Operator
Great Northern Snowcat Skiing
Great Northern Snow-Cat Skiing Ltd, 5400 BC-31, Trout Lake, BC V0G 1R2, Canada
About
=== DESCRIPTION === Great Northern Snow-Cat Skiing is a boutique cat skiing operation based near Trout Lake, British Columbia, in the Bad Shot Range of the Selkirk Mountains. Operating since 1979, it gives small groups of skiers and snowboarders two entire mountains to themselves: Great Northern Mountain and Mount Thompson. That's 75 square kilometres (7,500 hectares) of snow-covered backcountry, with more than 15 metres of snowfall in most years. The location was chosen deliberately. Founder Brent McCorquodale picked this corner of the Selkirks after studying snow records from the University of Calgary archives dating back to the 1800s, for one reason: it snows a lot here every year. Brent's approach set the tone that still defines Great Northern. There's no counting runs, no tracking vertical, and no watching the clock. The day is about skiing deep powder until the light fades or the group runs out of energy. In 2016, longtime regulars Stephen, Peter, and Andre took over ownership from Brent, with a commitment to keep that philosophy unchanged. The terrain covers forest glades, wide-open powder bowls, gullies, and chutes, suited to skiers and riders from confident intermediate to expert. Great Northern Mountain has rolling alpine meadows up top that drop into steep, well-spaced glades. Mount Thompson's runs are wide open and north-facing, so they hold snow well later in the season. Heated snowcats carry guests between runs, with rides of 15 to 20 minutes. Many runs carry names with a story behind them, usually involving a guest or a guide. Trips are all-inclusive packages of three, four, or seven days, covering meals, accommodations, taxes, and emergency medical and helicopter evacuation insurance while guests are at the lodge. The published 2026–27 schedule runs from mid-December through the end of March. Guests stay at the Great Northern Lodge, a rustic 18-room lodge reached by driving directly to its door, with no commercial flight transfers or helicopter shuttles required. Great Northern is a long-time member of the Canadian Avalanche Association and works with HeliCat Canada on safety and sustainability best practices.
Locations
Where Great Northern Snowcat Skiing runs trips from — open any pin in Google Maps.
Great Northern Lodge
The Great Northern Lodge is Great Northern Snow-Cat Skiing's base of operations and the place guests stay for the length of their trip. It sits off Highway 31 near Trout Lake, British Columbia, about 90 kilometres (roughly 1.5 hours) southeast of Revelstoke. Guests drive right to the door, and it's also where the snowcats load up each morning and where the home run finishes at the end of the ski day. The lodge has a rustic, laid-back feel, with 18 rooms: three single rooms, three double-bed rooms, six queen-bed rooms, and six rooms with two single beds. Every room has an ensuite bathroom with a shower or bathtub, a hair dryer, and extra blankets. Common spaces include a pool table, ping-pong, and darts (all three together make up the "Great Northern Olympics"), a TV room, and a fireplace lounge. After skiing, guests can soak in the outdoor hot tub or warm up in the cedar sauna. There's also a retail shop stocking Great Northern souvenirs and gear from brands including Orage, Arc'teryx, and Smith. Meals are served communally and family-style. Breakfast starts at 7:00 am, lunch is served on the mountain, après ski brings snacks and BBQ, and a three-course dinner is announced by the dinner bell at 6:30 pm. The kitchen is known for its smoked dishes, including wild sockeye salmon, chicken, and ribs. Alcohol isn't sold at the lodge, so guests are welcome to bring their own.
Great Northern Snow-Cat Skiing Ltd, 5400 BC-31, Trout Lake, BC V0G 1R2, Canada
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