Cat skiing operation builds backcountry yurt in Stillwater Forest

Deep in the woods of Stillwater State Forest, a cozy wooden structure provides an oasis for backcountry skiers and snowboarders. Great Northern Powder Guides built the “Powder House,” a two-story hard-sided yurt, in December 2021.

“It’s warm and cozy,” said Jay Sandelin. “It gives people a break.”

The Powder House holds seven bunkbeds on the first floor, with a kitchen and lounge area upstairs. The second level comes complete with a wood-fired stove, TV and karaoke machine, all surrounded by acres of snow-covered forestland. A heated outhouse sits just a few steps from the door to the structure.

The Powder House adds another dimension of comfort and accessibility to Sandelin’s operation, which has been running in Olney for 12 years.

The former professional speed skier provides guided backcountry skiing and snowboarding excursions serviced by custom-built powdercat vehicles. Great Northern Powder Guides’ crew personally builds cabins and fashions the cabins onto grooming machines to carry riders deep into the untouched backcountry.

It takes an hour and a half ride on a cat to reach the Powder House.

Riders on a day trip with Great Northern Powder Guides can enjoy lunch in the warmth of the heavy-duty yurt. Guides prepare a hearty meal while skiers and boarders lounge in the heated apparatus and dry out their gear for the next round of powder-chasing.

But with the creation of the Powder House, Great Northern Powder Guides has also added the ability to offer overnight and multi-day outings.

“It’s pretty magical out there,” said guide Scott Lawhead.

Great Northern Powder Guides is proud to welcome back many repeat visitors year after year, and the guests who have watched the business’ evolution are impressed with the addition of the Powder House.

“It’s a lot nicer,” said Fred Furry, a six-year veteran of Great Northern Powder Guides. Furry remembered when the outfitters held lunch in a canvas yurt that provided little relief from the elements. “It’s a nice warm place to stay.”

“It’s a nice place just to recharge,” agreed his companion Mike Robbins on his first Powder Guides trip.

Sandelin has a permit to add another yurt, which he plans to install this summer. It took his crew a month to build the Powder House.

Beyond the two structures, Sandelin doesn’t want to do much more in the way of development. He knows the draw of Great Northern Powder Guides lies in its natural features, like pristine powder and steep terrain.

“People are here for the powder,” Sandelin said. “You’re paying for a product and we want to make sure you get that.”

Most of the riders who take trips with Great Northern Powder Guides come to the Flathead specifically to go cat-skiing, Sandelin reported.

About 1,800 people booked trips with Great Northern Powder Guides this year.

“We’ve been discovered,” he said.

Sandelin wants to make sure there is prime terrain available to everyone who takes a cat ride, from the guests going on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure to the loyal repeat visitors.

“We want to keep it quaint, without getting too commercialized,” Sandelin said.

Great Northern Powder Guides is located at 8955 US-93, Olney, MT 59927. To reach Great Northern Powder Guides, call (406) 881-2032. For information, visit https://greatnorthernpowderguides.com/