Mustang Powder

About

Mustang Powder is a remote, lodge-based cat skiing operation in the northern Monashee Mountains of British Columbia, northwest of Revelstoke. Its tenure sits on the western edge of the Monashees, which means incoming storms hit it first. The operation reports knee-deep powder on an average day and considerably more after a storm. Guests stay at the timber-frame Mustang Lodge at 1,740 m (5,700 ft), and the first drop-off of the day is just 5 to 10 minutes from the lodge. What sets Mustang Powder apart is who it's built for. The operation openly caters to strong, keen skiers and snowboarders who ski a lot each season and want to maximize their time on snow rather than keep a relaxed pace. Many groups ski more than 20,000 vertical feet in a day. On February 27, 2017, a group of 12 guests logged 30,145 vertical feet in just over eight hours. The terrain supports that pace. It mixes large alpine bowls, steep lines and gladed old-growth forest, with many runs over 1,000 m (3,200 ft) of vertical. Extensive north-facing terrain holds untracked snow through dry spells, and new tree runs are gladed every summer. On clear, stable days, guides can open signature alpine descents such as 5th Dimension, which starts on top of the Mustang Glacier and runs all the way to the valley floor. Mustang Powder runs four programs out of the lodge, all using Pisten Bully snowcats, with backup cats on hand so mechanical issues don't stall the day: Classic Cat Skiing puts 12 or 13 guests in a cat. Solo travelers and smaller parties are matched with groups of similar ability and fitness. Small Groups, Steep Chutes takes six expert skiers and riders into the tenure's most technical terrain, including couloir lines. Occasional short skin tours are needed to reach run entrances. Small Group Private Cat gives a single party of six to seven its own cat for the trip. Cat Assisted Ski Touring replaces the classic program in the early season. It pairs cat access with guided touring and is aimed at advanced skiers, with no prior backcountry experience required. Trips run on fixed three- and four-day dates from late November into early April. Guiding is handled by members of the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG) and the Canadian Ski Guide Association (CSGA), and by professionals with the Canadian Avalanche Association. Off the snow, the lodge's chefs and bakers prepare multi-course dinners built around locally raised meats and fish. The wine list has more than 125 wines, drawn entirely from BC's Okanagan Valley. Peak dates book out quickly, often with returning guests, so inquiring a year ahead is recommended. Contact Heli to check availability and book.