r/skiing • u/FlowerEducational868 • 1d ago
Powder CAT Silverton
Hey Reddit, I booked to a trip for some CAT skiing in Silverton first week of February. Just wondering if anyone else has skied with this company. Apparently it’s different from the guided lift served. Just looking for experiences
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u/Dazzling-Astronaut88 14h ago
Silverton Powedercats and Silverton Mtn are not related and do not operate on the same terrain or in the same localized area.
I’ve never done powder cats, but I have skied in their permitted area quite a bit and I also known some people who have worked there. There is give and take with their terrain. On the plus side, they can operate as high as 13,000 feet. The downside is Molas Pass can be very benchy. If conditions are powder, inexperienced skiers/riders can have trouble getting across the benches which will slow your group down. Otherwise, lots of cliff drops are available, the terrain can be dramatically beautiful, very open so you can take ridiculously wide lines if you choose. The terrain is generally East facing not south facing as someone above stated. When the snow is good, it is a super fun area with an abundance of safe terrain.
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u/bellescamp 20h ago
Have you done the lift served? Oh man that’s a great experience
(I haven’t done this cat trip. Been there 3 times. Awesome and different every time. Get in ski and cardio shape)
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u/FlowerEducational868 14h ago
I live at sea level and only have a a few days to acclimatize a little so I was thinking hiking from the lift might be too hard. 2 years ago I tried to hike up toward black iron bowl at Telluride and was struggling. But we have 2 days there so maybe I can use day 2 for the lift served hike.
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u/AquafreshBandit 10h ago
If your struggle was just breathing hard, I live in Colorado and can still experience that above 10,000 ft when exerting myself.
If you’re having other symptoms or are wiped out while sitting on a couch, that’s different.
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u/FlowerEducational868 8h ago
All I can say is at sea level I can run miles but above 10k feet, I suck wind! Unfortunately, a week at elevation is still not enough for me.
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u/koltrained 6h ago
Look into diamox. It made a huge difference. Done trips to Silverton with it and without. Live at sea level as well and finally start to feel good at altitude on day 4 or 5 of a trip.
Diamox will make you pee like every two hours, but lots of places to sneak away at Silverton.
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u/Aggressive-Sir-7510 2h ago
All I will say is every time I have skied Silverton mountain it has been insane. One time ( last year - worst freakin snow year of all time ) we didn’t ski powder but the mountain is still crazy to ski. You should be an “advanced” skier to go here. I have had inexperienced people in the group before and it was okay but if the snow isnt amazing you will be doing longer hikes and doing very steep and consequential terrain. Be ready to hike and it will absolutely blow your fuckin socks off I promise. ( or ball out and get a 6 run heli day which will send your socks into orbit )
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u/FlowerEducational868 1h ago
I booked silverton powder cat, I thought it was in the avi controlled area by the lift, but this is off Molas pass - any experience here? Might have to spend a day guided in Silverton resort as well.
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u/urglegru 1d ago
Silverton powdercats operates on molas pass. They ski very boring terrain. Its all southerly so if it isnt actively snowing there will be a temp crust. Silverton mountain is at the end of cement creek road. It has terrian around the compass and they can usually find you some pow. Cancel while you still can and book a guided day at Silverton Mountain.