Single

• Single Seats : C$650 Peak season & $550 low season
• Optional shuttle from Red to staging area $25/pers, or self-drive
• Students $50 off, and Teens with a parent $100 off

Groups

• Full Cat Rental (up to 12 seats): $6900 high season / $5500 low season
• Half Cat Rental (up to 6 pers): $3750 high season / $3135 low season

Plus $4/seat BC land use fee and 5% federal GST

High Season

(Jan 15 to March 13). The most consistent conditions of the year and the most popular. Standby seats a rarity in February and early March.

Early/Late Season

(Dec 18-Jan 14 and March 14-22). Often some of the best days of the year after fresh snowfalls, however the days are longer and snow is more sun-affected, especially after a few days without snow, and rain events are more likely.

• Tickets are NON-REFUNDABLE.  If you prefer to have the flexibility of a refundable ticket, add the $100/day refundable ticket option.  Note that in this case the $100 is not refunded, just the regular ticket price.
• Dates are flexible and need not be consecutive.  Please book the ability level which pertains to the slowest person in your booking group so that they can make it through the day without having to sit runs out.If weather is looking potentially hazardous or just not like much fun, we'll let you know and will in many cases offer the option of a transferable rain check which is good for the remainder of the season, plus two more seasons.
• Lunch is included. Veggie wraps and gluten free sandwiches are available if you request in advance. Breakfast and coffee are not included.
• All prices in Canadian dollars.  Cat skiing subject to $4/day Crown Land user fee and 5% GST.
• Bookings are 100% payable at time of booking
• All guests will be required to read and sign the Big Red Cats waiver prior to skiing.
• Please take time to read and understand our terms and conditions carefully - particularly that we do not provide refunds.
• We strongly suggest that you purchase travel insurance that contains both trip cancellation insurance and medical evacuation insurance.
• We recommend that all people use fat powder skis to make the day more fun.

• All guests are required to provide proof of full vaccination prior to arrival. If you are unable to be vaccinated, you will need to provide a negative PCR or rapid test within 72 hours of the trip.
• If you need to cancel due to COVID or COVID travel restrictions, your payments are transferable and reschedulable to the next couple of seasons. That is NOT the case if you are restricted from traveling because you choose not to get vaccinated. Please ensure that you are vaccinated, for your own safety, the safety of our staff and guests, and so that you are permitted to cross the border.
• There are no refunds unless you have purchased $100/seat "cancellation option"
• Liability waivers are mandatory, and must be done online in advance instead of meeting in the office in the morning. You will be advised of your group number in advance, so that you can meet your guides at the staging area or bus without going into the office.
• All snowcats have been fitted with a clear vinyl wall between the front and back row, and each row has a separate access door. This reduces transmission vectors, as there is only six-person group size on each side of the barrier. This partition will remain for the 2021/22 season.
• Guests are requested to drive their own vehicle to the snowcat staging area in order to minimize interaction with others. Shuttle is available for those without a vehicle, for $25/person return.
• Masks may be required and are recommended while inside the snowcat, depending on government regulations at that time, and in order to keep masks on in the snowcat, food and drink will be consumed outside the cat, with a lunch break incorporated into the day to facilitate this.
• Private groups who would like to request a photographer may do so in advance, for $375-400 for the day including photos, but a photographer will not be assigned unless requested. If you would like to view the slideshow during après ski, please make a reservation at Rossberry Hill.

• Über-Expert: Hucking cliffs all day, and they never chicken-out. If the guide can do it, they can do it. Fit, young, fast, confident, and unforgiving. Less than 5% of scheduled trips, plus a few "private" groups.
• Expert: Enjoy double-black ski runs, untroubled by steep drops, cliff bands, and some tight trees. They want to jump of some things, but also have a choice of going around. Very experienced, fit, fast, and looking to do a lot of runs. ~30% of trips
• Advanced/Expert: Happy to ski expert terrain, but more slowly. Stronger advanced skiers, who don't want to be the slowest in an expert group, or are trying to avoid being grouped with intermediate skiers who accidentally sign up for advanced, rarely jump off anything, but are tempted by the odd roll or small feature. A bit faster than advanced, and enjoy a bit steeper. Lots of snowboarders who are worried that anything easier won't be steep enough to keep going. Lots of guys in their 50's and 60's who used to be Expert, and ski efficiently but don't want to risk the body anymore. ~30% of trips
• Advanced: Enjoys black diamond runs, and the odd double-black, but really doesn't enjoy jumping off things. Stops a couple of times on the way down. Competent skiers in all snow conditions, but not overly judgmental. ~25% of trips
• Intermediate/Advanced: Enjoys black diamond runs, but a bit more slowly, and some blues. Maybe a bit slower than Advanced, but skiing advanced terrain. ~5% of trips
• Intermediate: Enjoys blue runs at resorts, and some blacks. Needs to stop sometimes. Some trepidation in the trees and some, but not a lot, of experience in deep snow. Prefers more open, less steep terrain, and may like some coaching in skiing powder. Less than 5% of trips

Can I change my reservation? Is there a cancellation fee?

You must pay in full at the time of booking. Payments are NON REFUNDABLE, but may be rescheduled in some cases, such as COVID travel conditions or unsafe conditions.

We offer a $100/seat refund option at time of booking, should you need to cancel and you will be refunded the amount paid for your seat, minus the $100 refund option

In the event that the weather renders the skiing conditions hazardous, you may be given the option to reschedule to another date in the same or following season. If you evaluate your options and do not want to opt for a rain check that is fine, we will take you cat skiing, though the terrain on offer may be limited, and the experience may be less than desirable. However, if we do offer a rain check, it is transferable, and it is likely that is a good choice to ski at the resort instead, and return another day.

Can I bring the whole family? What age?

Yes! 13 is the minimum age, and students age 13-15 must ski with a parent. Age 16-18 the parent must still cosign the liability waiver and accept responsibility.

Unfortunately, experience with children under 13 years of age, even in a private cat environment, has shown that it is difficult for parents to effectively monitor them at all times, they are not always able to carry out instructions, and their bodies are so small that tree wells are simply too large of a hazard.

I want a multi-day lodge type experience. Can I get that at Big Red Cats?

Yes. While we don't have a remote lodge, we do have a 6-bedroom "Big Red Lodge" if you have a group of 12, and most of the guests at the Red Shutter Inn and many at the Ram's Head Inn are catskiers, so there is plenty of opportunity to socialize. Dinners may also be catered in for your group by pre-arrangement, if you don't want to eat out at restaurants every night.

I want to holiday with my partner/family, but they’re not up to cat skiing. What can they do?

As we are resort-based, Big Red Cats is an ideal choice for those who would like to travel with their partner and/or family, but get in some powder skiing as well. Staying at the base of Red Mountain, you can have breakfast together, and they can do other activities while you are cat skiing for the day, before meeting up again for dinner and apres-ski time together. Lift passes at Red Mountain, the spa or shopping in Rossland (only 5 minutes away), nordic skiing at Black Jack (2 minute drive away) or hiking the cabins at Strawberry Pass, and walking the Centennial Trail are all popular things to do. Mobile massage therapists can also be arranged to come right to where you're staying - though this is best arranged in advance. There are several excellent restaurants at Red Mountain and in Rossland as well.

How far is it from the meeting point to the snowcat?

Big Red Cats has very quick and easy access to its ski terrain, which makes a multi-day experience simple and painless, even while staying at the resort. It is about a 25-30 minute highway drive from our meeting point at Red Mountain Resort to our snowcat shed. Because the highway takes us all the way up to 1500m, it is a simple and quick process. You can take our shuttle bus, or there is parking for your own vehicle if you prefer. The daily avalanche training is performed there, and from the cat shed, it is only 40 minutes to the top of the first run.

Can I bring my own transceiver, probe & shovel?

We provide transceivers (Mammut Pulse), and we prefer that all guests use the transceivers provided, so that the safety briefing is the same for all. It is highly unlikely that transceivers wouldn't "speak" to each other, but we still prefer to use all the same beacon, as we have checked and double-checked our transceivers and it minimizes risk. We have a guest pack available for every guest, with probes and shovels. If you prefer to bring your own pack with probe and shovel, you are quite welcome to as long as your equipment is high quality. We have a few avalanche airbag packs for rent. You need to book these in advance. You are welcome to bring your own if you have them, but if you are flying make sure to arrange an air canister in advance, as you can't fly with compressed gas.

Can we drink alcohol or smoke weed during the cat ski day?

No, of course not! It is not permitted to drink alcohol or use any non-prescription drugs during your cat skiing day. It is permitted to bring a can (cans only please) of beer to enjoy after you have completed your final run of the day, and what you do in the evenings is your own business, but there can be no drinking during the day, as your inability to focus on instructions may impact the safety of yourself and others in the group. If you are found to be doing either of the above, you will be "benched" - told to sit in the snowcat for the rest of the day and discontinue skiing. If you request to be removed from the area, there is a $50 charge. If you must smoke cigarettes, please consider others and position yourself downwind, so that they can enjoy the fresh air in the great outdoors.

Food?

Lunch is provided and is eaten during ascents in the snowcat, which allows us more time for skiing each day. There is typically two halves of a wrap, two cookies, and an apple per person, as well as water.

Veggie wraps and gluten free sandwiches are available if you request in advance.

There is a restaurant next to our office which is great for breakfast or coffee and après ski, but brekkie and après is not included in the price of your cat skiing.

What is the weather like?

Big Red Cats is very close to Red Mountain BC which is in BC’s famous Powder Triangle. It snows and snows hard - sometimes it will snow for weeks without stopping. We receive about 40ft of it per year. In general, temperatures range between -1 and -10. However, prior to mid February we potentially can get brief periods of very cold arctic air with temperatures in the range of -20 to -30 Celsius. Please be prepared for all mountain weather conditions. We recommend that you bring a face mask or a snorkel for those days when the powder is so deep that every few turns you have a mouthful of snow.

Am I ready for snowcat skiing in deep powder?

If you are a strong intermediate skier or boarder, able to ski with confidence on blue (red in Europe) runs at ski resorts in varying snow conditions (not necessarily powder), you are then ready for snowcat skiing with us. You should have been skiing actively for several consecutive years. Backcountry snowcat skiing is not for beginner skiers. As a local rule of thumb, you should be able to ski Red's Paradise "Mini-Bowls" before signing up for an Intermediate tour, you should be comfortable in the "Powderfields" before signing up for an Advanced tour, and you should be able to ski the killing fields of Red's "Cambodia" before considering an Expert tour. If you aren't sure, it is better to underestimate your ability than to over-estimate.

Do you offer discounts for groups?

Yes! A full cat rental for 12 includes at least one seat free!

Can I rent fat powder skis?

Yes, we have a large fleet of skis, but it's best to book the skis when you book your trip, to request the style and size that you prefer. That way, if a shortage is foreseen, we can make arrangements to get more skis. Ski rental is $39 for a day, including poles.

What's the vertical? How many runs?

The vertical depends on which group you're in. The runs are generally between 1200-1800 feet each, and average around 1400ft. (The top elevation is about 2200m, and the bottom is about 1650, but most runs are less than that). An expert group typically gets 10-13 runs in (15,000ft or more) , an advanced group typically 7-11 (10,000 or more), and an intermediate group 6-9 (8000 or more). So that's a pretty large range. If you don't get at least 6 runs in, we'll give a partial credit to return. We have had an expert group get in over 30,000ft one day, but that's the record. They just keep going all day, it isn't capped at any particular number of runs. If it has been a long time since the last snowfall, we will have to travel further between runs to find fresh tracks, and you may get fewer runs in. If you come in March, the days are longer than in December, which will also affect the number of runs. Each run is about 1200 feet,on average.

Where and when do I go when I arrive?

You'll need to be at the BRC office at the base of Red Mountain ski resort at 0745. It is at 2-4430 Red Mountain Road, in the Red Robs condo building. If you are renting skis, you'll need to arrive ten to fifteen minutes earlier. Even if you have pre-arranged ski rental, you'll have to fill in and sign the ski rental form and waiver.

You'll sign your waivers and you can self-drive or we can take you by bus out to our snowcat staging area.