Our risk management and safety systems are in place in order to balance the risks involved when leading groups and operating big machines in snowy mountain environments.
Our staff participates in annual training programs that cover the implementation of our operation and rescue systems. We also conduct reviews of our medical and evacuation procedures and our guides participate in incident simulations during our annual pre season guide and in-season trainings.
OUR GUIDES ARE CERTIFIED:
Wilderness First Responder (WFR)
CPR for Healthcare Providers
Members of the National Ski Patrol (NSP)
AIARE annual snow safety training
Risk Management is an integral part of our Steamboat Powdercats operations. We direct our efforts to maximize your safety through careful attention to detail.
• Our snowcats have industry leading custom cabins on them for supreme comfort whist moving throughout the Buffalo Pass terrain
• 3 guides per cat including 2 guide on the snow at all times (lead and tail guides)
• Guides are trained in and carry full medical gear in case of injuries or illnesses on the snow
• All cats are equipped with A.E.D’s and advanced medical bags including oxygen for significant incidents
• We provide water and all the food during the day to keep guests hydrated and energized in mountain environments
• All guides have advanced first aid and avalanche training skills to help in any and all situations
• Complimentary Atomic powder skis and Never Summer snowboards along with BCA Tracker 2 avalanche beacon’s are provided to all guests. Guests can bring their own skis, snowboards, and beacon if they wish.
• Guests are pre-separated into ability levels as we hope to match terrain and guests with similar skill sets
Our 3 heated cats allow us to group our guests by skiing ability so everyone is at their comfortable level. Our terrain, located on Buffalo Pass Colorado, is conveniently located just 25-min from downtown Steamboat Springs, so we are typically on snow by 9:15 am. We look to match terrain to your ability level and that of the group so it’s very important to figure out what snowcat you should be on.
View our Ability Levels below to find which one is right for you!
LEVEL I
Guests at this level have limited powder experience and need more open type terrain to continue to learn how to float their turns. A level I guest is confident on lift served ski area groomed blue, blue/black and even some black diamond terrain but has not quite figured out how to pop or float their turns in untracked powder.
LEVEL II
Guests at this level can ski or ride at an up-tempo pace, are physically fit and already confident in the powder skills. Guests here can pop their powder turns and navigate thru tight aspen forests. At the ski area, these guests actively search out powder and ski black and some double black diamonds ski runs.
LEVEL III
Our Level III guests will have unquestionable skills, both in the backcountry and at the ski area. These guests actively seek out the most expert type terrain with the deepest powder available. Many of our guests in this level have been on other heli or snowcat operations in the past and/or are active backcountry enthusiasts.