Backcountry skiing Rogers Pass and Asulkan Hut

ROGERS PASS

To share any info your have on backcountry skiing at Rogers Pass, or to get the lowdown from others, check out our backcountry skiing forums on the region. There is a large collection of routes to ski at Rogers Pass so we have grouped them by their location in the Asulkan Valley and then listed other routes in the Pass next, below. Note that the route descriptions for the areas other than the Asulkan Valley are a little “thin.” For more detail, speak to a local ski guide in-the-flesh, or consult one of the area guidebooks. If you’d like to contribute more detail to these or other Pass routes, please go to our Submit a New Route page and share your info. It’d be appreciated!

Though the ski touring around Rogers Pass may not fit into the established “slackcountry” mould of this site, the access and quality of skiing terrain is good enough that we’d like to share it. It’s also spitting distance from Revelstoke and Golden, and half a day’s drive from Nelson. Rogers Pass is known as one of the premier ski touring destinations in North America and, more and more, people from all over the world are visiting to check out the legendary snow, big mountain feel and massive terrain selection. For more information on Rogers Pass, check out the Parks Canada site. For info on avalanche hazard, look to the avalanche bulletin.

ASULKAN VALLEY

For the routes we describe here, we assume that you are doing a day trip rather than staying at the Asulkan Cabin. If you’d like to recharge your batteries and start the day at 2100m (6890’), you can reserve the cabin through the Alpine Club of Canada. Note that the elevation gains listed here are from the parking lot off the highway at the beginning of your skin up.

To access all the routes described here, start at the parking lot just off the highway (this lot serves the Wheeler Hut also), climb up the steep slope to the left of the small utility buildings through the trees for approximately 50m until you join an old railway road. Turn left onto the road and follow it for a just under a km. When the trail bends east at a big open space, the trail splits right off this road (continue left and you’ll reach the Wheeler Hut). From here, the uptrack leads you along the Asulkan Creek up through varied terrain—avoid the two forks going left and continue on the main trail. There are several avalanche slopes along the way and this section of the tour finishes with the Mousetrap—a particularly hazardous terrain trap. Good avalanche safety skills and a close reading of avalanche reports beforehand are essential.

ROUTES:
1. Tree Triangle
2. Pterodactyl
3. 7 Steps of Paradise (Youngs Peak)
4. Paradise
5. Saphire Col
6. Asulkan Pass

Backcountry skiing is an inherently dangerous activity that requires experience and knowledge to travel safely. Any of the routes on this site may be dangerous depending on conditions. You are responsible for your own safety in the backcounty—the team behind backcountryskiingcanada.com disclaim any responsibility for any injury resulting from people travelling on routes described on this site. To read our Terms of Use and get all the details, read HERE.

TOP

TREE TRIANGLE

From below, to access the Tree Triangle, exit the Mouse Trap and head slightly looker’s left up over a roll until you get to the edge of the trees you see directly in front of you. There may be an uptrack set already. If not, set one yourself, heading up through the trees. Continue up until you break out of the trees (about 30-45 mins from where the trees began). From there, you can opt to continue up and over a small, steep and treeless knob—which you’ll see directly in front of you—for more vertical gain, or simply turn around and begin your decent. The skiing anywhere through the Tree Triangle is good. Be aware that if you head to either far skier’s right or left, you may encounter some rock bands, surprise drops or much steeper terrain. Your route choice will also determine how close you are to the uptrack when you get to the bottom of your run. Heading skier’s right can force you down toward the mouth of the Mousetrap. By going left or to the centre, you have the option of stopping at the edge of the trees and doing quicker yo-yos. The Tree Triangle is ideal to ski in times of high avalanche danger and poor visibility. If it looks skied out, poke around a bit—there are a remarkable number of lines available.

ROUTE: #1
ACCESS: Highway 1 at Rogers Pass to the Asulkan Hut
MAP: 82 N/3
TIME: 3 hours
ELEVATION GAIN: 809m/2650’
ATES RATING: Complex (3)

TOP

PTERODACTYL

To access the Pterodactyl run, tour up through the Tree Triangle as we’ve described in that section. Continue up, over the knob after the trees and on to the final ascent to the Asulkan Cabin. Though the cabin may be full of “overnighters” it’s an excellent rest and reset spot if you feel so inclined. The Pterodactyl is the rock feature that pokes out prominently slightly above and east of the cabin. The first part of the ascent for this tour, after the cabin, is the same as that for the Seven Steps of Paradise tour. Continue up until you come to the Young’s Peak headwall which you’ll notice because it’s so steep. This is a decision point where you can continue up to Young’s Peak or turn around and ski slightly toward the west, skier’s left of the Pterodactyl , all the way back down to the cabin. There are many moraine features in here—some of them quite steep, some not so steep. If the conditions are right, hugging the Pterodactyl to your left offers up a great shot back to the cabin.

ROUTE: #2
ACCESS: Highway 1 at Rogers Pass to the Asulkan Hut and then to the headwall of Young's Peak
MAP: 82 N/3
TIME: 4.5 hours
ELEVATION GAIN: 1300m/4265’
ATES RATING: Complex (3)

TOP

7 STEPS OF PARADISE (YOUNGS PEAK)

To access the Seven Steps of Paradise, tour up through the Tree Triangle as we’ve described in that section. Continue up, over the knob after the trees and on to the final ascent to the Asulkan Cabin. Though the cabin may be full of “overnighters” it’s an excellent rest and reset spot if you feel so inclined. To get to the seven steps, continue up above the cabin over not-too steep rolls and moraines. As with the tour we call Pterodactyl, continue to the base of the Young’s Peak headwall and decide whether continuing up is a viable option. As well as being steep and sometimes icy, the headwall often slides. All these factors are compounded if the visibility is poor. If it looks good, you have the skills, and conditions permit, proceed with caution up the headwall—far looker’s right may be the best option. Perhaps go one at a time here and remember that an old track doesn’t mean a safe track. The final 1/3 of the headwall may require a boot pack, depending on conditions. There is a bit of a false summit and then the actual Young’s Peak presents itself along with breathtaking views of the Illecilewaett Neve to the east and south. For the descent, ski over the seven steps (but who’s counting) keeping the Pterodactyl to your left and enjoying the full 1219m (4000’) ski down the valley bottom. Feeling energetic still? Consider another lap!

ROUTE: #3
ACCESS: Highway 1 at Rogers Pass to the Asulkan Hut and then to Young's Peak
MAP: 82 N/3
TIME: 5 hours
ELEVATION GAIN: 1575m/5165’
ATES RATING: Complex (3)

TOP

PARADISE

To access the route we call “Paradise” (because it’s like that), the ascent is the same as for Route #2, The 7 Steps of Paradise. Excuse the repetition: tour up through the Tree Triangle as we’ve described in that section. Continue up, over the knob after the trees and on to the final ascent to the Asulkan Cabin. Though the cabin may be full of “overnighters” it’s an excellent rest and reset spot if you feel so inclined. To get to Paradise, continue up above the cabin over not-too steep rolls and moraines. As with the tour we call Pterodactyl, continue to the base of the Young’s Peak headwall and decide whether continuing up is a viable option. For the descent, ski back down and toward the east, skier’s right. This is all alpine terrain here so there are many ways down. Going to the extreme right brings you to a great slope adjacent to massive rock wall running down half the length. The slope is gentle and it’s wide open—kind of like what heliskiing must feel like. Be very aware of avalanche conditions and open crevasses as the lower section includes a small glacier. This route, like the 7 steps, is also about 1219m (4000’) down to the base of the Tree Triangle. Yesssssss.

ROUTE: #4
ACCESS: Highway 1 at Rogers Pass to the Asulkan Hut and then to the headwall of Young's Peak
MAP: 82 N/3
TIME: 4.5 hours
ELEVATION GAIN: 1300m/4265’
ATES RATING: Complex (3)

TOP

SAPHIRE COL

The Sapphire Col is another classic tour within the Asulkan Valley—it also offers an incredible number of skiable lines. As soon as you exit the Mousetrap, angle toward the west and set an uptrack if one isn’t already there. Avoid the exposure in going up the middle of the avy path, and head looker’s right into the trees. Zigzag up west and continue along a spine until you get out into the open alpine again at the Triangle Moraine. From here, tour towards the west climbing all of the steps safely until you eventually arrive where it flattens out well below the col. Use the prominent rock band on your right-hand side as a hand rail - remember you may have to get back down if the weather turns and the lack of any features here makes getting lost easy. Don’t hug the rock wall too close as it can sluff off snow, rock, ice etc. You will eventually come to a very steep slope before the low-angle slope just before arriving at the col and the tiny little shelter known as the Saphire Col Hut - this is a decision point based on current conditions and the groups knowledge and experience.

At the Col don’t expect much other than the near-constant high winds, the windowless box cabled to the rock is best reserved for emergency situations. Like the Asulkan Cabin the Sapphire Col “Hut” can also be booked through the Alpine Club of Canada. The col—between The Dome and Castor Peaks—offers up some amazing views. Skip it if you are more interested in the descent and rip off your skins earlier, where it begins to flatten out. The mellowest (and perhaps safest) slope down is skier’s left, near the rock wall. For more challenging terrain, consider heading more skier’s right—but ski with caution, this is glaciated terrain with open crevasses and other dangerous features. Look out for a triangle moraine feature about maybe 3/4 down. It’s an excellent pitch and seems to hold the snow well. Whatever your route, consider keeping your uptrack in view for the descent and carry the proper crevasse rescue gear - and know how to use it.

ROUTE: #5
ACCESS: Highway 1 at Rogers Pass to the end of the mouse trap and then west up to the col
MAP: 82 N/3
TIME: 5 hours
ELEVATION GAIN: 1300m/4265’
ATES RATING: Complex (3)

TOP

ASULKAN PASS

The Asulkan Pass route is one of the mellower options in the valley. It does require you to go above the Asulkan hut, so hope for a clear day when conditions are right. To access the Asulkan Pass, tour up through the Tree Triangle as we’ve described in that section. From the Asulkan Cabin, skin up more toward the west (skiers’ right) than for the other routes we describe here. Continue up the low-angled slope and head to the big saddle lookers right [way right] of Young’s Peak. The beauty of this route is that you skin up what you ski down so you can pick out your lines easily. Continue up until you come to the Asulkan Pass and some great views to the south. Rip ‘em and head back down more-or-less the way you came up. If you are staying at the cabin, this route is a perfect warm-up run or an option when time and energy is limited.

ROUTE: #6
ACCESS: Highway 1 at Rogers Pass to the Asulkan Hut and then up the valley to the south
MAP: 82 N/3
TIME: 4 hours
ELEVATION GAIN: 1143m/3750’
ATES RATING: Complex (3)

TOP

OTHER ROUTES AT ROGERS PASS:

All of the routes listed below were submitted by: Cold Smoke Guiding

CONNAUGHT CREEK AREA - GRIZZLY SHOULDER

This is one of the most popular ski touring trips in Rogers Pass due to the proximity to the highway and variety-pack of ski terrain.

ROUTE: Grizzly Shoulder (UTM32842)
ACCESS: Start from behind the Glacier Park Lodge on the north side of Hwy 1.
MAP: 82N/5
TIME: 4-5 hours
ELEVATION GAIN: 670m/2200’
ATES RATING: Challenging (2)

submitted by: coldsmokeguiding.com

TOP

CONNAUGHT CREEK AREA - BALU PASS

Although considered one of the easiest trips, the Balu Pass trail travels through several large avalanche runout zones which give this trip its Complex avalanche terrain rating. This trip tends to be a popular early-season destination due to a combination of a high elevation start and a lack of alder on the summer trail.

ROUTE: Balu Pass (UTM594816)
ACCESS: Start from behind the Glacier Park Lodge on the north side of Hwy 1.
MAP: 82N/5
TIME: 4-6 hours
ELEVATION GAIN: 760m/2500’
ATES RATING: Complex (3)

submitted by: coldsmokeguiding.com

TOP

CONNAUGHT CREEK AREA - URSUS TREES

If you like open gladed skiing then this is a great choice, especially with poor visibility or flat light skiing conditions.

ROUTE: Ursus Trees (UTM605832)
ACCESS: Start from behind the Glacier Park Lodge on the north side of Hwy 1.
MAP: 82N/5
TIME: 5-7 hours
ELEVATION GAIN: 760m/2500’
ATES RATING: Complex (3)