The best chance your average Joe has of cat skiing up at Island Lake Lodge is if there is a last minute cancellation.
People have been known to cancel, in extreme circumstances.
“It happens once in a while for whatever reason,” said Mike McPhee, director of Sales and Marketing at Island Lake Lodge.” They break their foot, get sick or have something happen in their family.”
The rebooking rate for a cat skiing trip at Island Lake Lodge is around 80 per cent. This year they were completely booked by January. Last week there were five spots still available on the last cat-skiing trip of the season, which happened March 28 to 30.
“I think there’s quite a demand out there in the world,” said McPhee. “Our history helps. We do have a reputation as one of the highest-end backcountry lodges in the world.”
Island Lake Lodge has been offering serious powder hounds the chance to swap lift lines for thousands of acres of steep terrain and deep snow for almost 30 years.
Dominated by the rising peaks of the Three Bears, the lodge’s cat skiing terrain typically receives 12 metres of snow.
McPhee insists it’s the little things that make Island Lake Lodge one of the most popular cat skiing destinations in the world.
“We’ve really concentrated on a lot of the small details in our experience,” he said.
The lodge has three red-seal chefs on staff right now. They also have an experienced massage therapist who works the kinks out of clients after a long day on the slopes.
Then there are the experienced ski guides who are constantly analyzing the mountain faces as they scout out the best lines. The resort has its own snow safety team, which is rare for a relatively small operation.
The lodge has also partnered with a host of organizations to produce some creative content marketing.
It boasts its own wines: red, white and bubbly. There’s the official Island Lake Lodge snowboard produced by Salomon Snowboards.
Its slopes are featured in Teton Gravity Research’s latest film Tight Loose. Then there are all the YouTube clips of some of the best skiers and boarders in the world enjoying its seemingly endless powder.
For locals, the best and most affordable nights to enjoy the lodge and its many comforts this summer are Mondays and Wednesdays.
Monday date nights offer specials for couples and Wine Wednesdays offer the chance to drink some rare vintages at a discount.
For more information visit Islandlakecatskiing.com.