FAQ

Guests must be very strong intermediate skiers capable of dealing with deep powder snow in the backcountry. There aren’t any groomed blue runs! A certain amount of agility and bounce makes skiing in the deep snow the most fun you’ll have this winter!

A visit to Monashee Powder will usually entail skiing both open bowls and steep, open, tree runs. Powder skis make skiing deep snow much easier for any skier; however, you should be comfortable skiing black diamond runs. We reserve the right to restrict unskilled skiers from participating, but we will try to help guests improve so they can join the group on the easier runs. No refunds will be available for these guests if they can’t handle the terrain.

Skiers or Boarders must be 14 years of age and each one must be accompanied on the snow by a Skiing or Boarding Adult over 19 years of age.

For Skiers: Monashee Powder has a varied selection of powder skis. We carry:

• Armada JJ - reverse camber

• Armada Tracer ~106mm underfoot

• Armada Magic J ~ 120mm underfoot

• Armada Bubba, ~ 125 mm underfoot

• K2 Pon2oon ~ 132 mm underfoot, 159 - 182 cm

• Rossignol Super 7 HD for men - 116mm underfoot

• Rossignol Soul 7 HD for women - 106mm underfoot &

• Rossignol Black Ops - 110 mm underfoot (180 and 190)

The cost to rent these skis is $35 per day. An early rise ski refers to a tip that is slightly bent up but the tail remains the same. For powder skiers this means the ski tips float up out of the deep snow without the tendency to dive.

The new rocker or reverse camber ski can be as extreme as having a bent up tip and tail, similar to a u-shape. These skis are the fastest growing innovation in ski design, they are purpose-built for big lines and backcountry skiing. For more information about Rocker and camber skis through videos click here. 

Poles are provided along with rental skis. Guests must bring their own ski boots. The majority of our guides and guests use the wider powder skis. For maximum enjoyment of your holiday we recommend that you also use them.

For Snowboarders: We have a selection of powder boards available for rent, from 152 to 166 cm in length for $35/day. There are bindings on the boards, but bring your own bindings and an adaptor plate just in case your boots don't fit our bindings.

• Nakai Salomon Bellevue 152 cm

• Salomon Takaharu 155 cm

• Rossignol Contrast 156 cm

• Flow Rhythm 160 cm

• Ride 160 & 163 cm

• Burton Malolo 162 cm

• Capita Navigator 164 cm

• Burton Barracuda 165 cm

• Prior Fissile 166 cm

To hold your reservation, a 25% deposit will be paid to secure your reservation with the balance due October 31st. Returning guests have the option to rebook their trip for the following year before the seats are released.

It is important to be aware of Monashee Powder Snowcat's poor weather policy: Please accept that we have no control over the weather - and with our limited number of guests and short season - we must operate even in poor snow conditions. Monashee Powder Snowcats does not provide replacement ski days, refunds, or rain checks for down days lost to weather or snow conditions (e.g. unusual torrential rain, unskiable crust, etc.). The lodge will remain open throughout the ski season, even in poor conditions.

If you are unable to attend your trip and need to cancel we will only refund if we are able to fill your spot. There will be an administration fee deducted from your refund.  

Reservation Cancellation:

If you cancel your reservation prior to October 31st:

• Your deposit will be refunded if and when we fill the spot with another person at the full price, and will be subject to a $60.00 administration fee per seat.

• If we sell the cancelled seat at a reduced standby rate later in the season, then you will be refunded only the amount by which the total monies received (yours and the other person’s) exceeds the regular price of the seat, minus the $60.00 administration fee per seat.

• If the seat cannot be filled, then you will forfeit the deposit paid prior to the date of the cancellation.

If you cancel after October 31st, and/or you have paid the entire amount

• All monies paid will be refunded if and when we fill the spot with another person at the full price, subject to an administration fee of 5% of the cost of the seat.

• If we sell the cancelled seat at a reduced standby rate later in the season, you will be refunded the amount paid by this last-minute guest, less the administration fee of 5% of the cost of the seat.

• If the seat cannot be filled, then you will forfeit all monies paid prior to the date of the cancellation.

Monies on deposit will not be carried forward to future seasons. The reservation and cancellation policies used by Monashee Powder Snowcats are the standard in this industry. The nature of our business is such that our commitments must be made well in advance of your skiing with us. The Monashee mountains are an excellent location for great winter weather suitable for powder skiing. Well over 90% of the time we have good or excellent powder snow conditions. However, occasionally, due to warm weather and/or rain, the conditions will not be optimal. If this is the case, please try to make the best of the situation. Under no circumstances is Monashee Powder responsible for guest’s inconvenience or travel expenses.

Please accept that we have no control over the weather – and with our limited number of guests and short season – we must operate even in poor snow conditions. Our policy is to ski every day and make a big effort to have fun – even if the conditions are not terrific. Monashee Powder Snowcats does not provide replacement ski days, refunds, or rain checks for down days lost to weather or snow conditions (e.g. unusual torrential rain, unskiable crust, etc.)

Due to snow stability issues, we are sometimes forced to ski slopes that are not as steep and exciting as you would like. Please accept that we have no control over snow stability, but will put every effort into making the skiing as exciting and interesting as the stability and the strength of your ski group will allow. Monashee Powder Snowcats does not give refunds or credits for injury, illness or the inability to handle skiing/riding in our terrain.

Travel Insurance may be purchased for injury, illness or the inability to travel due to injury or death in the family. It does not cover an inability to cross the border because of prior criminal convictions (including drunk driving) or changing your mind. Trip cancellation insurance (aka Travel Insurance) does not cover Covid 19 illness as a reason for cancelling your trip as it is a known risk.

If you have any allergies, medical conditions or dietary needs, please let us know on your registration form.  The registration link is sent to you with your invoice and we need it filled out well before your trip.
It is highly recommended that all guests purchase Trip Cancellation and Emergency Medical Insurance. This protects you in case of an unexpected cancellation or if a medical emergency interrupts your vacation with us. Monashee Powder Snowcats is not responsible for your trip being cancelled for any reason. Please follow this link for a quote: Request a trip insurance quote

We normally ski 10 - 14 runs per day. On the first day of your ski holiday you will likely ski approximately 12,000 vertical feet due to the morning beacon search. On subsequent days you will ski between 15,000 and 18,000 vertical feet.

The lodge is located at 1600 meters (5290 feet) and the peaks are approximately 2500 meters or 8000 feet.

No, we do have some exciting runs, but most runs are not extreme. We ski a variety of slopes during the day, the steepness that we ski is dictated by the group’s ability and by the avalanche hazards. During times of high avalanche danger, we will ski runs that are of lower angles and supported by trees. 

Yes, if there is room guests can combine trips. Our longest visitor stayed for 11 days! Luckily he was very strong and very young! By checking our availability schedule, guests can put trips together to make 5, 6 or 7 day trips beyond the usual 3-day long weekend or 4-day mid-week trips. For the winter of 2023, we are quite booked with our returning guests so putting trips together might not be possible. This is a remote lodge, so guests who want to drive up the snow road will have to have a vehicle with 4-wheel drive unless our road is altered by the local logging company. The logistics can be worked out with the lodge managers or Gary & Keaton.

We welcome everyone to come and enjoy our powder. Snowboarders and telemark skiers need to have expert abilities and be experienced in all backcountry conditions including treed terrain. Our guides do their best to accommodate all of our guests. However, there may be times when traversing and uphill climbing is necessary.

Monashee Powder Lodge is located in the Monashee Mountain Range, which is a very snowy location. We receive an average of 60 feet of snow per year! In December and January the daytime temperatures are -5° to -15° Celsius; in February and March you can expect 0° to -10° Celsius. Prior to mid-February a cold front can lower the temperature to -20° or -30° Celsius for a few days. Please be prepared for all mountain weather conditions. Over 90% of the time you will encounter good or excellent snow and weather conditions. Our policy is to ski and try to have fun no matter what the conditions. Please accept the fact that we cannot control the weather, and that no refunds or rain checks are given for bad weather. (Bad weather means a rain storm which often changes to snow as the temperatures drop. It’s quite amazing how the snow “recovers” from the rain as the snow isn’t packed by groomers.)

Our chefs can accommodate any special dietary requirements and food allergies. Please fill in your on-line registration form completely so we know if you do have any special requests. The link will be sent to you when we are sending out information.

Please do not bring beer since it is heavy and often breaks on the trip up (usually on someone else’s luggage!). A corkage fee of $15 per bottle is charged for wine. Monashee Powder’s bar stocks a selection of liquor, beer and fine B.C. wines.

• Casual clothes and slippers (or running shoes) for the lodge

• A small thermos for hot drinks on the cat (we supply water and water bottles on the snowcat.)

• Ski goggles, snow boots and normal ski clothes that are suitable for all conditions and temperatures

• Ski Boots - we recommend that you take them on the airplane with you as carry-on luggage. (stuff your goggles, mitts and snow pants into the bag also.) If your luggage is delayed, you can still ski or ride.

• Powder skis if you own them, otherwise you can rent ours. Check out our fleet of rental skis. We provide ski poles with fat baskets for guests who rent skis.

• A bathing suit for the hot tub

• Wear your ski jacket, snow boots and gloves on the bus and snowcat when you arrive.

• Bring any medications you regularly take, there isn't a drug store nearby!

Our wake-up call is at 7 am, coffee is on in the main lodge, and breakfast is served at 7:30. Guests can pick up their lunch for the day at their convenience- grab your sandwich (the feature sandwich is a popular item.) and then choose from an array of veggies, salads, fruit and treats. We head out to ski at 8:30 or 8:45 am. While riding on the cat, guests snack or eat lunch as they please, with water bottles provided. You will arrive back at the lodge around 4:30 pm to enjoy appetizers, drinks, hot tubs, and perhaps share a few stories with new friends before dinner at 7:00pm. There is also the option of a therapeutic massage from our registered massage therapists before or after dinner. The bar is open downstairs for after-dinner drinks, a game of pool, or even a slideshow from our on-mountain photographer, who can’t resist showing the best wipeouts from the day.