Irwin Cat Skiing Snowboarding

About

Irwin Cat Skiing Snowboarding operates in the Elk Mountains near Crested Butte, Colorado. The base sits at 10,413 feet elevation, with terrain extending to approximately 11,400 feet. The operation covers about 1,000 acres of skiable area. It is located roughly 13 miles west of Crested Butte, in an area known as the 'snow shadow' of the Ruby Range. This location receives around 500 inches of snow annually, which is three times the amount received by Crested Butte itself. The snow quality is described as low-density, dry 'cold-smoke' powder. The activity offers guided snowcat tours. The typical tour lasts about 8 hours and is classified as moderate difficulty, suitable for those with some snowboarding experience. The terrain includes open alpine bowls, steep narrow chutes, couloirs, and tight tree skiing. There are also cliff bands offering drops of 5 to 40 feet. Parking is available on site. Operating season runs from November through April. The base of operations, called the Cat Barn, provides hot lunch. Guests are provided with avalanche beacons and DPS snowboards. Ski and snowboard boots are not available for rental, so visitors must bring their own. The operation is managed by Eleven Experience, with Scarp Ridge Lodge and Sopris House serving as primary bases. Daycat availability can be affected by lodge guest priority, but reservations are possible.