San Juan Ski Company

snowcat skiing details

Location
Our snowcat skiing reservation desk is in Backcountry Experience, an outdoor specialty store, located on the plaza level of the Purgatory Lodge at Durango Mountain Resort. DMR/Purgatory is 23 miles north of Durango, Colorado (allow at least 30 minutes drive time from Durango), 23 miles south of Silverton (we do not recommend that guests stay the night in Silverton before their scheduled trip since the road is often closed for avalanche control), and an approximately a two-and-a-half hour drive from Telluride.

When and where we meet
We meet at 8 a.m. at our reservation desk in Backcountry Experience. The outdoor store is located on the left hand side of the Plaza as you walk up from the parking lot. You can unload gear and people at the unloading zone before parking your vehicle.

Dates and time
Daily mid-December through mid-April (conditions allowing) 8 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. Guests meet at 8 a.m., and after briefing and orientation, take a short chair-lift ride to the snowcat. Please do not be late. If you are running a few minutes late, call our reservation phone 800.208.1780 and we will try to accommodate you. However, be advised that if the rest of the group is ready to leave and you aren’t there, you will be left behind.

Vertical
You can expect to ski or ride 10 to 12 runs and between 10,000 and 12,000 vertical feet. Elevations in our permitted area vary from 8,800 at the base of Durango Mountain Resort to 12,500 feet at the summit of Grayrock Peak.

How we get to our snowcats
Guests ride a high-speed chairlift to the top of the ski area and ski/snowboard a short run down to our snowcat. We leave the ski area boundary immediately after loading the snowcat. At the end of the day, around 4:30 p.m., guests are dropped off at the top of a ski run and ski down to the base area.

Snowcats
The San Juan Ski company operates two Bombardier snowcats, custom designed for comfort. Guests may also be transported by a 15-person snow coach or on snowmobiles to meet our snowcat on days when we explore the far boundaries of our terrain. On these days, the snowcat gets an early start in the morning. Riding in the snowcoach or driving snowmobiles to meet the snowcat means less travel time and more ski time for guests.

What to bring
We do not provide lunch or snacks, so be sure to bring food. The weather can change quickly at high altitude. Dress in layers and bring a hat, goggles, neck gaiter, sunglasses and sunscreen. Carry a small day pack or fanny pack for your lunch, snacks, extra layers and personal items. We do not rent boots. Check our travel planner page for rental/ski shop links.

Why us
Simply put…POWDER, terrain and price. We are the only snowcat skiing operation that guarantees powder. We can make this guarantee since we have such an enormous amount of terrain with a permitted area over 60 square miles. So much terrain allows our guides to seek out powder stashes weeks after the last storm or wind event. Our 2011/2012 prices are below industry rates. To keep our rates low, we have cut the frills, like providing free skis and gourmet lunches, but kept the thrills, like offering steep clinics and backcountry ski tours. We also hope beginners will get inspired to seek out a powder adventure on our learn-to-ski powdercats or veteran powder skiers/catskiers will share their love of powder with their children on our family cats .

We hope you will choose the San Juan Ski Company as your snowcat skiing destination this season. We look forward to skiing with you - Bob and Carrie Rule, SJSC owners.