When is the best time to come?
We operate from December to April, and there is great powder throughout the whole season. Keep in mind that it does not have to snow the night before your trip to have excellent powder. Since we don’t pack it down everyday there’s plenty for everyone and the snowfalls keep accumulating. Often April is our least busy month; however, we do get some great dumps in April and the longer hours of daylight make for more runs.
How much snow does North Idaho get?
There are 350 annual inches of powder snow in the St. Joe Mountains. If you want to compare to other areas, generally, it is drier than the Cascades and less windy and with significant more snowfall than Eastern Montana.
What is the terrain like?
There are open bowls, glades, and untouched powder fields on a variety of aspects. The steepness ranges from twenty five to forty degrees. Each run is unique and can accommodate those who want to let it rip on wide open terrain like Full Throttle, go steep on the North Face or get air on Bumps, Jumps –n- Stumps! Run choices are based on the ability of the group and the best snow conditions.
How many runs?
Like other heli skiing and snowcat skiing operations you will generally get eight to fifteen runs. The number will depend on the weather conditions and the length of the run, since getting more vertical increases the overall lift time. The number of runs also increases as spring approaches, because there are more hours of daylight to utilize. As opposed to many heli skiing companies, we do not have a policy that states you will pay more if you get more than a certain amount of vertical feet.
How many vertical feet?
We average 12,000 -20,000 vertical feet per day. This is typical in a cat skiing operation. The value of snowcat skiing comes from the quality of snow, the freedom of the backcountry, and having the mountains to yourselves. Instead of going to a ski area that gets tracked out by 10:00 a.m., at Peak Adventures you will get powder all day long!
What are your ability and age requirements?
For snowcat skiing and boarding, strong intermediate to expert skiers, telemarkers, and snowboarders are all welcome. You must be comfortable in at least a foot of fresh snow, as well as going through trees. The minimum age is sixteen. Generally, with younger people, skiing ability is not the limiting factor for snowcat skiing; rather, it is the greater responsibility and risk associated with the backcountry that people under this age often do not fully comprehend. Furthermore, the ability of young people to assist guides in the case of an emergency is generally limited. Nonetheless, we do make an exception to this requirement if you reserve a private cat or a custom tour. This same policy applies to guided ski tours. For snowshoeing twelve years old is the minimum age; however, if you fully book the tour this age requirement may be waived.
Can I get on a standby list?
Yes, just send us an e-mail, info@peaksnowcats.com, or call (208) 818-9408. Let us know you would like to be on the standby list and give us a good contact number. It is also good to know if there are certain days of the week that work best for you or days that do not work. There are not a lot of cancellations; however, people do have emergencies or responsibilities that come up.
How many people have to book?
You may book a maximum of twelve and a minimum of one on catskiing day trips. For the overnight yurt trips we require a minimum of six and a maximum of eleven. We can also help you to find other guests who want to do an overnight if you are interested by have a smaller party. Snowshoeing trips will go with a minimum of six, and guided backcountry touring with a minimum of three participants.
How do I get a discount?
When you book a group of eleven or twelve guests with one payment for the deposit and one payment for the balance you will receive a ten percent discount for each person in the group, or the leader goes free. To qualify for this special discount you must pay for the entire booking with a single credit card when booking and have a single point of contact for reservation inquiries. Check our rates page for current special promotions.
What is the Day’s schedule like?
- 7:00 a.m. Meet at Peak Adventures Headquarters in Cataldo with ski and snowboard clothing on. Boots can be put on at the snowcat. Coffee, Tea, Cocoa, and restrooms available.
- 7:05 a.m. Safety meeting.
- 7:35 a.m. Drive roughly 10 miles up Latour Creek Rd. with 4×4 vehicles. Good tires are a must and chains may be necessary.
- 8:15 a.m. Arrive at snowcat. Bring skis and snowboards to back of the cat. Driver loads snowcat while guides instruct guests in transceiver use.
- 8:45 a.m. Snowcat transportation into St. Joe Mountains. Muffins and bagels served.
- 9:45 a.m. Start skiing and snowboarding on epic runs! Snacks and water served on the cat while it carries you back to the top for another great ride.
- 1:00 p.m. Stop for lunch and hot drinks. Exact time depends on group, weather, and conditions. Bathroom break in the woods anytime, there are no facilities up high, but if we happen to be near the yurt there is an outhouse available.
- 1:30 p.m. Continue tracking up deep powder on new runs, taking photos or videos, and charging our way back to the next fresh line.
What are the safety precautions?
See our safety page. All our guides are licensed ski guides with a wealth of experience in the mountains and a dedication to the safety of our guests. Safety is our number one priority at Peak Adventures and we have never had an avalanche related accident.
How long have you been in business?
Peak Adventures was the first licensed snowcat skiing company in Idaho in 1992. We used the first winter to develop all of our runs and procedures, then opened in 1993. Since that time we have built a strong customer base and 80% return annually to enjoy fresh tracks.
Do snowboarders need poles or snowshoes?
Peak Adventures does very little traversing or side hilling, so snowboarders will not need poles or need to be concerned about keeping up with skiers.
Are there any Ski Areas nearby?
Silver Mountain Resort and Lookout Pass are only ten and forty minutes away respectively. Schweitzer Mountain Resort is about an hour North West. There is also Mt. Spokane and 49 Degrees North within an hour North of Spokane International Airport.
Can I rent Fat Skis or Long Snowboards?
Ski rental is available at a number of local shops. Please plan ahead to pick them up early the day prior to your trip as many shops are closed by 6:00 p.m. and do not open early enough in the morning for you to get them the day of a trip. At $25-$50 per day there are a variety to choose from. Ask the store what they recommend at their location. The following are some of the options for rental equipment:
Kellogg:
Lookout Ski Shop (208) 784-4051
Silver Mtn. Shop (208) 783-1111
Spokane:
Sports Creel (509) 924-2330
Wintersport (509) 328-2030
Alpine Haus (509) 534-4554
Mountain Gear (800) 829-2009
REI (509) 328-9900
Hayden:
Ski Shack (208) 772-3112
Coeur d’Alene:
Moose Camp Sports (208) 667-6994
Missoula:
Trail Head (406) 543-6966
What do I need to bring?
Please see our webpage on “what to bring.” If you are in need of some gear for your trip, check out local shops, such as Trailhead in Missoula (406)543-6966, Edge of the World in Missoula (406)721-7774, Outdoor Experience in Sandpoint (208)263-6023, or Alpine Haus in Spokane (509)534-4554.
Do you operate seven days a week?
Typically we have trips running three to six days a week. The days of the week depend on when guests choose, but most often it is weekends, and two to three days midweek.
What does it take to make a reservation?
Please visit our reservation page where you can either make a booking inquiry or proceed immediately with an online reservation. You can also give us a call at (208) 818-9408 and we will be happy to answer all your questions. When booking you must sign a liability waiver and pay a fifty percent deposit by MasterCard or Visa.
When making a reservation for more than one person, it is necessary for the group organizer to pay for all those he or she is making a reservation for. If this is not possible each member of the group must make their own reservations; however, we will not hold space for your group if everyone is booking individual seats. It is also possible for the group organizer to provide credit cards for others in the party and provide those over the phone at the time of booking.
If you book the entire snowcat for your group or custom tour, we require one credit card for all billing and a single point of contact for reservation inquiries.
What is your cancellation policy?
If you cancel two weeks prior to your trip, fifty percent of the total reservation price will be refunded. When you cancel within two weeks of the trip, money will not be refunded unless you find a replacement for your seats. In either of these situations, a full refund will be rewarded, if you can find another guest to take your place. Once the substitute has paid us in full, you will receive a full refund.
If the trip is cancelled due to weather, mechanical failure, or too few bookings your trip can either be rescheduled or you will be provided with a transferable certificate of credit, good for this season and next, that you can use for a future trip, or give to someone else to use for a trip.
Any tips for a successful day?
A good hot wax prior to your trip makes powder turns even better. Layering clothes is the best way to deal with unknown weather, bring a few extra layers and you can leave them in the snowcat if you don’t need them. Friends make for good times, so make sure you bring some along.