Categories: TRAVEL

Snow Cat Skiing: Mt. Bailey, Oregon

On the southern edge of the Cascade Mountains there is an 8,363-foot mountain called, Mt. Bailey. It sits just 5 miles north of the famous Crater Lake, and extends out of the grandiose Diamond Lake.

In the winter Mt. Bailey receives upwards of 600 inches of snowfall. To access over 6000 acres of skiable terrain there is a snow cat skiing operation called, appropriately, Cat Ski Mt. Bailey.

This operation is the oldest cat skiing operation in the country. It started out as a way to show off Mt. Bailey to prospective investors for a possible ski resort, some 40 years ago. It has turned into a high quality ski experience in some of the best snow the Cascade Range has to offer.

The day begins at 6:30AM at the Diamond Lake Resort. After a quick breakfast and equipment check it’s off to the van and a short trip to the snow cat.

The cat is a specially designed version, which accommodates 13 passengers. The maximum number of paying customers is 12. There are 3 knowledgeable guides, one of which is the owner, and an experienced snow cat driver. Two of the guides hold onto ropes off the back of the cat and get towed up the mountain.

The initial drive to the top of the mountain takes about 45 minutes. As the cat ascends, the guides fill you in on the layout of the day. They cover safety extensively, and show you how to use an avalanche transceiver, which you’re required to wear at all times. This area isn’t a ski resort, so there are real avalanche dangers to consider. That’s what the guides are for.

The day I was there, I lucked out and had the best skiing of the year. It was snowing hard all day and was accumulating about 2 inches an hour. We had a full cat, 12 clients 3 guides and one cat driver.

Our first run was a warmup run through a region known as the glades. It was a relatively short ski through nicely spaced trees. The snow was deep and light. The temperature never got above 18 degrees Fahrenheit so the powder stayed light and perfect.

At the bottom of the run we hooked up with a snow cat trail, which we followed around the base of the mountain to the waiting snow cat. We piled in and began our ascent. The ride lasted 25 minutes and was filled with commentary on the conditions. There were a couple of off color jokes thrown in for good measure.

Since it was storming, the summit of Mt. Bailey was unattainable. There are no trees up high, so the driver would be driving in a white void, unable to discern the trail. It’s too risky to ascend to the summit in those conditions. No one relished the thought of tumbling down a 2000-foot chute in a snow cat, so there was no grumbling.

The next couple of runs we skied the northwest ridge and north wall. This is the bread and butter of the operation. Steep 45 degree slopes with cliffs and lots of snow.

The guides were always the first to test the conditions, looking for any avalanche danger. The day was very stable from an avalanche point of view. We didn’t encounter any scary spots.

Around 1 PM we had lunch in a small heated building at the base of the mountain. If I had my druthers I’d rather have eaten in the snow cat on the way up the hill. We could’ve gotten another run in that way.

The storm continued throughout the day and we had uncut powder each run. It was one of the best days of skiing I’ve ever had. I’ve skied all over the northwest, including Canada, and Mt. Bailey was the lightest snow I’ve ever skied. Who would have thought that could happen in Oregon?

When it was all said and done we had gotten in 6 ½ ski runs. In my estimation, it wasn’t enough, but there were some intermediate skiers and snowboarders that slowed us down a bit. I wasn’t complaining though, it was an awesome experience and I hope to return many more times.