I was the mechanic at a catskiing operation for 6 years and because it was a small operation, I was fixing everything.. snowcats, trucks, busses, sleds, hell- even toilets. So for sure it depends on the size of operation to know what you are getting into. It was a good experience working there though because I was put in so many different situations to get the machines back up and running.. usually you are able to work i the comfort of the shop with all of your tools close by. More often than not there would be a cat at the very top of the mountain with a track ripped off, bent axle, blown hose, out of fuel, you name it. It really makes you think creatively how to make the repair efficiently so the machine can go back to work. Nonetheless its a job where you have to enjoy being in harsh environments while getting completely filthy. It is pretty rewarding getting the machines rolling again after a breakdown.
I've since moved on to cat operating for Whistler-Blackcomb, and given the size of this operation, they have state of the art facilities with many cross-qualified mechanics. There are 2 alpine shops, one valley shop, and anywhere from 10-20 mechanics on duty each day. They have welders, small engine mechanics, auto mechanics, heavy duty mechanics, and lots of apprentices. Pretty cool to see what is in these shops, they really know how to get shit done quickly.
I would say if you want to get a wide range of experience go to a smaller operation, when you get old and crusty move to a larger operation where you have cranes and hoists to do most of the hard work for you.
