Ski Himalaya

Kashmir Powdercats

In our fourth winter, Kashmir Powdercats mountain hosting programme will run on a weekly/fortnightly basis from Christmas 2009 through to March 2010.

Our local Kashmiri mountain hosts are led and trained by Dave Watson. All team members participate in an annual two week structured programme in avalanche safety awareness and emergency rescue at the commencement of each winter. This is followed by one full day of ongoing professional development training each weekend throughout the winter season, aimed at enhancing our team’s familiarity with avalanche dangers on various aspects of their home mountain in a variety of weather conditions.

Our snowboarders, Manzoor and Yusef, who first jumped on boards in the 2006 winter, are now literally well up to speed, thanks to Michael Nixon. See Michael's blog here.

While some guests may prefer to limit their hours with us on a day by day basis according to weather conditions, signing up with us provides you "insurance" of access to great riding in almost any weather conditions.

Riding with Kashmir Powdercats ensures you have access, in good and bad weather, to our return road transport from the off-piste routes which descend below Gulmarg to the floor of the Tangmarg valley. This includes Gulmarg's classic off-piste full descents from Mt Apharwat towards Sunset Peak and the village of Drang, and the forested descents from Gulmarg to the Baba Reshi road and other points in the Tangmarg valley.

While Stage One of the gondola offers protected riding in bad weather, the forested descents from Gulmarg to the valley floor significantly broaden your range of options in bad weather. Riding the forest terrain below Gulmarg with Kashmir Powdercats is a much better "storm" alternative than catching up on your reading while waiting for the weather to pass and the reopening of Stage Two of the gondola!

Our vehicles, all equipped with snow-chains for mountain driving, are co-ordinated by two way radio to expedite transport pick-ups and maximise your time on the snow.

Throughout your stay in Gulmarg you also have the benefit of our Kashmiri team's local knowledge of terrain and snow conditions.

This coming winter we will be resourced to handle a maximum of seven groups at any one time. Groups will be arranged on a flexible basis, but with a primary goal of ensuring that everyone rides in a common level skill group. Advanced groups will be led by one of our Senior Mountain Hosts, who are all accomplished deep powder riders with backgrounds in competitive ski racing at Indian National Championship level.

The Kashmir Powdercats, all English speaking, have been selected by our Director of Guest Services, Mr Bashir Ahmad, for their team work, common sense, and integrity. Daily riding options and transport connections are planned according to prevailing weather and snow conditions.

Please contact us for Kashmir Powdercats' 2009/2010 winter rates.

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