By Scooter Leonard

March 1, 1999

The snowcat-a heated, CD-playing, cushy-seated cross between a school bus, a limousine, and a tank. At half the price of a heli day, catboarding delivers just as many powder runs with far less to worry about. Of course, catboarding isn't new, but Mineral Basin Cat Boarding sure is. Maybe you've heard of it under the name Mineral Basin Cat Skiing, but don't let the official title fool you, these folks welcome snowboarders with open bowls. Last February, after some serious difficulties with Mother Nature, Utah's Snowbird Resort got the tracks rolling on its long-awaited snowcat operation in adjacent Mineral Basin.

For those unfamiliar with Mineral Basin-the 400-acre, wide-open, double-bowled area just beyond the top of the tram-it takes just one look to understand why people would shell out 275 dollars a day to frolic in its pristine perfection. Just imagine-ten people, three guides, guaranteed fresh tracks ... The day starts by meeting your guides on the sunny deck outside the tram station at the top of the resort. Once the formalities have been dealt with-transceivers, skill-level discussion, guidelines for the day-and you've had your fill of coffee, muffins, and cookies, you strap in and drop out of the resort area into a godzilla-sized stash reserved just for you.

That's right, you get a run under your belt before even settling into the snowcat, which waits for the group down in the basin-a great way to warm up for the awesome day ahead. After ducking the ropes into the basin, there's nothing in sight but white. You enjoy three runs before lunch (soup, sandwiches, juice, and hot drinks supplied by your hosts), and three after. It's a leisurely day that serves up loads of varied terrain-fun little chutes, loftable cliffs, plenty of room to open it up. Runs average around 1,400 vertical feet, and the cat ride up is a mere fifteen minutes. Looking up at the boundary ropes on the ridge above your tracks, you may see a resort-goer jealously eyeing the fresh lines the group is gobbling up.

But they won't be jealous for long. Snowbird knew the cat operation's days were numbered from the get-go as plans for lift service into Mineral Basin were in place long before the resort fired up the first cat. But its limited life expectancy simply makes the cat service more appealing; riders can experience Mineral Basin in a way that won't be possible in just a few short years. If you're looking to go beyond the resort-riding experience but don't have the experience to hike for it, and you don't have the ducats or the stomach to fly for it, snowcats are the answer. Terrain at most snowcat operations is generally pretty mellow. Luckily, Mineral Basin is graced with a few decent steep sections, offering skilled riders some challenging lines.

Treeriding is limited-no real glades exist in the basin-but frequent dumps, plenty of space, and good wind-sheltering make Mineral Basin a precious cradle for the quality snow Utah is famous for. By now, the second season of Mineral Basin Cat Boarding is well under way, and those fortunate enough to get in on it will experience some incredible terrain at a peaceful, unhurried pace. But time is of the essence. All too soon Mineral Basin will be absorbed by the expanding resort; lifts will string their way up the bowls, hundreds of snowboarders and skiers elbowing their way down, and the cat operation will disappear forever. Seize the opportunity to ride Mineral Basin now, before you're sitting on the lift looking down at a million tracks while the guy next to you describes what it was like before they "went and chaired it up." Mineral Basin Catboarding generally runs from late December through late April, snowpack permitting. For 275 dollars, you'll enjoy six runs (roughly 1,400 vertical feet each). That price also includes a full-day Snowbird lift ticket, use of a transceiver, continental breakfast, catered lunch, and a T-shirt. For more information, call (801) 933-2222, extension 4182.