a fortress experience like no other

 
 
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fortress cat skiing


KPOW! (Kananaskis Powder)! Awesome skiing, challenging terrain, fun times with your friends! Just you and 13 others – exploring the former and soon to be again Fortress Mountain Resort. With annual snowfall amounts of between 7 and 9 meters, Fortress offers you amazing chances at skiing and riding virgin snow. Our ski leaders take you on a tour of the various faces of Fortress and seek out the very best snow available, provide a great lunch (usually in the field), and help you find secret stashes of powder. Untracked? Not a guarantee – but very possible!

KPOW fun

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operating days

KPOW Cat Skiing operates four days per week: Wednesday – Saturday (depending on time of season)

ability level

Guests should be strong intermediate to advanced skiers / snowboarders, able to handle a variety of terrain & conditions from deep powder to wind crust

pricing

2023 – 2024 Season

Pricing options are available in single seat and full cat booking options (up to 14 guests)

LOW SEASON: Dec. 7, 2023 – Jan. 27, 2024

  • Single Seat: $510 per seat

  • Full Cat booking (up to 14 guests): $6,120
    Add 15th seat to a Full Cat booking: $310

HIGH SEASON: Jan 28th 2024 - End of season

  • Single Seat: $595 per seat

  • Full Cat booking (up to 14 guests): $7,140
    Add 15th seat to a Full Cat booking: $359

*All pricing is +5% GST

*All guests are required to sign a waiver & user agreement at the start of their ski day*

 

the perfect KPOW day

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a typical day at KPOW


8:30 a.m.
Arrive at the base of the Fortress Access Road.

8.45 a.m.
Convoy up the Fortress Access Road with one of the Fortress crew (AWD / 4x4 recommended). If you are not comfortable or your vehicle won’t manage the road, no worries!, you can jump in with us!

~ 9:15 a.m.
Unload vehicles into the KPOW Lounge, start getting gear sorted out for the day. Morning coffee, hot chocolate, snack, hello from the Fortress crew, safety & weather update, waivers.

~ 9:30 a.m.
Transceiver hands-on demo & cat safety briefing.

~ 9:45 a.m.
Load up equipment & guests in cat. Time to go! A typical day will see the group enjoy 10 - 12 runs.

~ 10:00 a.m.
Ski/snowboarding time! The first two runs are used to evaluate everyone's abilities and warm up; the ski leader will determine appropriate runs to ski for the day. At the start of each run the ski leader details run conditions, run restrictions, and end of run meeting point. Snacks and water served on the cat while it carries you back to the top for another great ride.

~ 1:00 p.m.
Lunch is provided, included hot soup and wraps. We have several locations to choose from based upon weather.

~ 1:30 p.m.
We'll continue charging our way back to the next fresh line, experiencing new runs, taking photos and videos along the way.

~ 3:45 / 4:00 p.m.
Transportation back to shop via snow cat.

~ 4:30 p.m.
Wrap up, load up the vehicles and head on down the access road (watch your speed on the switchbacks!). Time to dream of your next visit to KPOW Cat Skiing @ Fortress Mountain!


 

KPOW comfort

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what to pack?

Mountain weather is notoriously variable and unpredictable. Layering your clothing is the ideal way to allow you to change with the conditions. Please expect the unexpected; there is plenty of room in the cat to accommodate extra clothing.

  • Your favorite ski socks.

  • Base layer top and bottom, ideally a synthetic material designed for wicking moisture.

  • Mid layer sweater or jacket for warmth.

  • Outer layer jacket & pant, ideally a wind/water proof material such as GoreTex

  • 1 or 2 pair gloves & glove liners

  • Hat or helmet. Although not mandatory, K-Pow encourages you to wear a ski/snowboard helmet when out on the mountain.

  • Goggles & Sunglasses

  • Camera or video camera in protective case

  • Small day pack

  • Hand / foot warmers if you get cold easily.

  • Sunblock, lip balm

 what our guests say…

 lunch with a view

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kpow legend lunch

Included in all bookings

Each lunch consists of:

  • A freshly made gourmet sandwich

  • Chef Kelly’s famous hot Soup of the Day

  • Fresh fruit

  • Granola bar

  • Cheese & crackers

  • Freshly baked homemade cookie

  • Water / Hot Chocolate / Coffee

We are able to accommodate most allergy & dietary requirements, please detail your request at the time of booking. If things change after booking, requests can be accepted up to 2 days prior to arrival, please email our booking office with your request.


kpow mountain BBQ

Full Cat bookings have the option of adding a catered mountain BBQ lunch to their day. All options are prepared BBQ buffet style in select locations on hill. Weather dependant.

KPOW CLASSIC BBQ BURGER – $495

A classic ground chuck steak beef burger served with cheese, lettuce, onion, tomato & pickle. Accompanied by a horseradish aioli & homemade smoky tomato ketchup on a fresh Kaiser roll.

THE “INCEPTION” BBQ – $685

BBQ’d Chicken & sliced, marinated Alberta Pork loin both served with a Kananaskis Bold BBQ sauce, served with freshly made baguette loaves.

THE “GREAT CANADIAN” BBQ – $995

A selection of BBQ’d Alberta Rib Eye Steak with KPOW’s own compound flavored butter & Maple, Mustard Glazed Cedar Plank Salmon filet, both served with Sauteed Onion & Mushrooms, Backcountry style BBQ’d potatoes & Artisan Breads

Included with all BBQ’s

  • Chef Kelly’s famous hot Soup of the Day

  • Selection of salads

  • Selection of fresh fruit

  • Fresh cookies & dessert squares

  • Water / Hot Chocolate / Coffee

We are able to accommodate most allergy & dietary requirements, please detail your request at the time of booking. If things change after booking, requests can be accepted up to 2 days prior to arrival, please email our booking office with your request.

 
 

KPOW sunshine

 
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your safety

Your safety is of the upmost importance to us, and is always the priority. KPOW’s trained Snow Safety team conducts its own avalanche control on the Fortress site and snowpack conditions are monitored continuously. Simply put, if we don’t like the snow, we don’t go (there are lots of options to go elsewhere)! Every KPOW guest is provided with their own avalanche transceiver and is required to participate in the daily safety briefing which includes snow safety discussion, hands-on transceiver demo / practice, cat safety, and weather briefing.

KPOW / Fortress staff are trained in both advanced first aid and avalanche response. While we never want to use these skills in real life, we are always ready.

There are inherent risks associated with cat skiing and all winter alpine sports, all guests are required to read / understand / sign a participation waiver & guest agreement prior to the commencement of their day with KPOW.

 how to find us

 
 
  • 1 hour west of Calgary

  • 45 minutes from Canmore

  • 1 hour from Banff

  • 30 minutes south on Hwy 40 from Hwy 1 (TransCanada), turn at the Stoney Nakoda Resort & Casino

  • 15 minutes from Kananaskis Village

SNOW FORECAST