
Discover the snow
Terrain at Big Red Cats
After 6 continuous years of development and opening more terrain each year - we are one of the biggest cat operations in the world. It takes our new guides 2 full seasons of skiing every day to ski all the main runs in our area. We offer:
- 8 main mountains - numerous ridges and sub-peaks
- 420 named runs - 40% expert, 40% advanced, and 20% intermediate
- 155km of snowcat roads - 2nd largest snowcat road network in the world (you can't ski it unless you have a snowcat road!)
- 45 drainages - in each drainage there are 5-15 runs
- Altitude range 7300 ft - 4,000ft
- Average run length 1,400 vertical ft
- 19,300 acres of terrain
- Longest run 3,400 vert ft (but practically most days we ski up to 2,600 vert ft as the longest to manage turn-around times).
We do not have any glacieted terrain or any terrain that we would call true alpine terrain (If you are looking for this alpine terrain it would be better to go skiing with one of the big heli-skiing operations in the spring). However we do have the best glade skiing in the world. We believe that this type of skiing is the most rewarding because the snow quality is always better as the snow quality is far less effected by wind and sun. Also it means that we can often ski steeper lines allows us to play with terrain features. Once people have tried this type of powder skiing/riding there is no going back....
- Guiding
Your accommodation
- Families
- Couples
- Solo Travelers
- Groups
- Ski Bums
- Steep and Deep Riders
Red Shutter Inn
The best hot tub in town! Comfortable beds, a hearty breakfast, a warm social atmosphere with only 6 rooms, and an excellent location at the base of Red Mountain Resort right beside the BRC headquarters.
The Red Shutter feels more like a ski club than a hotel, and many of our guests return year after year. As Big Red Cats is owned by the Red Shutter Inn, most of the clients in the inn will be your fellow cat skiing guests, which makes for a social holiday.
The walls are thin, and it is not luxurious, so it isn't the place for a romantic getaway, but for people who are here to ski, it's a solid choice. Each room has a queen and double bed, and its own bathroom with sink, toilet, and shower.
Rent the whole lodge for 12 people (6 rooms with 2 beds per room), or individual rooms, or the cheap and cheerful 2-bedroom cabin.
Red Condos
Red Reservations
Luxury 1-4 bedroom condos closest to the lifts and our office at RED. Most condos have hot tubs or hot tub access, and are modern and less than 10 years old.
Mountain Town Properties
Excellent online availability calendar for instant information 24 hours a day! MTP has a great cross-section of privately owned condos, guest houses, bed and breakfasts, as well as inns and hotels, both in Rossland and at the resort base.
The Village at Red Mountain
At the base of Red Resort, The Village at Red Mountain is just a few hundred feet further from the lifts, and offers a variety of 1-4 bedroom condos, budget cabins, and a mid-range 5-bedroom "Bear House"
Hotels
The Prestige Mountain Resort
The Prestige Mountain Resort & Conference Centre is a Canada Select 4 ½ star resort located in Rossland, British Columbia, located only five minutes away from Red Resort and two hours away from Spokane, WA. Nestled between the Monashee and Selkirk mountain ranges of beautiful British Columbia, Rossland and area is the perfect destination for the outdoor enthusiast. As a guest at The Prestige Mountain Resort & Conference Centre Rossland, you are assured of the highest level of customer service and accommodations.
The Ram's Head Inn
A friendly and charming lodge located at the base of Red Mountain, nestlted on 5 acres of cedar forest. From the moment you enter the lodge, you will recognize the Ram's Head is a place of extrodinary charm and character. Premium accomodation at competitve prices. Enjoy a hearty breakfast and apres ski service unlike any other.
The Casa Alpina
Whether it is riding the Rossland trails on your mountain bike, golfing, skiing, or strolling through the alpine setting you love, Casa Alpina Rossland Hotel is the perfect spot for your next Rossland vacation or get-away! With our convenient and peaceful location, caring staff, and affordable rates, it’s not surprising why guests keep returning year after year to our Rossland Inn. Book Casa Alpina Rossland Hotel today – Your lodging choice in Rossland, BC.
B&B
Black Bear Bed & Breakfast
Greg and Tauna Butler welcome guests to their newest Bed and Breakfast. The Black Bear is a late Victorian home built in 1900 and designed by Rossland Courthouse Architech J. Honeyman. Extensively renovated, the Black Bear now offers modern comforts and old world charm. Located in lower Rossland 5 minutes to the base of Red Mountain, easy access to hiking and biking trails, Red Stone Golf course and Big Red Cats.
Room rates include full breakfast served each morning in the main dinning room.
Angela's Bed & Breakfast
Rossland's original B&B, where guests have been woken early on powder days for 20 years! And then fed wonderful breakfasts. And then,
if fast, maybe shown a line or two on the hill.
For other guests, the B&B is a great place to be lazy, to soak in the hot tub listening to the creek, to relax by the fire, snuggle under the duvet, and email the office with another excuse. Smokers get to enjoy the great outdoors, thanks.
The Red Barn Lodge
Once the home of Rossland's dairy, Red Barn Lodge is well situated for its new role of providing a convenient base for your Summer and Winter outdoor adventures. With wilderness starting at the backdoor and spectacular views of Red Mountain and Mount Roberts from the front, the guesthouse is just 5 minutes by car from Red Mountain Ski Area and Blackjack Cross-Country Ski Area.
Mountain Town Properties
Mountain Town Properties offers B&B bookings for the Black Bear B&B, and several guest lodges in the Rossland area, as well as condo and hotel bookings. With a live online availability calendar, you'll get instant info any time of the night or day!
Other Options
Big Red Lodge (Groups)
The Big Red Lodge is ideal for groups of 12 people (1 whole snowcat!) in the highest quality, comfort, and style. It is perfect for our guests as it allows the whole group to stay under one roof and all eat and socialize around one table.
The cathedral ceilings in the great room allow for a stunning view of Red Mountain through the timber-framed windows. The spacious kitchen with granite counters and stainless appliances make it a complete luxury get-away!
A-Frame Cabin
2 bedrooms, each with 2 single XL beds (which can be pushed together), and sofabed in lounge room. Good for 4 adults, or family of 5 if you use the sofabed. Quad share. Separate simple cabin with 4 beds - great for 2-4 people who like their own space, for whatever reason.
If you're looking for a cheap and cheerful place with an odd juxtaposition of rustic and modern, this may be for you!
- Rustic: Woodstove and decor
- Modern: Commercial cappuccino machine and flat screen TV
You have your own cooking facilities, and are right next to the Red Shutter Inn hot tub and sauna.
Book early though, as this cabin is usually full all season, you can't find anything else so well located right at the base Red, with shuttle pickup for Big Red Cats right next door.
Ram's Head Inn
About 14 rooms altogether, standard rooms with one queen or a single and double, or larger deluxe rooms with king or king and queen. Some 2-room suites also available.
Rates include daily breakfast, and if you need a lift from the Castlegar airport, Martin will often pick you up himself for a small fee, for fantastic personal service (much less than the taxi ride would cost). Queen rooms and deluxe King rooms are also available. Nestled in its own forest at the entrance to Red Mountain ski resort, it is a short stroll to our office. Even better, arrange a full-cat group booking and have your briefings and shuttle pickup right at the hotel.
Nelson
If you are looking at staying Nelson and combining the trip with skiing at Whitewater and cat skiing with other local operations, there is a wide variety of lodging, from inexpensive and well-located hostels, to 3 and 3.5 star hotels, to boutique B&B's. Some people like to do a weeklong safari, staying half the time in Rossland and half of the time in Nelson, for some variety and nightlife. Big Red Cats is located in between, so you can wake up in Rossland, drive up to go cat skiing, and head straight to Nelson at the end of the day.
What awaits you
4 reasons to choose Big Red Cats:
- 2nd largest snowcat road network in the world!
- Snowcat trips tailored to your ability level from intermediate to advanced.
- Choose day trips or longer trips with accommodation.
- Epic tree skiing and steep bowls!
Cat skiing trips in the backcountry of British Columbia
Big Red Cats is the world’s largest cat skiing operation and also one of the most unique! At Big Red Cats, you can count on a ski trip perfectly suited for your ability. You can enjoy exploring the exciting backcountry of British Columbia at your own pace because Big Red Cats is the only snowcat skiing operation to offer separate trips for every level of skier or snowboarder, from intermediate to expert, advanced and even “Uber Expert.”
With 4 snowcats, Big Red is able to offer something for everyone of every level, serving more than 3000 skiers per season. The terrain at Big Red Cats spans more than 19,000 acres and includes 8 peaks, more than 400 runs, and some of the best glade and tree skiing in the world.
Red Mountain Ski Resort has epic powder freeriding
Packages with Big Red Cats are available as day trips or week-long trips leaving from neighboring Red Mountain Ski Resort. Whether you just want to enjoy a day of freeriding in BC’s backcountry, or if you want a whole week of epic powder and fresh tracks, LUEX can help you plan the perfect trip with Big Red Cats, with accommodation suited to your budget, from moderate to luxury.
Whether it’s your first time snowcat skiing or your 100th, Big Red Cats is the perfect choice for everyone of every level!
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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Immediately upon receipt of the booking, LUEX shall assess the availability of all the booked products and services from the Service provider/s. Following this assessment, the Traveller/Group leader shall be issued a booking confirmation. The Traveller/Group leader is obliged to check this confirmation carefully immediately upon receipt. If information appearing on the confirmation or in another document is incorrect or incomplete, the Traveller/Group leader is obliged to inform LUEX immediately - in text form if possible. Alterations at a later point in time can only be considered if LUEX could reasonably be expected to make such changes. Unreasonable alterations are such changes in particular that involve additional costs for LUEX, unless the Traveller/Group leader reimburses these costs.
A binding agreement between the Traveller and the respective Service provider shall only eventuate when the binding booking confirmation has been transmitted to the Traveller/Group leader; the automatic LUEX confirmation of receipt is not a booking confirmation.
The following applies when a Group leader makes a booking for several Travellers: With their booking, the Group leader confirms that they are permitted to legally represent the group members (Travellers) and that the Group leader is permitted to make and receive declarations on behalf of the group members. If travel vouchers are dispatched, they shall be sent solely to the Group leader for the whole tour group. Payments shall be processed exclusively through the Group leader with debt discharging effect.
The contractual obligation of LUEX is limited to the proper intermediation of the booked travel-related products and services. The contractual obligations of LUEX do not include the delivery of the booked product or service.
5. Payments, cancellation charges
LUEX is entitled to demand payment of deposits and outstanding amounts in accordance with the general terms and conditions as well as the terms and conditions of payment of the Service provider of the mediated product or service. Payment shall be collected as instructed by the respective Service provider. It is possible that the method of payment accepted by the Service provider may differ from the standard modes of payment used by LUEX or in Germany generally. The details are to be found in each of the offerings respectively. To the extent that nothing to the contrary has been agreed, the following shall apply:
Following receipt of the payment request, payment of the deposit indicated on the payment request is to be made in a single payment within one week by means of the payment method indicated. The deposit shall be at least 25% of the total price of the travel-related products or services that have been booked. The outstanding amount for the travel-related products or services is to be paid no later than 30 days prior to the commencement of travel as a single payment by means of the payment method indicated without any further request for payment. In the case of tour groups, the Group leader is responsible for ensuring consistent payment processing. The total price of a tour booked at short notice (within 30 days of tour commencement) is due immediately.
If due payments are not made or not made in full and the Traveller/Group leader does not pay after a reminder with a final due date, LUEX or the Service provider are able to withdraw from the particular agreement, unless LUEX or the Service provider is already responsible for a significant flaw, failing or shortcoming at this time. If the Traveller is responsible for the cancellation, LUEX or the Service provider can demand compensation in accordance with the agreed fixed rates for compensation. If nothing else has been stipulated within the offer/travel confirmation, the fixed rate in the event of the Traveller cancelling more than 30 days prior to departure is 25% of the price of the tour. The Traveller/Group leader is entitled to provide evidence of lower costs or costs that did not eventuate, while LUEX is free to calculate and demonstrate substantially higher costs.
LUEX assumes no currency risks. In order to minimise currency risks, LUEX shall exchange the travel payments received into the target currency of the country of the respective Service provider as soon as possible after receipt of payment. In the event of major currency fluctuations, the Traveller/Group leader shall indemnify LUEX against any proven currency exchange losses. Reimbursements shall be made solely by means of bank transfers in the currency of the recipient. Bank fees and charges shall be borne by the Traveller/Group leader.
If the Traveller/Group leader pays by bank transfer, LUEX can only facilitate a smooth booking process if the Traveller/Group leader uses the designated booking ID in the purpose field of the bank transfer which is specified in the request for payment. Otherwise LUEX may not be able to assign the payment to the correct booking. A failure to do that correctly can result in the cancellation of a trip in the worst-case scenario.
If the Traveller wishes to book not as a private individual, but as a business traveller acting on instructions or as a legal representative, this must be noted already during the booking process and cannot be subsequently altered. This can have taxation consequences and should therefore be carefully considered.
The customer shall receive a payment receipt in the form of a booking confirmation from LUEX showing the total price, either paid or to be paid to the Service provider.
6. Alterations, cancellations, reimbursements
In the event that a confirmed booking is modified or cancelled, LUEX is to be contacted as quickly as possible in this matter such that a possible solution can be sought in consultation with the Traveller/Group leader. Additional costs that result for LUEX or the Service provider shall be borne by the Traveller/Group leader, whereby LUEX reserves the right to invoice a minimum fee of €50 for changes demanded solely by the Traveller.
Should there be a modification or cancellation by LUEX / the Service provider, LUEX shall also contact the Traveller/Group leader as soon as possible and seek a possible solution.
LUEX notes explicitly that as an intermediary LUEX cannot assume responsibility for the performance of the Service provider. In particular, LUEX offers individual travel-related products and services to exotic destinations. The Traveller recognises that booking and processing these products and services are more difficult and that a higher degree of flexibility is expected of these than for mass tourism.
7. Complaints and ratings
Should the Traveller be dissatisfied with an aspect of the travel-related product or service received in a particular case and wish to submit a complaint, they are to approach the Service provider or their representative directly at the location during their current stay so that this person can attempt to solve the problem. LUEX recommends notifying the Service provider in text form that documents the shortcomings, if possible with the aid of photos.
If the problem cannot be resolved during the stay, the Service provider must be contacted within 30 days of returning from the trip. The Service provider should then respond to the correspondence according to the applicable laws and regulations. Receipt should be confirmed in 14 days and a full response received within 28 days. If this is not the case, an explanation for the delay should be received from the Service provider.
Should the travel-related product or service not match the description on the LUEX platform, the customer must approach the Service provider or their representative directly at the location during the customer's stay. LUEX shall support customers with respect to their complaint. LUEX is to be informed of the facts involved in the situation as soon as possible in order to be able to assist in finding a solution.
The Service provider is to be contacted immediately in the event of flight or transportation problems. Customers are to check information and the general terms and conditions given to customers via the Service provider before the commencement of travel.
8. Visa, passport and travel regulations
The Traveller/Group leader shall pay attention to the special visa, passport and travel regulations for the Travellers and their country of destination. LUEX makes every effort to inform customers as comprehensively and accurately as possible. To the extent that LUEX draws attention to particular details, this can only be considered as non-binding information. Considering the high number and frequency of possible amendments to regulations, Travellers/Group leaders are requested to contact the relevant embassy/consulate for the particular destination. In this respect LUEX can assume no responsibility whatsoever for any assurance, guarantee, currency or accuracy of the information. The information provided by Travellers’ ministries of foreign affairs are a reliable source with respect to many travel destinations.
It is the sole responsibility of the Traveller/Group leader to ensure that all Travellers are in possession of all requisite travel documents (passport, Visa, etc.) at the commencement of travel and that all Travellers fulfil the health requirements.
9. Insurance
To the extent that it is not expressly offered, insurance cover does not constitute part of the travel-related products and services offered. LUEX recommends that customers take out travel insurance, in particular travel cancellation cost insurance and in certain circumstances overseas travel insurance, including an overseas health cover component. LUEX names a reliable partner offering the relevant insurance policies to its customers at: http://www.luex.com/info/insurances.html.
10. Liability, responsibility
LUEX depends on the information provided to it by the Service providers with respect to the details of the travel-related goods and services. LUEX has only extremely limited opportunities to check such information with respect to their accuracy and completeness. Consequently, LUEX is unable to provide any guarantees or assurances with respect to the completeness, accuracy or currency of such information. The same applies for any other information made available by third parties.
LUEX is not liable for the availability of the travel-related product or service at the time of booking or for the performance of the booked travel-related product or service by the Service provider.
Within the scope of its performance obligations, LUEX is only liable for any losses that may result in the following cases, irrespective of legal grounds: The statutory regulations shall apply with the following restriction: Liability or minor negligence on the part of LUEX or its vicarious agents is excluded, provided that neither an essential contractual obligation was breached nor is there a case of initial incapacity, impossibility or default on the part of LUEX. Otherwise liability is limited to the value of the travel-related products and services booked, in any case however to predictable and typical losses. The exclusions of liability or facilitation shall apply in the same manner to the executive bodies of LUEX, as well as to their vicarious agents.
Travellers and Group leaders shall be liable to LUEX for each and every reservation/booking that is made in bad faith or with deceitful intent or with erroneous or incomplete personal data. The opportunity to book travel-related goods and services may only be utilised in order to make legal bookings as a Traveller or as a Group leader for a third party. At the same time, in utilising the offerings the Group leader guarantees that they are authorised and are permitted to act in the name of fellow travellers. In the event that there is a breach of these guarantee, the Group leader is liable without limitation to LUEX and their respective Service providers for the losses resulting from the aforesaid person’s actions.
In many countries there are safety standards that differ from those generally found in Europe, Australia or the USA. Travelers/Group leaders are strongly encouraged, also in their own interest, to access information once again immediately before commencing travel in accessible sources, such as the internet pages of the Foreign Office, with respect to changes in the travel regulations and safety warnings for the country of destination.
11. Final provisions
Should business terms and conditions or parts of the agreement be or become invalid, the validity of the remaining parts of the agreements shall not be affected.
Amendments or additions to all agreements, including a divergence from these general terms and conditions, are only possible in text form (written, by fax or e-mail). Oral agreements require written confirmation to be valid.
All communication between LUEX and a Traveller/Group leader is to be undertaken by e-mail if possible. The Traveller/Group leader therefore promises to receive and read e-mails and implement the information/instructions from LUEX accordingly. LUEX must be informed immediately of changes in contact details.
All contractual relations between LUEX, its customers and Service providers are subject exclusively to German law - with the exception of the UN Contract for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) convention. Köln shall be the mutually agreed place of jurisdiction for non-German Travellers.
Operator's address
Red Shutter Inn dba Big Red CatsRossland BC V0G 1Y0
Canada
870882008RT0001
Your personal expert for this trip

Martin, LUEX's Head of Travel, started out skating in the UK, before escaping to the powder of Canadian mountains. He found his way to LUEX through years of chasing snow in winter and waves in France during summer. These days, he manages our surf and snow teams, while squeezing in surf trips to his favorite right-handers at Cokes and Kasabu in the Maldives, or powder missions to the tree-lined runs of Revelstoke. At LUEX, he combines his love for board sports with making sure every trip runs smoothly.


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