OUR STORY

Mission and History.

Our mission at High Sierra Snowcat is to provide a welcome alternative to the traditional ski resort, by providing an accessible option for backcountry skiers to ride remote terrain, sleep in cozy overnight accommodations, with safe and exceptional service. We want you to have the best day ever!

  • Founded in 2012 by Mike Deacon and Tim Robinson, High Sierra Snowcat was providing a human-powered overnight backcountry experience from a remote and cozy yurt. Drew Layman purchased HSS after more than a decade of experience as a ski patroller and ski guide all over the world. Under this new ownership, HSS will continue to provide high-quality guided adventures with a new focus on cat-skiing throughout the terrain.

  • Located on the East Side of the Sierra Nevada, High Sierra Snowcat combines the use of snowcats, ski touring, and yurts to provide a safe backcountry experience in some of the wildest terrain left in California. We operate within the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest with nearly 9,000 acres of skiable terrain across multiple basins surrounding Virginia Lake.

  • We operate under an Outfitting and Guiding permit issued by the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. 

Meet the Team

Our team is composed of AMGA-certified ski guides, dedicated avalanche educators, & master cat operators. their depth of knowledge and commitment to safety and service are evident. Their collective expertise ensures well-planned routes, thorough avalanche awareness, expert cat operation, and a welcoming attitude on every trip.

  • Man outdoors wearing a red jacket, black cap, and sunglasses on top, smiling at the camera with trees in the background.

    Drew Layman

    Owner & Lead Guide

  • A smiling man wearing a high-visibility yellow jacket sitting next to a young girl in a vehicle. The girl is wearing a yellow knit hat, a colorful patterned jacket, and pink rain boots. They are inside a vehicle with a windshield showing a snowy landscape outside.

    Jamie Callanan

    Lead Road Builder & Snowcat Operator

  • A person in winter gear standing in the mountains with snow, holding skis, and smiling at the camera.

    Mike Mourar

    Guide

  • A woman taking a selfie in a snowy mountain landscape during sunset, wearing a gray beanie and black Arc'teryx jacket.

    Molly Massena

    Guide

Follow our journey.

Our wood-fired sauna is the only place we want it to be this hot. Sweating through July but dreaming of deep winter powder? ❄️ Our 2026/2027 booking calendar is officially LIVE. If you want to step out of a cozy yurt directly into untouched Sierra b
New year, new look, new cats, same mountains . 🏔️❄️ Looking back at last winter, we owe a massive thank you to everyone who came out. To be completely transparent—behind the scenes, our office was pretty much a one-man band for most of the se
We went hunting today and found a sneaky 9" of fresh in the right spots—and it’s still snowing. With more snow stacked for tonight and all-day Wednesday, the free refills are officially back on the menu. Grab a seat before they&rsq
Skip the approach, keep the soul. ❄️🎿 Our Mechanized Assist trips are designed for the backcountry skier who wants to maximize their vertical without the long valley slog. We take the cat deep into the mountains of the Eastern Sierra so you can spe
The sun is shining this weekend. Temps having been staying cold on shady aspects and we’ve got lots of freshies left. Don’t fight crowds at the resort this holiday weekend, come cat-skiing instead! Seats available Saturday call/text 760
Our social media intern (aka my teenage neighbor or anyone we meet under 18) suggested we post something about “hard posting” or 6–7. Honestly, we’ll stick to shredding powder. Huge thanks to everyone who’s come out so