Planning
Your trip
When to Come
Early Season – Storm after Storm
Our early season conditions are some of the best all season for snowfall, with a tendency to get continuous back-to-back storms and significant amounts of snowfall. When it’s stormy, the snow is deep but the visibility can be low, so we tend to spend more time skiing in the trees early season.
High Season – Popular for Good Reason
January, February, and early March are our most popular times to visit, and for good reason – The temperatures are consistently lower and the snow is dry and deep! Days are getting longer as we move into February and March, which means longer ski days and more sunshine and bluebird days in the alpine.
Late Season – Springtime Surprise
Surprise! It’s still very much winter in the Monashees in late March and April, averaging over 260cms of snowfall in March alone – that’s higher than any other month of the season! Late March and April tend to have unsettled weather patterns – lots of convective storms, then the sun comes out, then it snows again. Temperatures are rising that time of year, but our alpine skiing is still full of fresh, deep powder and longer days allow us to access deeper spots in the tenure… bring your sunscreen!
What’s Included
- Full days of guided backcountry skiing with our ACMG certified guides
- Accommodation in our high elevation, remote mountain lodge
- Gourmet meals, cooked by our outstanding chefs
For bookings made prior to October 15th, guests pay an initial deposit of 25% of the total package, with the balance being due October 15th. For balances not paid by October 15th there will be a $50 per seat late fee incurred, plus an additional $50 per seat each month thereafter until the balance is paid in full. Trips booked after September 30th are payable in full at the time of booking. Deposits, final balances and full trip payments can be made by:
- Flywire Online Payment System
- Email transfer
- Cheque
- Bank Wire
Please identify all payments clearly with your name and address.
Payments in US funds will be credited to your account at the current bank rate. Please be aware that the Canadian mail is notoriously slow and mail from the US can take as long as three weeks to arrive.
A reservation may be canceled automatically and your deposit forfeited if we have not received full payment by October 15th.
You are purchasing a non-refundable ski holiday. If you cancel your reservation prior to October 15th and we are able to sell your spot to another person at full price, your deposit will be refunded less a $400 + GST cancellation fee per seat if it’s a Regular Cat seat or less $5000 + GST per seat if it’s a small cat seat (either Private Cat or Small Groups, Steep Chutes).
If you cancel your reservation after you have made your final payment or after October 15th, the cancellation fee is the greater of $500 + GST (Regular Cat)/$500 + GST (Small Cat) or 10% of the total trip cost. If we are able to fill the seat at full price, all monies paid, less the cancellation fee, will be refunded. If we fill the seat at a reduced standby rate, you will be refunded only the amount paid by this last-minute guest less the cancellation fee. If the seat cannot be filled, then no money will be refunded or ski credits given. If you are unable to come at the last minute due to injury, travel complications, inability to enter the country, etc. there will be no refunds or ski credits given unless we are able to resell the seat, as described above.
If we are unable to provide you with your ski holiday due to an insufficient snowpack or mechanical breakdown, guests will receive a ski credit (rain check) for a future holiday. Under no circumstances do we give refunds if we are unable to provide you with your holiday – we only give ski credits. The reservation and cancellation policies used by Mustang Powder Lodge are standard in this industry. Please also keep in mind that although the Monashee mountains are an excellent location for great winter weather suitable for powder skiing and well over 90% of the time we have good or excellent powder snow conditions, it is possible that conditions during your ski trip will disappoint you. Please accept the fact that we have no control over the weather and will not give refunds due to poor conditions. Unlike day operations, our policy is to ski every day and make a big effort to have fun – even if the conditions are not terrific. Guests must accept that “you win some, and you lose some” when it comes to weather. If you are unlucky and encounter poor conditions while you are on your ski holiday, please try very hard not to be miserable and grumpy – it only makes the situation worse.
We strongly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation insurance for ALL guests, and we recommend medical insurance if you are a visitor to Canada.
We strongly recommend that all of our guests purchase trip cancellation insurance and medical insurance if you are a visitor to Canada, within a few days of making your first trip payment. Cancellation insurance will cover you in case of any unexpected changes to your trip, including injury or sickness prior to/during your ski trip. Please contact your insurance provider for specific coverage details.
There is no guarantee on the conditions that you will encounter on your ski holiday and we give no refunds or rain checks if we are unable to ski due to poor conditions, or if you can not or do not want to ski for any reason.
A snowcat can operate in virtually any type of snow and weather. However, if we cannot operate our snowcat due to a mechanical breakdown we will provide a skiing credit on the unused portion of the ski package. This credit does not carry any cash value and is valid only until the end of the following ski season. Under no circumstances is Mustang Powder responsible for guests’ inconvenience or travel expenses. We do have a back up snow cat in the event of a breakdown.
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 it is possible that conditions during your ski trip will disappoint you. Please accept the fact that we have no control over the weather. Our policy is to ski every day and make a big effort to have fun – even if the conditions are not terrific. Guests must accept that you “win some, and you lose some” when it comes to weather. If you are unlucky and encounter poor conditions while you are on your ski holiday, please try very hard not to be miserable and grumpy – it only makes the situation worse.
Furthermore, 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 also 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.
In the past, we have deviated from the above policy and sometimes given free ski days to guests when the skiing was poor. In future, no refunds or rain checks will be given if the snow is poor or if we are unable to ski due to unacceptably dangerous conditions. Some cat/heli operators (especially day-skiing operations) cancel when conditions are not good. At Mustang we go skiing even if the conditions are not good. Please be aware of this prior to booking a trip with us.
Mustang Powder offers insurance to cover the costs if, in the event of a serious injury, you need to be evacuated from the mountain to by helicopter, snowcat or snowmobile to the nearest hospital which offers the care facilities required. The cost of the evacuation insurance is $5.00 per person per day, plus GST. We advise all skiers to take this policy. If you choose not to purchase this insurance, you will be responsible for helicopter evacuation, ambulance expenses and all other costs related to an evacuation and not covered by medical insurance. We will ask you to provide a credit card number to cover these expenses. We have automatically added $5.00 per person per day to your final statement to pay for your evacuation insurance. If you do not want to purchase Evacuation Insurance, please let us know and it will be removed from your invoice. In the case of an evacuation, no refunds or credits will be given for the unused portion of your trip.
We accept cash, cheques, debit, VISA or MasterCard for liquor, retail purchases, ski rentals, massage services, gratuities, and ski trip deposits while you are at the lodge.
Deposits for discounted groups that are paid by VISA or MasterCard will be subject to a 3% reduction in the group discount.
Online Guest Registration
Along with your statement, sent out in the fall or sent with your new booking confirmation, you will receive the link to our online guest registration portal.
Complete or update your registration details at least two weeks prior to your arrival date, even if you are a returning guest. This form assists us in preparing for your arrival including room assignments and special requests, as well as allowing us to prepare for any of your special health or dietary requirements.
Trip Schedule
Mustang Powder Lodge is north of the Trans Canada Highway, between Sicamous and Revelstoke. We run three-and four-day trips. We also have a few two-day trips running prior to Christmas. For all trips, you will arrive the evening prior to the first day of your ski holiday.
The timeline
Please note: All guests are flown to and from the lodge via helicopter transfer, weather permitting. The cost is $160.00 CAD each way. Since the helicopter flights are weather dependent, this cost will be paid directly to Glacier Helicopters at the end of your trip once we know if you were able to fly in and out. Snowcat transfers will be done on no-fly days at no cost.
Mustang Powder Cat Skiing guests will meet at our meeting spot 44 km west of Revelstoke or 28 km east of Sicamous. This is near Craigallachie, site of the “last spike” in the Canadian Pacific Railroad. Guest vehicles will be left at our meeting spot off of Avoca Rd for the duration of their ski holiday. You will travel to the lodge on the evening prior to the first day of your holiday at the time provided to you in the Guest Information Package sent to you prior to your trip, and in the Pre-Trip Heli Email if you are flying in.
You will need to arrive at our Meeting Spot at the time provided to you on your invoice, on the day prior to your ski trip dates. For example, if your trip dates are January 12-15, you will be coming up to the lodge on January 11th, skiing the 12, 13, 14, 15 then heading out the evening of the 15th.
Guests will access the lodge via helicopter (unless stormy weather makes flying too difficult and then we will go to Plan B – the bus and snowcat). You will receive an information package and invoice in the Autumn, which will tell you specifically what date and time to arrive at the meeting spot. You will have approx. 1 hour to have your luggage weighed (35 lbs. max), view a helicopter safety briefing, and get ready to fly. The flight to the lodge is fast – about 8 minutes. There will be two helicopters doing the transfer, guests and their luggage will go on each flight. Guests should fly in warm clothing and winter snow boots.
Guests will have their temperature taken at the meeting spot and those with a fever or anyone displaying flu-like symptoms will not be permitted access to the lodge.
Breakfast
You will be woken up at 7:00 am, coffee will be served in the dining room followed by a full breakfast. Packaged lunches and snacks will be provided for guests to enjoy throughout the day in the snowcat.
Safety
Briefing
Prior to skiing on your first day all guests are required to sign a Waiver, Release from Liability and Assumption of Risks. The guides will then give you a safety briefing and training session with avalanche transceivers followed by an avalanche transceiver search practice. We will also discuss safety in and around the snowcats.
Let’s
Go Skiing
On the first morning, we will depart from the lodge at approximately 10:00 AM; on subsequent days the cats will leave the lodge at 8:30-8:45 AM. Lunch is eaten outside the snow cat at the top or bottom of the run, as guests will be expected to have their face covered whenever they are inside the cat. We return from skiing between 4:00 and 5:00 pm. We often ski right back to the lodge on our last run of the day.
On the first morning, we will depart from the lodge at approximately 10:00 AM; on subsequent days the cats will leave the lodge at 8:30-8:45 AM. Lunch is eaten outside the snow cat at the top or bottom of the run, as guests will be expected to have their face covered whenever they are inside the cat. We return from skiing between 4:00 and 5:00 pm. We often ski right back to the lodge on our last run of the day.
Après Ski
After skiing appetizers are served in the lounge. You can then have a soak in our large outdoor hot tub on the roof, relax in the sauna, or enjoy a massage.
Our bar has a superb selection of the finest British Columbia wines, Cannery Brewing Company beer (brewed in Penticton, BC), and a full selection of fine liquors.
Your first dinner at Mustang will be three courses, and subsequent meals will be four courses. The final day of your trip will culminate with a five-course supper served alongside an optional wine pairing.
Last Day of Skiing
We will have you pack your gear first thing in the morning so that we can ski as late as possible. After skiing we will return you to your car at the meeting spot between 5:30 and 6:00 PM Pacific Time. If you you are leaving by helicopter you will be back at the meeting spot between 4 and 4:30 PM. We suggest you do not book a flight out of Kelowna airport prior to 8 PM on the last day of your ski holiday. It is much more sensible to fly the following morning.
Release of Liability
PLEASE NOTE: All bookings with Mustang Powder are non-refundable and subject to our Release of Liability and Cancellation Policies. All guests will be required to confirm that they have read, understand, and accept the terms and conditions of Mustang Powder’s standard Release of Liability before booking with us.
A hard copy of this release of liability, waiver of claims, assumption of risks, and indemnity agreement must also be signed in upon arrival at the lodge.
According to our insurance regulations, all skiers/boarders must be at least 13 years old. Each snowcat skier/border between the age of 13 and 19 years must be accompanied by an adult. This guardian will also be their ski partner at all times, especially while riding in the trees.
Rebooking Policy
Guests who catski with us always have the first right of refusal on the corresponding dates for the following season. Seats are secured for the following ski season with a deposit payment of 25% of the total package price. This option expires on the last day of the current year’s ski holiday. We do not hold dates without a deposit.
Travel &
Transport
Travel to the lodge can take some additional coordination, especially when flying in to Canada. Check out our information on travel weather you’re driving in or renting a car from Kelowna or Calgary.
Weather
& ROads
Weather can be unpredictable. It’s the storms that roll in that make for such incredible skiing, but it can also mean logistical challenges on your arrival day. Be sure that you’re prepared.
Policies &
Waivers
All guests will be required to sign a waiver as part of participation in the cat skiing program and their stay at the lodge. Waivers must be signed and all guest information must be added into the guest portal before your arrival.
