortable on any terrain at any speed.
• able to ski tight tree runs well (helps with exits and when stability is poor).
• ski and board black and double black runs with style.
• know how to handle any snow conditions.
• do not mind jumping here and there off of ledges, cornices and rocks (within reason of course)

This group is suited for ski patrollers, ex racers, freestylers, instructors, or locals of Rossland BC - who are without doubt the best skiers in the world!

For some, "expert" is not enough. If you WANT to jump off of 20-foot cliffs, if you want runs where jumps are mandatory, if you want really steep drop-ins and pillows, if you are extremely fit, very experienced, young and strong, and you have found that people who have classified themselves as "expert" have been slowing you down, ask about "Uber Expert." These trips don't run every day, and you will have to book a whole cat to ensure that the cat isn't combined with the regular "experts," but we can do it if numbers allow:

Advanced Catskiing

About 50% of the skiers and riders that come with us choose the advanced level. You should be able to ski/ride black runs in any condition with confidence and style. If you prefer double-blacks and cliff-hucking and have legs of steel, check out the Expert group. If you aren't confident on black diamond runs or off-piste, look into the Intermediate group.

Advanced skiers and riders enjoy diverse terrain including gladed areas, open bowls, steeper terrain and trees. We ski and ride at a comfortable pace, allowing everyone to enjoy their runs without a rushed feeling, and regroup a couple of times on the way down for a breather and a laugh. Advanced skiers and riders:

• have previous powder experience.
• are comfortable on almost any terrain.
• divide their time between blue, black and double black runs on a lift served ski area.
• enjoy groomed and ungroomed terrain. know how to handle adverse snow conditions.
• are comfortable in gladed areas and tree runs.
• might enjoy a few small jumps if conditions are just right, but aren't generally keen on cliffs

Intermediate Catskiing

About 10%-15% of our trips are intermediate groups. This is a great first step into backcountry powder skiing. The runs that we ski are normally in the 20 degree range. There is very very little risk of an avalanche, so people feel really comfortable quickly. This is a great level to do if you have not had much powder skiing experience. For intermediate powder skiers who like it deep, but not so steep! Our guides will give you some helpful powder skiing hints and a helpful hand when you fall, and we introduce you to tree-skiing gradually. The natural beauty is the same, the camaraderie is the same, but there is no pressure to keep up with the group, so you can enjoy the day at YOUR pace!

Your day will start with gentle, wide open runs or runs with sparse trees, and depending on the group, will advance to skiing easy glades with widely spaced trees, and gradually steeper terrain. By the end of the day, you will probably be skiing advanced runs, but at a slower pace than the advanced group. We will help you work toward great powder turns, face shots, and the fun and camaraderie that skiing in a small group on ungroomed terrain provides.

Skiers and snowboarders at this level are those who:

• may have little or no powder experience.
• are confident on blue runs and will occasionally ski black runs on a lift served ski area, but may fall regularly in the woods.
• are comfortable making smooth parallel turns
• enjoy new challenges and have a good attitude.
• seek to build their powder confidence.
• are reasonably fit, though sometimes not as fit as they used to be

Uber-Expert

Are you BETTER than most of the people in the "Expert" group? Are you worried that if you sign up for "Expert" that there will still be pretenders in the group who will hold you back? Well, we do our best, but that can happen sometimes, so if you are truly really strong, this is what you do:

Request an "uber-expert" group, if you can handle all of the requirements of "expert" and you also:

• Like jumps and drops. Lots of them. Mandatory air. All day long.
• Are super fit and can ski or ride top to bottom all day without a rest
• Don't chicken out from a jump. If the guide can do it, you can do it, because there may be no way around where this group goes.

The "Uber" trips may not be available to book online until you request them. It is a good idea to book these early before all of the cats are allocated to other groups - there aren't a lot of people who are up to this challenge, but for those who are, Uber-Expert is the only way to go.

Avalanche Courses with Big Red Cat Skiing

Whether you are getting ready for your first winter of backcountry skiing and riding or you’ve been at it for years, the Avalanche Skills Training (AST) Level 1 or 2 course - developed by the Canadian Avalanche Centre - is the perfect opportunity to learn about (or brush up on) safe backcountry travel techniques, route finding, slope assessment and companion rescue. Join us for a combination of classroom learning and snowcat assisted ski touring.

The AST 1 is an introductory level course. The AST 2 course will provide an intermediate level decisionmaking framework that is based on the most advanced knowledge available.

About the Instructor

Keith has been teaching avalanche courses to students all over North America for the past 22 years. He is a Professional member of the Canadian Avalanche Association and a member of the Canadian Ski Guide Association. Big Red Cats has been operating out of Rossland, BC since 2005.

Special Lodge Based AST 2

Keith also runs week long avalanche courses at various backcountry lodges in British Columbia. This is perhaps the finest way to hone your ski touring skills, under the watchful eye of an instructor, skiing as much powder as you can handle. Most lodges are accessed by helicopter and include comfortable accommodation and hearty meals.

AST Level 1 Sample Outline

(All times and locations subject to change)

First Day Classroom/Field Session

0830

• Meet at Big Red Cats Welcome Centre,
• lower left part of Red Robs Complex.
• Introduction to AST
• Group avalanche initiative exercise
• Course Curriculum, including Types of
• Avalanches, Terrain, Snow Science, Avaluator
• v2, Companion Rescue

1230

• Field practice of Beacon Searching, Probing,and Apex Shovel Technique

1600

• Equipment for Backcountry Touring
• Review plans for tomorrow’s tour
• Homework – review course textbook & print
• CAA Avalanche Bulletin

1700

• Conclude Session
• Second Day Field Session

0700

• Carpool to BigRedCats staging area. Leave vehicle(s) near Nancy Greene Summit.

0745

• Ride snowcat to shoulder of Mt. Crowe between Crowe and Neptune

0830.

• Ski down below the east face of Mt. Crowe, terrain analysis, human factors

1000

• Skin up to summit of Mt. Crowe, snow stability evaluation, Avaluator v2

1300

• Ski down to highway, group travel, human factors, companion rescue exercise

1500

• Pick up vehicles and return to Red Shutter

1545

• Course review, presentation of certificates, course evaluations

1700

• AST Level 1 Course Concludes

AST 2 Course

• The AST 2 Course includes one evening and three full days of instruction. It is a prerequisite to take the AST 1 or have equivalent educa<on with prior instructor approval. The field sessions include backcountry touring in mulltiple locations and more advanced classroom/fieldwork.
• Other dates and custom courses (such as the one-day guided ski touring with basic avalanche instruction) may be available upon request.

CSGA Level 1

• As an Operating Member of the Canadian Ski Guide Association, Big Red Cats is actively involved with the training of new guides, along with other CSGA operations.
• Big Red Cats will offer the CSGA Level 1 on 24 March - 3 April 2012, along with Valhalla and Snowwater.
• Big Red Cats' Ski Guide Course, while not an official CSGA certification, is an excellent preparation for the CSGA 1.

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