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Balkan CatSkiing
5-6 Skidays, Jan 2019 - March 2019
Balkan
We will do a new project this winter! On our scouting tours we found a location with promising slopes, an unused hunting hut, we can rent and local partners who will support our project. For sure someone has been ski-touring there before, but nobody tried catskiing in this remote high-valley. A Pistenbully with a cabin for 12 freeriders is already ordered.
The new spot is in Macedonia but the exact location is still top secret. You know that we have serious problems with some jerks following our tracks in Georgia. And in our new location we want to be the only group of freeriders – at least for the first season…
SnowCat
For two seasons now we operate our catski lodge in the Caucasus. We collected further experience and learnd a lot of lessons about living in a remote valley and organising all the technical equipment and machinery.
For the Balkan we decided again for Pistenbully as these snowcats are the machines of highest reliability. As we expect not as much snow as in the Caucasus we chose a PB300W and we also ordered our custom made cabine of high quality and safety standard, we already use in Bakhmaro.
The driver has previous experience driving Pistenbullys and is coming over to Georgia for some more training in December.
Accomodation
On one of our scouting trips in the summer we found a hunting hut which we can rent for the winter. In addition our local partners are building a basic wood building to accommodate our group. The hut is not exactly where we want to establish our base in the future but for now it is a comfortable location, easy to get to and with a great view.
The hut is cosy and will be warm with good stoves and newly build bathroom. However, it is a powderproject.ch pioneer location - basic facilities in a remote wilderness...
As allways we focus on good food. In the evening a local cook will provide traditional dishes from the region. We also plan a BBQ. Macedonia is famous for its wine - another similarity to Georgia. We will have some good local wine up in the hut. For breakfast we go more international and for lunch we take luchpakets with us, not to loose precious riding time.
Itinerary
Wizzair is offering direct flights from a lot of European cities to Skopje. There are much more flights than to Georgia and the flights are shorter as well. As usuall we pick you up at the airport, bring you to the snowcat and the snowcat brings you up the mountain to our base.
- Saturday: arrival in Skopje.
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Pick-up at the airport & transfer to the base (around 3 hours).
[depending the weather situation it could be nesessary to make an overnight stay on our way] - 1st Freeride day: brunch, safety-meeting, start around lunchtime.
- 2nd till 6th Freeride day: catskiing in the mountains around our hut.
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Departure: after breakfast we start our way back to the
airport.
[depending the weather situation it could be nesessary to make an overnight stay on our way] - Last night in Skopje: Skopje is an interesting city to spend a friday night after a week in a remote mountain hut - an alternative for the last night.
There are a few ski areas not too far away. Accordingly it is possible to extend the trip and ski one of the old-style ski areas.
Due to the weather, it can always come to an adjustment of the travel program. The local conditions, alpine hazards and the composition of the group can also lead to adjustments. The local guide knows the conditions and has experience in the mountains of the Balkan. He makes the relevant decisions locally.
Services included
- Pick-up at the airport and transfer to our base camp
- 5-7 accommodations in a basic mountain hut.
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full board: breackfast, simple lunch packages and a dinner of local dishes.
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depending the situation up to 2 nights in an accomodation on our way.
- 5-6 days Catskiing.
- local guide who knows the area (Englisch)
- German and english speaking contact with knowledge about the area.
The group size is limited to a maximum of 12 participants. Depending on the situation, an adjustment of the travel program and thus an adaptation of the services can occur at any time.
Our partner for our new project in Macedonia are the mountain guides of Sharoutdoors. As a local
outdoor agency they have years of experience in the mountains around our new area and as catski guides. Furthermore, Vitus, Metodi, Mihail and Daniel know the key contact persons on site.
Without them such a project would be unthinkable.
In addition to our joint project, they are also the right contact for ski tours on the entire Balkan Peninsula and summer tours.
price 1'950,-€
Minimum: 8 freerider.
Flight Connection
Also to Skopje, WIZZ has got a lot of flights from different European airports. Within 2 hours you are on the Balkan. The direct flights are available depending on the dates and time of booking starting from less than 200,- €.
Guiding
Our groups are guided by a local guide. We develop this new location in a joint venture with a group of
experienced guides, who are locals and know the mountains of the Balkans well. In individual cases and on request, founder Ingo Schlutius can also lead a group.
Groups (incl. mountainguide)
With a timely booking, it is also possible to book the SnowCat exclusively for a group with or without their own mountain guide. In particular, we want to offer mountain guides an interesting package. We take care of the entire organization and infrastructure and the mountain guide can focus on the essentials: his guests.
Requirements
- safe freeriding in alpine terrain in all snow conditions.
- safe technique in the downhill and ascent.
- Condition for short ascents.
- Patience (for alpine conditions, weather and the situation in a transition country like Georgia).
Please keep in mind that there must always be a reserve for a safe expedition. We move here in
undeveloped terrain. A support from the outside is practically impossible. We are on our own.
Not existing equipment can only be borrowed on site. We have a small selection of high quality on-site material (Mammut Airbags, Grown Freeride Skis).
A timely reservation of the material is essential.
secret
Our base is on around 2'000 meters above sealevel. According to altitude, exposition and geography we should get the best snow of that region - come and join us exploring the site...
5 good reason to be part of it
- Adventure - be one of the first...
- Professionalism - German / Swiss organization, quality and safety management, BackUp Snowcat.
- Experience - a new freeride location in a remote location on the Balkan.
- Ease - no visa required, good flight connections with direct flights from a lot of European cities.
- Possibilities - the perfect place for the best photo & video shots, whether with action cam or selfie drone.
Tour-Shop
Bakhmaro
Media
FAQs
2nd Road Trip
![Our 2nd scouting tour was quite adventurous again. We went up to Bakhmaro by tractor and with our off-road vehicle to Mestia [nur in Englisch verfügbar].](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=189x10000:format=png/path/sf2c2abd64e939a54/image/ia49429f7e0a3f53a/version/1534066236/image.png)