STEAMBOAT POWDERCATS
On the third day we took a trip to the backcountry with Steamboat Powdercats. There were six skiers and three guides. The cat crawled up the mountain, dropped us off in untracked snow, and picked us up again at the bottom of the run. We did this over and over all day.
The day was exceedingly cold, with wind on the ridges. Frostbite warnings. Snow at the top was wind-packed and crusted but when we dropped into the trees and lower meadows the powder was soft and deep.
The rules for backcountry skiing were posted on this ridge, next to a large tree well. Stay out of the tree wells! Two skiers had died in the prior two weeks from falling into wells and suffocating before they could get out.
We were given fat skis to use in the powder. I used Salomon Pocket Rockets - they floated on the powder, and they are a lovely blue!
The view through the heavily frosted window as we headed up for a first run.
