As Expected, Several Storms Have Hit the Canadian Rockies During the Month of   March, Producing Substantial Snowfall as well as Some Truly Phenomenal Ski Conditions .

Fernie, British Columbia, Canada, March 26, 2010 – Piles of white gold cover the mountains of British Columbia’s Lizard Range as Powder Cowboy’s lucky guests continue to “saddle up” each day  in preparation for some of the most exciting rides of their lives. March has been quite a month in the Canadian Rockies, as a rapid succession of winter storms have produced some incredible ski conditions, particularly in the area surrounding Fernie, B.C. Skiers at Powder Cowboy Catskiing, one of western Canada’s top catskiing resorts, continue to enjoy the benefits of these fantastic weather patterns, even as the end of the long winter ski season slowly draws nearer.

Although Spring is in full swing throughout many lower latitude locations, fresh powder continues to fall over the more than 6000 acres that comprise Powder Cowboy’s impressive terrain, keeping the resort’s grateful guests smiling as they enjoy day after day of adrenaline pumping action amidst some of the best backcountry ski country on earth. There seems to be no end to this impressive torrent and with a snowpack of more than two and a half meters still covering the ground, conditions continue to remain favorable, even this late into the season.

Nevertheless, these conditions come as no surprise to members of Powder Cowboy’s experienced staff, who are well aware that March is often the best time of the year to take advantage of the vast assortment of exciting ski runs that the Lizard Range has to offer. In fact, March and April often see some of the biggest storms of the season and fresh powder is by no means uncommon during these months.

It is the promise of such conditions that keeps skiers and snowboarders coming back to Powder Cowboy Catskiing year after year, in search of the type of thrills that only the Canadian Rockies can provide. The impressive resort is a great place to experience various backcountry ski environments, including some of the best gladed tree runs on the planet in addition to a large collection of steep chutes and bowls that are enough to get even the most experienced downhill skier’s blood pumping. Guests are transported to these slopes atop powerful snowcat skiing, large, rugged winter vehicles that can take skiers and snowboarders to many locations where traditional ski lifts simply do not yet exist.

In addition to being known as a great place to enjoy the outdoors, Powder Cowboy is also home to an impressive, western themed lodge, whose rustic, yet modern facilities offer a level of comfort that is above and beyond what many similarly priced resorts have to offer. The Bull Horn Guest Ranch features a total of 10 cozy log cabins, 8 of which are set up to accommodate guests. Each of these lodging facilities is equipped with in-floor heating as well as a fireplace and can comfortably sleep between 2 and 4 guests.

There is also a hot tub/sauna cabin that houses two showers, a spacious cedar sauna, and two outdoor hot tubs on a covered deck. Guests can enjoy their meals in the Big Horn Saloon, which contains a dining area, bar, kitchen and massage rooms. A large covered deck with an outdoor fireplace is a great place to enjoy a drink, swap stories, or wind down after a long day of skiing.

During the summer months, Powder Cowboy doubles as a dude ranch. It is the perfect place to spend a relaxing vacation amidst breathtaking natural surroundings.

ABOUT:

Powder Cowboy Catskiing and Heli Ski near Fernie B.C. boasts 6000 acres of big bowls, steep chutes and is famous for world class gladed tree skiing. The white gold on the Western Rockies is legendary for quality and quantity, with over 10 meters (over 30 feet!) of dry champagne powder falling every season.

One of British Columbia’s most well known Catskiing Resorts offers Skiers the Opportunity to Sample Some of Its Most Thrilling Slopes for A Day At Amazingly Low Prices.

Fernie, British Columbia, Canada, March 26, 2010 – Everybody skier wants to experience the thrill of laying fresh tracks in deep, dry powder as often as possible, which is something the folks at Island Lake Resort, located just outside of Fernie British Columbia, know and understand well. As a pioneer in the sport of Catskiing, this Rocky Mountain ski resort was one of the first operations of its type; it set quite a precedent years ago, by becoming the first resort ever to own its own ski terrain.

While many British Columbian resorts operate on Crown Land and make use of broad expanses of publicly owned property known as tenures to carry out their activities, very few actually hold deeds to their own land. Island Lake Resort, on the other hand, does not fall under this category, but sits instead on over 7000 acres of premium, privately owned back country ski terrain. Located in the heart of the Lizard Range section of the Western Canadian Rockies, in an area known as the Cedar Valley, Island Lake Lodge is one of Canada’s most swell known ski destinations and was recently named one of the top places to stay on the planet by none other than National Geographic Traveler, arguably the world’s most well respected travel publication.

The main reason for Island Lake’s popularity, however, stems not from its proud history as a pioneer in the world of Catskiing, nor from the fact that lodge’s owners also hold a deed to the land the resort sits on, but is instead a result of the copious amounts of dry powdery snow that grace the slopes of the Lizard Range each year, making Island Lake one of the best places to ski on the planet. The resort offers its guests the opportunity to experience a wide variety thrilling ski runs that vary substantially in intensity, length, altitude and type. The lodge’s vast terrain offers a great many options for skiers and snowboarders of all ages and skill levels. Simply put, there is something for everybody at Island Lake, which is why so many skiers and snowboarders from around the globe flock here each year in search of an outdoor experience that only the breathtakingly gorgeous, snow covered slopes of the Canadian Rockies are capable of providing.

Aside from a seemingly endless assortment of steep ridge lines, gladed tree runs and open bowls to shred, the location also offers skiers a chance to experience lavish accommodations and gourmet dining in a spectacular natural setting. In fact, Island Lake serves up some of Western Canada’s finest cuisine and the resort’s four luxury lodges provide guests with an opportunity to relax in style after a long, exciting day of snowcat skiing.

But a trip to Island Lake doesn’t come cheap. In fact, even during the low season, a 2 day stay at one of the resort’s posh winter lodges can cost as much as $1,500 or more per person. And that’s if you can even get a room. Due to its limited capacity and immense popularity, Island Lake is usually booked solid at least one year in advance.

While some people go out of their way to save up enough cash to make an Island Lake vacation a reality, others simply can afford it. That’s why Island lake is now offering day catskiing packages for under $300 per person. These convenient packages are meant to give avid skiers and snowboarders with more modest budgets a chance to enjoy the same great skiing that guests who sleep at the resort do, without having to spring for accommodations and as well. The deal  also targets local skiers, who live relatively close to the resort, and yearn for an opportunity to explore its extensive terrain. This special is just one of many deals and promotions currently being offered by Island Lake Lodge. More information about these offers is available at: www.islandlakecatskiing.com/packages.

ABOUT:

Island Lake Lodge is a back country resort located on 7,000 acres of mountainous terrain near Fernie B.C. Canada, just beyond the Mount Fernie Provincial Park. Island Lake Resorts consist of Island Lake Catskiing in addition to Powder Cowboy Catskiing and Mica Heli Ski.

Just as Many Skiers Get Ready to Pack it Up and Call it Quits for The Season, Another Wave of Powerful Winter Storms are Hitting the Western Slopes of the  Canadian Rockies .

Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada, March 12, 2010 – “Skiing in March, what’s that all about?”- you may be asking yourself as most of North America’s population is shedding its winter clothing in favor more, comfortable, light weight apparel. In fact, by this time each year, many of Canada’s Ski resorts have already shut down for the season and British Columbia is no exception to that rule, particularly this year, considering the warm coastal weather that was such a highly publicized component of the recent Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

But the same is certainly not true of Mica Heli Guides, one of British Columbia’s premier heliskiing outfits, whose massive and impressive tenure is located on over 175,000 acres of backcountry ski terrain, strategically situated between the Monashee and Selkirk ranges, on the Western Slopes of the breathtaking Canadian Rockies. Hailed by many as some of the finest ski territory on the planet, this vast expanse of  northern wilderness is consistently home to some of the deepest, driest, undisturbed champagne powder on Earth, making it an ideal location for both heliskiing and heliboarding alike.

Mica Heli Guides, which is part of the well known Island Lake Resort Group, consists of a talented team of professional helicopter pilots, world class ski guides and exceptional hospitality industry professionals, who specialize exclusively in small group heliskiing adventures. The company uses two powerful mountain helicopters to transport skiers and snowboarders alike to the farthest reaches of Canada’s most fantastic backcountry ski territory.

Mica’s exclusive and hard to reach accommodations are accessible only by helicopter. Mica Lodge, which was built in 2002, is a comfortable 7 bedroom living facility with room for up to 12 guests. The lodge also houses a spacious dining area, a well stocked bar in addition to a ski shop, retail store and common living area. Each of the bedrooms has its own private bathroom and is an equipped with extra long twin pillow top bed.

A second building, erected in 2006 and known as the Mica Chalet, is home to four extra large deluxe rooms. Each of these contains a king bed, fireplace, leather lounge chairs and a full ensuite bathroom.

Amenities include two outdoor hot tubs and a qualified staff of massage therapists. Yoga mats, snow shoes and exercise balls are also available to guests who wish to do some additional exercise aside from skiing.

But skiing is what Mica is most well known for; due to its unique location, this impressive backcountry resort offers access to some of the best skiing on the planet. What is most impressive about Mica’s tenure is the wide variety of different environments, the quality of the snow itself, and the length and consistency of the ski season. Mica’s helicopters seldom stay on the ground for more than a day or two between December and April and skiers are knee deep in dry mountain powder snowcat skiing here, while folks on the coast are already getting geared up for summer.

This year has been no exception and snow fall has been particularly heavy during the past few days. In fact, Mica’s guides have reported over 65 centimeters of snowfall over the past week, with 45 centimeters of fresh powder in the last 24 hours alone! There is still plenty of time to enjoy an action packed ski trip at Mica Heli Ski, even as we approach mid March. Heavy storms are typical here during this time of the year and the snowpack is quite deep as the result of long winter season.

ABOUT:

Mica Heli Skiing near Revelstoke, B.C. specializes in small group heli-skiing. It is one of three operations in The Island Lake Resort Group, the others being Powder Cowboy Cat skiing and Island Lake Lodge catskiing near Fernie B.C.. For more information, contact Darryn Shewchuk at  1.877.837.6191 x2002.

I double checked that my snowboard and boots were in my van before leaving the house. These will be my most treasured items for the next four days. I was headed for Fernie, BC, in mid-winter, which means one thing: powder…and the steep lines that the East Kootenay’s area is known for. Oddly enough the shotgun seat in my van is empty and I’ll be arriving solo to spend the next four days with eight complete strangers. I had to be in the parking lot for pickup by five thirty that afternoon. I turned right on a snowy road. My GPS didn’t know where we were headed, but I did. Island Lake Lodge is at the end of this road and I’m going catboarding.

Arriving at the parking lot I see people milling about and a huge red snowcat skiing grumbling down from the forest. I rushed to gather my belongings and triple checked to make sure I had everything. Getting up to the lodge is about thirty minutes and I didn’t want to be that guy at the top missing his boots. I jumped into the back of the cat and grabbed the last seat on the bench. Everyone seemed friendly enough on the cat ride up and people chatted with one another. Inside my mind though, I was quietly sizing people up according to looks and the cities that they came from.  This would be my new crew for the next four days after all, and I was planning on getting in as many fresh turns as possible.

Two large timber framed lodges came into view and the huge snow taxi ride was almost over.  Arriving at the base lodge was more than I expected. I jumped out into the soft snow and was directed towards the Red Eagle Lodge which was a smaller A-frame lodge tucked into the corner of the clearing. I walked past the Bear Lodge, which was the original lodge when the operation started in 1988.  I knew of it from photos and was told it was used as the guest bar and lounge now. I dropped my bags off and immediately walked back over to snoop around it’s legendary walls and have a soda before dinner. I entered to a rousing crowd of what was surely an all-American group: east coast US accents and NFL football on the TV, screams included. I did some more analyzing of potential riding partners and was almost one hundred percent sure that I might be the only snowboarder up there. Not a problem. Dinner was served and finished up quickly. People scattered to their assigned rooms to prepare for an anticipated first day out in the mountains of Island Lake Lodge

Good Morning I.L.L.
My room was ultra comfortable but that didn’t stop me from waking up more than an hour before breakfast.  It was day one after all, and I had some energy ready to unleash on the Lizard Range of the BC, Rockies. Island Lake has seven thousand acres of terrain at it’s disposal; high alpine bowls, steep gladded trees and thousand’s of little secret little features that you couldn’t even dream of, all waiting to be found and ridden. First things first though, everyone in the group, regardless of experience, will go through the avalanche safety training. This includes accident procedure, beacon training and use of the shovel and probe. The guides at Island Lake Lodge do an amazing job with the safety briefing since this becomes ultra important information if the guides aren’t available in a worst-case scenario. It’s a nice feeling when you know that everyone is on the same page and understands the risks in your group.

Getting into the catskiing at Island Lake Lodge you’ll notice nice comfy benches, iPod dock, water-beverage station and a cooler filled to the brim with the tastiest sandwiches and cookies. I’ll get back to this area later and give out some tips.

Riding The Lizard
As it turned out there was one other snowboarder in my group: a Canadian ex-pro windsurfer who just moved back to the country after being in Brazil for quite some time. Once again I was sizing up my group.  Is this guy going to want to ride the same lines as me? This is the first day and let’s be honest, it’s powder and none of us know each other. It’ll be every man for himself. Enough said.

he guides at Island Lake have the terrain on lock down and I was lucky enough to have veteran “Big Steve” as my lead guide. He mapped out an amazing day and we didn’t once see the other group of eight skiers in the other snowcat that Island Lake operates on a daily basis.

Under grey skies we tracked up the bowls and flowed through gladded runs down to the final snowcat pick up at the bottom of Geisha Bowl; a definite leg burner. One of the nice final touches to each day is that the guides radio in beer orders that are sent out to the bottom of the bowl. An amazing finale to the day.

Apres, Island Lake Lodge.
After a day out charging powder and riding fast deep trees you’ll be drawn into the Bear Lodge. You can just feel the energy in the place and can tell right away that it’s got the most character of any of the other three lodges. Island Lake was stomping grounds for many a pro snowboarder; pro riders Craig Kelly, Jason Ford and Jake Blattner, pro photographer Mark Gallup and skier Scott Schmidt were all share holders at one time. The lodge has a definite vibe to it. The main feature is an amazing, one-of-a-kind stone fireplace. The bartending staff will get you going and keep you going into the night if you’re up to it. Watch out for the “shot ski.”

Bed to Breakfast at I.L.L.
Sleep comes much faster after a full day of being out in the snow. Lapping more powder than the average person rides in a season will do this to someone. The morning still brings the same excitement though, and jumping out of bed into the gear is easy.

Breakfast at Island Lake Lodge starts early and the spread is amazing with something for everyone.  There’s lots of space in the main Timber Lodge to join in with others or maybe just relax at your own table to recharge for the day. Pass the syrup!

Back into the Box
The next day brings more terrain and an amazing surprise. We are told that it might be possible to climb into the alpine terrain to the peaks of the Island Lake area.  We float through some thick clouds decorated with a lovely golden hue, right before we break into the blue ocean of the peaks. Nothing but cheers and smiles from everyone in the machine.

We all pile out to take photos and scope the terrain we are about to ride.  At this point it becomes a case of what we can ski as a group. I’m no longer concerned with sizing people up or worrying about who’s the fastest. It’s now more of a team effort and I have nothing but encouraging words for everyone in the crew.  The guides talk over options: steeper lines for some and options for people that just want to cruise and take in the view.

Everyone meets down at the cat after an amazing run down from the sunny alpine and into the misty magic of the Lizard range. An extremely stoked group gets into the cat, revisiting the refreshment area, cooler and the iPod dock. The rides up in the snowcat are tons of fun. Heli ski. This is where you’ll share stories, take care of foggy goggles, laugh and hopefully not cry from leg burn. The drink coolers are located in the back corner of the cat, so if you’re sitting there you’ll be playing bartender. Don’t sit there if your not into being Tom Cruise from Cocktail or if you hit the “shot ski” hard the night before. Next, the iPod dock. If you brought your own playlist and have been planning the music for a month, be prepared to let everyone have there own turn with their music. Get ready to tolerate all kinds of music. The food cooler is just like the drinks. You’ll be throwing sandwiches across to people all day; just remember to save some cookies for the guides.

The snowCat was crawling it’s way back to the alpine and the sunny ocean of powder that lay above it.  The doctor on my left seemed to be skiing faster and more aggressive.  The insurance broker and his retired ski buddy were all smiles and had the Bob Marely pumping on the iPod. The oldest skier in the group that was seventy and had already skied more vertical powder than all of us combined before he was fifty, was ready for anything. The surfy Canadian-Brazilian transplant who turned out to be the life of the cat (and my only snowboarding companion), is ripping.  All these people I had judged as strangers were becoming more and more like my normal crew as each day came and went. It was my turn to request a song and I got the Metallica queued up. I had my eye on a sweet line up top.

Despite The Heat Wave That Had Organizers of the Winter Games Literally Trucking in Snow and Competitors Complaining of Less Than Ideal Conditions, The People at Mica Heli Guides in Revelstoke  B.C. Are Still Enjoying Mountains of Fresh Powder.

Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada, March 6, 2010 – Many a sigh of relief was heard in Vancouver as this year’s Winter Games came to a close last weekend. Organizers finally had a chance to relax after weeks of trucking in loads of snow in order to try to maintain some semblance of winter at what will long be remembered by many sports fans as the warmest Winter Olympics in decades. While many fans poked fun at  an event that  has been widely been referred to as a complete fiasco, one competitor even went so far as to display one of her perforated skis during an interview on a well known national television news channel, confirming that it had been damaged before she even reached the starting line, by a rock that was jutting out from beneath the surface of the thin layer of slippery slush.

Meanwhile, the locals chuckled and did their best to refrain from shouting “we told you so” as they found humor in the fact that while temperatures as high as fifty degrees Fahrenheit seemed to come as a complete shock to international fans and members of the Olympic Committee, that sort of weather is actually quite common in Vancouver during this time of the year. So, while some of the world’s top athletes battled it out on inches of slippery slush, many more savvy skiers and snowboarders took to the hills in search of several feet of powder.

Those who visited Mica this season managed to find what they were looking for, and some of them are still getting the rides of their lives at one of British Columbia’s premier heliskiing destinations. In fact, conditions at Mica’s vast backcountry tenure remain so good that the company’s powerful mountain helicopters haven’t seen much downtime since late last November, as people continue to flock here in search of a ski experience that is simply unrivaled.

Nestled on the western slopes of the Canadian Rockies near Revelstoke British Columbia, Mica Heli Ski impressive tenure consists of nearly 180,000 acres of some of the backcountry ski terrain on the planet. Because of its strategic location, this area is consistently home to some of the deepest driest champagne powder in the world, perfect for living out even the wildest of skiing or snowboarding fantasies.

Known as one of the best in the business, Mica Heli Guides uses A-Star and Bell 407 helicopters to speedily transport its guests to some amazing backcountry locations, where they get a chance to lay fresh tracks in heaps of dry champagne powder as they enjoy  run after run of adrenaline pumping Canadian heliskiing. Mica specializes exclusively in small groups  and has a well established reputation for employing only the most skilled and experienced helicopter pilots and ski guides in all of North America.

While other operations have already shut down for the season, Mica’s dedicated staff is still hard at work as excellent ski conditions persist with a snowpack of over two hundred and fifty centimeters and some fresh snowfall in the last week. One thing that makes Mica’s terrain so special is that it is strategically situated between the Monashee and Selkirk ranges, in Canada’s Rocky Mountains. This is an area known for producing exceptionally deep, dry powder, which is a result of moist storms from the west colliding with cold arctic air that blows in from northern Alberta. The ski season here typically lasts through early May and  snowfall often exceeds 60 feet per year.

ABOUT:

Mica Heli Skiing near Revelstoke, B.C. specializes in small group heli-skiing. It is one of three operations in The Island Lake Resort Group, the others being Powder Cowboy snowcat skiing and Island Lake Lodge catskiing near Fernie B.C.. For more information, contact Darryn Shewchuk at  1.877.837.6191 x2002.