Professional backcountry ski guiding and snowcat access to backcountry yurts in the Mono Lakes region of the Eastern Sierra.
“After a decade in the ski industry with experience from New Zealand to Alaska and everywhere in-between we realized;
We love taking people skiing. We love the Sierra Nevada. We love our cozy yurts ready to welcome you after a epic day in the mountains. Can’t wait to share this incredibly unique experience with you!”
This is a unique experience, different from any other guided backcountry snowcat skiing. Our guides will take you uphill with a hybrid of mechanical and human-power to help you experience the best skiing in our 9,000 acres of terrain. This approach allows us to ski more vertical than you could possibly get solely on foot, while still feeling the sweet satisfaction of "earning your turns".
It’s the purest way to enjoy backcountry skiing and our guides are here to help keep you safe while we chase powder. This is an experience for the skier or rider who wants to explore the mountains in the most unfiltered way.
Afterwards, your group will stay at one of our two fully-equipped backcountry yurts. Our staff cooks up delicious meals for dinner, breakfast and your lunch for the next day.
We’re getting close! Midwinter is our favorite time of year at Virginia Lakes smashing powder in our easy to access cat terrain!
Due to its east aspect, January is the best time to get the maximum amount of deep powder turns in the trees! While spring lines are great too this is certainly an un-beatable feeling!
#highsierrasnowcat #skicalifornia #snowcatskiing #skimammoth #backcountryskiing
What do you get from a trip with High Sierra Snowcat?
Our team of highly experienced and qualified guides are here to use the mechanical advantage of our Snowcats combined with a brief bit of skinning to get you to some of the most epic lines in the Eastern Sierra. After skiing all day, our trips include overnight lodging in our luxury yurt. Each guest will have a double bed with linens provided, a fun hangout space, room to dry your gear, and a sauna tent to unwind before another day in the backcountry! Our chef-designed menu provides your group with restaurant-quality apres and meals, along with snacks to carry to carry in your bag so you never go hungry.
Our trips cost $4000 per day for a group of 8 people, or $500 per person. If you don`t have a group of 8 skiers or want to make some friends, we have trips open to individual enrollment in January and February!
We get many questions about our `price increase`, so we`d love to discuss that with you! We have not changed the per-person pricing from last season ($3000 per day for 6 skiers), we have simply added two more spaces to the trip. To compare and give some perspective, a private lesson at Mammoth Mountain is nearly $1380 per person per day. If you look into the one other Snowcat Skiing operator in California, although they offer an amazing product, you`ll find that they ask for a higher price for a day trip without any meals or lodging!
We are proud of the experience that we provide and hope this clears any questions about the value of our trips.
Book now and secure your dates for this season! #highsierrasnowcat #skicalifornia #skimammoth #catskiing #skitouring
You`ve asked and we delivered! We have opened a 2-Day and 3-Day trip to individual bookings! Make some friends, ski some pow and experience the best of the High Sierra!
3-Day Trip: January 12th - 14th
2-Day Trip: February 16th and 17th
Visit our link in the bio to book now! #skicalifornia #catskiing #skimammoth #backcountryskiing #skimorepow
Ever wonder what our guides are up to over the summer? We’ll for Lead Guide and Owner Drew it’s more powder smashing! Drew works as the Snow Safety Director for Mt Olympus in New Zealand and has been busy working to provide powder to the people!
Want to smash some powder? Let our team of highly qualified powder professionals and AMGA certified guides get you in some good snow in the Sierra! Book now for prime dates! There are only a handful of weekends left in February!
#skimorepow #catski #skicalifornia #skinewzealand #highsierrasnowcat
Bookings are now open for the 2024 Season! Come join us for good times, powder snow, and steep and deep terrain for Snowcat Assisted Backcountry Skiing with the Eastern Sierra`s only mechanized operation!
Link in Bio
We’ve been busy in the off-season here at High Sierra Snowcat and can’t wait to show you the work we’ve done:
1. Improved Cat Access: We are working with temporary seasonal snow-fencing to make sure that you can get to the best zones on a thick or thin year with a windy or calm day. We’ll get you to the goods with less walking and more time spent doing the fun part!
2. Two Guides and Dedicated Snowcat Driver on every trip! Exactly what is sounds like! More options for things snowcat laps and group splits on your next adventure with us!
3. Upgrades to the Guest Yurt with double bunk beds, new bedding, new flooring!
4. Each guest will be equipped with a radio, guides will have satellite tracking devices on at all times, and new brand new VHF radios.
5. A new menu to take backcountry dining to the next level!
6. New sauna for next season so that you can unwind after a big day in the mountains!
Don’t worry the ski experience is still the same thing that you’ve come to love!
#highsierrasnowcat #highsierrasnowcatandyurt #justgoskiing #easternsierranevada #skicalifornia
With this incredible snowpack, our yurts got to stay out much longer than usual. Finally got a chance to take the yurts down and get ‘em in storage for the summer!
The process was just as easy as this reel makes it look 😉 Just kidding, we couldn’t have done it without the help of our friends @leveyez & @anzook
#yurtlife #yurt #highsierrasnowcat #skicalifornia #summer
The cats might be put away! But we’re still getting out to play! The corn skiing after this record year has been amazing. Let’s hope that next year let’s us play just as long!
Keep an eye on your emails bookings should open very soon! #skicalifornia #highsierrasnowcat #yurtlife #justgoskiing #summerfun
Meet the Crew!
Tessa is our new Operations Manger and a Guide here at High Sierra Snowcat! Tessa comes to us with a degree in Tourism Management and a Minor in Business from CSU along with 8 years of working in the outdoor industry!
You’ll probably interact with her via email or driving a snowcat or wearing one of her many hats with HSS! She is a passionate backcountry skier and recently began her pathway into guiding. She is looking forward to smashing more powder with everyone this season! When not on skis, Tessa chases the water down to the river where you can find her raft guiding.
Fun Fact: Tessa learned to backcountry ski in Alaska and in the beginning had more days on a glaciers than skiing in the trees, which she now loves!
#highsierrasnowcat #highsierrasnowcatandyurt #justgoskiing #easternsierranevada #skicalifornia
High Sierra Snowcat is officially under new ownership! Meet Drew Layman, an AMGA Certified Ski Guide with over a decade of experience guiding backcountry skiing. There is nothing Drew loves more than sliding down snow in any form. With a focus on safety and seriously good times as we can’t wait to welcome you to the new High Sierra Snowcat!
Springtime skiing in the Eastern Sierra has drawn Drew to Eastern Sierra for years and he is taking the plunge with High Sierra Snowcat! In the spirit of chasing snow, Drew also works as the Snow Safety Officer for Mt Olympus in New Zealand, as a heli-ski guide in Alaska with Majestic Heli, and has his own company Fall Line Expeditions leading trips to the Himalayas. When not on skis (which is rare) Drew enjoys long singletrack rides and splashy whitewater!
Head over to our website to learn more about Drew and exciting news for the upcoming season.
#highsierrasnowcat #highsierrasnowcatandyurt #justgoskiing #easternsierranevada #skicalifornia
Ready for #spring in #california #pistenbullypower check out @bridgeportavalanchecenter trailhead signage and Becon checker.
Cali Pow
#shadesofwinter in the #highsierra #california
#mountainhut riding out the #blizzard @monocountytourism @highsierrasnowcatandyurt
#yurtlife in the #highsierras #monocountytourism
#goodtimes in the #backcountry #yurtlife
#powder #dreams #highsierras #bridgeportavalanchecenter #monocountytourism
Green Creek Couloir next up. #greencreek #easternsierras #backcountryski #yurtlife #splitboarding
What a crew! @aiare_official #americanavalancheassociation @monocountytourism
#aiare #americanavalancheassociation Another awesome Level I in the books. @bridgeportavalanchecenter
Virginia Lakes Road status: OPEN
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Drew Layman
drew@highsierrasnowcat.com
Tessa Andrzejczak
tessa@highsierrasnowcat.com
Call Us: (760) 206-3793
High Sierra Snowcat & Yurt operates under a special use permit with the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and Stanislaus National Forest.
