A new addition at a Southern Idaho ski resort promises more adventure for small groups enjoying the winter backcountry.Soldier Mountain Ski Resort, located near Fairfield, is adding two snowcats to its backcountry cat-ski operations, according to a news release. One new snowcat can accommodate 4-5 p eople, and a new Mini-TRAX can accommodate up to 3 people.The additions follow TRAX’s debut at the resort during the 2025-2026 season, which proved an immediate hit with visitors, the release said. The resort has a 12-person snowcat operation offering single-seat bookings and private trips for larger groups, the release said.Soldier Mountain General Manager David Alden said TRAX provides guests with a private experience tailored to their abilities, interests, and skiing styles, in the company of an experienced guide.“For experienced backcountry skiers, that might mean chasing steep terrain, deep powder, and as much vertical as the day allows,” Alden said. “For a family or a group making its first venture beyond the ski area boundary, it could mean exploring moderate terrain and discovering the backcountry at a comfortable pace.”Soldier Mountain is about a two-hour drive from Boise.Backcountry terrainThe resort’s backcountry operations total 2,000 acres of terrain and 3,000 vertical feet. Some of that terrain falls within Bridge Creek Sidecountry, about 250 acres of mid-angle, north-facing slopes and ridgelines. Visitors can access the area via snowcat on select days, or can via bootpacking and skin track.Those looking for multi-day backcountry trips can rent the Smokey Dome Yurt. Soldier Mountain does seven-day operations over the holidays, leaving Mondays through Wednesdays available for rent starting at $10,000.2026-2027 eventsIn addition to being a training site for US Ski and Snowboard slopestyle slope teams, Soldier Mountain will host two big events this winter.NubAbility Snow Camp will take place March 4-7, 2027, offering limb-different kids full days of ski and snowboard instruction from limb-different coaches and adaptive instructors from WAVES Idaho, a nonprofit empowering veterans through snow sports.The resort will also host the Soldier Mountain Uphill Battle, a pro snowmobile hill climb race, for its second year. The race is livestreamed on FloRacing, and the event this year includes a kid’s class and athlete meet-and-greet..kb-google-maps-container1397178_632e8e-d9{height:450px;} ...read more read less