A Brief History of Catskiing

The serene summer months in Fernie B.C. are a great time to sit back and contemplate any subject. The wide open expanses, filled only with nature's beauty, lend themselves to introspection. Ever wonder who you have to thank for coming up with the brilliant idea of using a snowcat to go back country skiing? The answer is Allan Drury, a native of Ontario Canada.

In 1965 Drury was working in Aspen, Colorado, where he noticed snowcats being used at a ski resort whose lifts weren't up and running yet. Putting two and two together, Drury went back to Canada, and once he saw the epic conditions that British Columbia provides to skiers and snowboarders every year, back country catskiing was born. No longer was it necessary to hike yourself up a back country mountain to achieve that wholly blissful experience that is backcountry skiing. Nor was it necessary to hire an experienced helicopter pilot, and an expensive flying machine to get there. Just hop in the snowcat and off you go.

  The rest, as they say, is history. Several others thought Drury was on to something, and opened up their own shops. One of those original companies to improve on Drury's idea was Island Lake Lodge. Located near Fernie B.C., Island Lake Lodge was the first company to own the land it operates on, after purchasing the terrain it used to lease from Shell Oil Company in 1994. Envied by many, respected and enjoyed by all, Island Lake is a premier destination for catskiing in British Columbia today. Their 7,000 acres of private bowls and gladed forests are guaranteed to give you the catskiing experience of a life time.

Island Lake isn't the only operator here in Fernie B.C. Powder Cowboy, offers a unique twist on the typical catskiing vacation, introducing travelers to the western culture of the Columbia Valley. Enjoy their western saloon, and cozy log cabins, but most of all get ready to satisfy your inner powder hound on their 6,000 acre tenure.