SJSC turns 15

This season marks the 15th anniversary of the SJSC. We are celebrating with specials and discounts on and around the 15th of every month through April.  For details, check out the article below.

 Anniversary Specials

 kick off February 14th; three days of discounts

VALENTINE'S DAY DISCOUNTED SEATS

Feb. 14 - Chocolates, flowers and romantic dinners are nice, but why not give your loved one a Valentine's gift they will cherish for years - a day of snowcat skiing. We are offering  $25 discounted single seats  and a special couple catskiing package that includes skiing and lodging at the Silverpick Lodge for $600. Gift certificates are available.

 ARE YOU READY FOR GNAR?

 IF SO, BOOK THIS TRIP AND READ 'GNAROLOGY 101'

(click on above link)

Feb. 15 - We are debuting our steep clinics with a discounted trip (conditions and weather permitting), when we officially open our doors to "gnarvana" and take skiers and riders down some of our steepest lines (hucking is optional). For added excitement, each person and a partner pair up on a SJSC snowmobile and ride to our snowcat pickup zone. It is sure to be an action-packed event filled with adventure skiing and snowboarding. In addition, the group will be filmed and featured in a SJSC video.

PRIVATE FOR $2,000

Feb. 16 - Rent the entire snowcat for $2,000. This is the best offer you'll see during peak season. Act  quickly, this cat will go fast! (Actually, it only tops out at 9 mph.)

Seeking investors/business partner 

Durango builder has single-handedly built SJSC into largest snowcat operation in U.S.

While most North America snowcat companies have changed ownership once, if not several times, during the past decade-and-a-half, Bob Rule, lead guide and owner of the San Juan Ski Company, has single-handedly held the helm at Colorado's largest snowcat operation for 15 years.

A Durango builder, Bob cashed in his life savings and started the SJSC in 1997 to write off his powder-skiing addiction. Today, 15 years later, he has built the SJSC into one of the largest catskiing outfits North America.

He has held on to the snowcat business through dedication, commitment and thousands of hours of uncompensated time.

Not only is he the owner and lead guide, he is also chief cook and bottle washer. Responsibilities include: snowcat driver and road engineer, (the SJSC has over 50 miles of snowcat roads to build and maintain) avalanche forecaster, snow safety director, snowcat and snowmobile mechanic, ski and binding technician, parts and metal fabricator, host and head honcho. And, in years past, he was also lunch maker, reservations taker and lodging caretaker. (When he first started the business, Bob added on to his home and bunked catskiing guests on the third story.)

Since he started the business, Bob has pushed the boundaries - both figuratively and physically.

Every summer and early fall, he spends weeks scouting his permitted area, nearly 60 square miles, for new terrain to ski and hikes with a chainsaw to clear lines. He fondly refers to this as "chainsaw hiking." It is also "training" to get in shape for skiing. See related article. 

Bob has paid a high price for skiing everyday the past 15 seasons and bushwhacking countless summers in the San Juans. He has two artificial hips. And, although his bionic parts have not slowed him down, they do deter him from getting big air.

After 15 years of running the SJSC single-handedly, Bob is considering a partner and/or financial investors. Interested parties can email inquiries to  powder@sanjuanski.com