50 | BC B U S I N E SS NOVEM B ER/ D ECEM B ER 2025 Steven Wells Photo
L O C A L G E TA W AY S
Big Red Cats covers some mighty big terrain: eight
mountains with 700-plus named runs accessed by 220
kilometres of snowcat roads spread over 20,000 acres.
Fun fact: it would take about two years to ski it all.
My goal is to simply get down the mountain without
faceplanting in (and digging my way out of ) the deep
snow. As a solid intermediate skier, I'm nervous, wonder-
ing if I'm up to the challenge. Powder skiing is different
from the comfortable corduroy carving at Red Mountain
Resort, just a few klicks south. I need to float above the
powder and adjust my stance, speed and turns to glide
through the snow-covered glades and down the mountain.
Fortunately, Big Red Cats welcomes skiers like me, and
safety is always top of mind. With a full-time snow safety
team and certified guides, like no-nonsense New Zea-
lander Cole with Frenchwoman Charlotte Poulin-Rodrigue
bringing up the rear of our group, I'm in trusted hands.
Charlotte gives me a quick pep talk before following
me down through the glades with gentle encouragement.
I take up her challenge to carve my own line in the
deep powder, feeling the incomparable exhilaration of
floating above it all before completing the run (upright
and grinning) to the cheers of the group.
In the heated cab, laughter rises above the cat's
rumble. We sip steaming cups of miso soup as driver
Adam Whitehead slowly moves us further into the back-
country. The mountains have called and I've answered,
impressed by the legendary terrain and the unforgettable
alpine adventure.
Cat skiing adventures with Big Red Cats start at $659
per day during peak season. From YVR, fly into Trail
or Castlegar via Pacific Coastal Airlines or Air Canada.
Stay in Rossland at the Josie Hotel, Big Red Lodge or Red
Shutter Inn.
CLAWING DOWNHILL
Exploring 20,000 acres
of untouched powder
with Big Red Cats means
trading comfort zones for
adventure, and making
sure you get down
the mountain without
faceplanting in the snow.
