Snowcat Skiing Trips Start at Durango Mountain Resort
location
The San Juan Ski Company is based at Durango Mountain Resort . DMR is located 23 miles north of Durango, 24 miles south of Silverton, and is approximately a two-hour drive from Telluride and Wolf Creek. As a crow flies, our catskiing operation is less than 20 miles from Telluride and Silverton.
Allow at least 30 minutes drive time from Durango and 45 minutes from Silverton. It is not recommended that guests stay the night in Silverton before their scheduled trip since the road is often closed for avalanche control.
when and where guests meet
The San Juan Ski Company recently moved into a new office. For the first time in 16 years, we are not sharing space with another business or are tucked away in a corner. Our new office is located 300 feet past and on the left (if heading north) the entrance to Durango Mountain Resort on highway 550 - in the Lodge at Purgatory. The address is 49617 US 550.
dates and times
Daily mid-December through early April (conditions allowing) 8 a.m. through 4:30 p.m.
Catskiing guests meet at 8 a.m., and after briefing and orientation, take a short ride in our 15-person van equipped with mattracks or a short chair-lift ride to the snowcat. Please be considerate of other guests and arrive on time. If you are running a few minutes late, call the 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.
2012/2013 season rates
SINGLE SEAT - $350, plus tax
PRIVATE SNOWCAT - $3,500 plus tax. (max. 12 skiers/boarders). Please note: the deposit for a private snowcat can only be charged to one credit card. The remaining balance, due the morning of the trip, can only be charged on one credit card.
Tax is 10%.
price includes
Lunch, snack, powder skis/snowboards, avalanche safety gear, (BCA Tracker beacon, shovel and shovel pack), souvenir water bottle and water and a one-ride lift ticket. Rates do not include gratuity. We do not provide boots. Boot are available at Gold Metal Sports
reservations 1.800.208.1780
The San Juan Ski Company is one of the few snowcat skiing operations in Colorado that has extended office hours and online booking. Our reservation/information line 1.800.208.1780 is open daily 7:00 a.m. through 7:00 p.m. seven days a week. Since we are often away from our office on the snowcat, please leave a detailed phone message or email us and we will get back to you later that day. The simplest way to book a trip is on our 24/7 online booking service available on our website where guests can check immediately to see if the dates and seats they want are available.
deposits
A non refundable deposit of $175 is required to confirm and reserve your snowcat seat and a $1,750 deposit for a private snowcat. The remaining balance is due the morning of your trip. If you cancel within seven days of your departure date, we reserve the right to charge the balance to the credit card we have on file. Your trip is transferable as long as you can find someone else who will pay the remaining balance and your deposit.
vertical
Skiers/snowboarders 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 in our 15-person van equipped with mattracks or 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 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
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 extra layers and personal items.
