The Mt. Shasta Nordic snow cat, which years ago gained the moniker “Ms. Kitty,” has had a rough season. She suffered a variety of fluid leaks during the early season, while making do with minimal snow coverage. Then, at the end of January, in the process of trying to pack out the first big dump of the season, she suffered a catastrophic overheating episode from which she never recovered. It was a sad week at the Nordic Center as we held out hope we could get her to fire up again and limp through the rest of the season, but to no avail.

So, with the help of Guy Morris of the Mt. Shasta Ski Park, we drug Ms. Kitty out of the snow, into the parking lot, and pushed her up onto a trailer for a ride down the hill (courtesy of Thad Wallace). In the shop of the SORA Treasurer, the volunteer (albeit professional) mechanical crew began dismantling and diagnosing. While the initial hope included the prospect of a quick partial rebuild to get her back on the snow, it became evident that a more extensive operation was the only option that would restore reliability.

The motor was pulled out and sent to Perkins for remanufacturing, while an inventory of worn and aging components is also slated for replacement. While the shop and mechanical labor is being donated, the anticipated expense for the motor and parts is $25,000. That’s a tidy sum, but a small fraction of a replacement snow cat! Nevertheless, these costs will have a significant impact on our reserve funds, so we could definitely use some help defraying the cost of parts. Any contribution is greatly appreciated.

Stay connected to our social media feeds for updates on the progress of the rebuild project!