Cat-Assisted Touring in the Selkirks: Kootenay Backcountry Guides x White Grizzly

Kootenay Backcountry Guides recently ran its first-ever Cat-Assisted Touring trip in partnership with White Grizzly Cat Skiing, delivering exactly the experience the format promises: quiet mountains, deep snow, and human-powered skiing in serious terrain. Guests and guides alike came away impressed by how seamlessly efficiency, remoteness, and authenticity blended over the three-day trip.

What exactly is Cat-Assisted Touring? In short: it’s ski touring within the terrain of a snowcat operation—without skiing from the cat.

The White Grizzly snowcat is used purely for access, not for lapping runs. It takes you deep into their exclusive tenure and drops you just above treeline. From there, skins go on and the day unfolds under human power. You earn every turn—you just get to start halfway up the skin track.

Think quiet approaches, no crowds, no engine noise once the day begins. Just your crew, your guides, and a lot of terrain.

So… is it mechanized skiing? Nope.

This isn’t bump laps or a full day riding the cat. It’s closer to a sled-access touring day—except you can actually stand up, eat snacks, enjoy the view, and maybe sing along to the music while the snowcat gets you to the start zone. Singing is optional. Encouraged, but optional.

Snowcats can’t go where you’ll be skiing anyway. The terrain is too steep, too rugged, and too remote. Fresh tracks aren’t a concern—it’s just your group in this terrain.

Most backcountry lodge trips require committing to a full week away. These don’t.

Cat-Assisted Touring trips run over three days—long enough for real alpine objectives, short enough to fit into real life. They’re genuinely remote and off-grid, yet surprisingly easy to access.

Group sizes are intentionally small: six guests total, compared to the 12-person groups common in cat skiing. The result is quieter days, more flexibility, and a noticeably different pace.

What’s the terrain like? It’s classic Selkirks backcountry skiing.

When conditions line up, expect open alpine faces, rolling snowfields, steeper features, and long runs that naturally funnel back into the valley. When visibility drops, well-spaced trees keep the skiing playful and fluid. It’s varied, engaging terrain that rewards both strong fitness and good decision-making.

Where do you stay? All Cat-Assisted Touring trips are based out of Wild Bear Lodge, tucked at the base of the Goat Range between Kaslo and Galena Bay.

Each guest gets a private cabin with an ensuite bathroom, plus everything you want at the end of a touring day: exceptional food, a sauna, a cold plunge, and a genuinely good night’s sleep.

Built by accomplished local artisans using traditional timber-framing techniques, the lodge blends craftsmanship with comfort. The main building’s glass front looks out over the gardens and river beyond—a place that invites you to slow down, breathe, and refuel properly.

Who is this trip for? This is for skiers and split-boarders who want serious days in the mountains paired with a seriously comfortable place to recover. For those who chase big alpine lines and long sauna sessions, move fast or move steadily, and value both the silence of wild places and the loud joy of flowy turns.

Cat-Assisted Touring isn’t about shortcuts. It’s about spending more time where it matters—deep in the Selkirks, doing it properly.

Source: Kootenay Backcountry Guides