Trip to Retallack in February

[MattK.]

After searching the forums it appears that there have been several maggots that have taken trips to Retallack. I am planning a trip to Retallack in February and have questions about the terrain. I will be going with four other guys and one of the guys is an intermediate skier with little powder skiing experience. He is concerned that he is getting in over his head and is considering backing out on the trip. The guy is a great athelete who is in excellent shape but has not been on skis in a couple of years. He is avid wake boarder and class 5 kayaker and is aggresive and picks up new sports quickly. When he skied last he was able to ski expert terrain but was not skiing in powder conditions. I realize that it is difficult to render an opinion without seeing him ski but, with this limited information, do those who have been to Retallack think he is getting in over his head? Thanks in advance for your help.

Matt

[bad_roo]

Buy him some Spatulas.

[Karl Stall]

You'll have a great time.

As for your friend, sounds like he could make it, but it might hamper your own enjoyment. The runs are not cut and although there are nice natual glades and bowls, there are also areas of super tight trees. If he goes, he can see how he handles it and if it is too much he can opt out of a run or two.

Roo's advice is good - the spats would be a critical component of his being able to hang, as long as he is in good shape.

Just don't mention that you know me when you're there

[truth]

He will be in over his head, and unless you were to have a party of 12 (full cat rental) will most likely piss off strangers that you are sharing the cat with.

If he was in intermediate skier with powder experience who had been skiing regularly I would say you might be able to pull it off. As you describe him he will struggle and flail and get frustrated. Retallack is known for having some of the finest steep tree skiing in the world, and even for an expert skier it can be very humbling to try and learn to ride tight steep trees especially if the snow is less than perfect.

I'm not trying to bag on your trip, plan or friend, but I've been spending from 3 days to a week at Retallack for the past 5 seasons so I feel I'm about as qualified as anyone to chime in. I've seen folks of the ability level you describe and they invariably slow groups down and usually end up sitting out for either runs at a time or complete days, later in the trip. Now Retallack's lodge is one of my favorite places in the world, but if you're not actually going to ski it's a really pricey place to sit on a couch.

There are better ways to introduce a friend to powder skiing than to throw him into some of the tightest, steepest trees any of you will have ever ridden in and ask him to learn. Retallack's trees truly are world class. I dream about them every night to this day. Do not think that it will be like gladed skiing at your local resort.

Good luck with your decision and enjoy your trip. Say hello to the folks up there for me as this will be the first season that I miss the trip since we first found our way there.

[Karl Stall]

^ Actually, that's ^ the truth ^

[truth]

^ Actually, that's ^ the truth ^

Feel the love my brother. You owe me a call. After 3 pm works well mang.

[MattK.]

Thanks Karl and Truth for the candid feedback. That is exactly the information that I was looking for. We might opt for a long weekend at the P-Dawg instead. Which is not a bad plan B.

[PlayHarder]

The boys are likely dead on with Retallak, but there are a few cat ops around BC that have terrain more suited to solid intermediates. Maybe take a look at Monashee, they've got a pretty decent mix of terrain and the trees aren't near as tight thanks to some fires. Cat Powder in Revelstoke may be a good option, as well. They've been clearing and glading Mt McKenzie in preparation for turning it into a resort, so it should be a little friendlier for your buddy.
No need to discount cat skiing altogether, just have to research the operations a little more.