Cheops North #6 (Niccy's Notch)

Niccy’s Notch (Cheops North #6) is a short, steep chute dropping from the Cheops west ridge into the Connaught Creek side of Rogers Pass. It sits just skier’s right of the Cheops North Bowl and left of the STS Couloir on the north face of Cheops, forming one of the “steep cragging” lines accessed from Balu Pass and the Cheops west ridge.

From the Balu Pass skin track, gain the Cheops west ridge and follow the often wind-hammered crest toward the north face. The notch is obvious from the ridge—a tight break in the rock band—with the entrance only a few steps off the ridgeline. Parties commonly transition on the ridge, shuffle to the lip, and drop straight in.

Expect a confined start that is frequently wind-loaded, with a convex roll right off the top. Skiers often cut the entrance aggressively to test the slab before committing. Below the crux, the line opens quickly into a wider fan that feeds into the lower Cheops north-face terrain and standard exit down Connaught Creek to the Discovery Centre.

This route lies in Glacier National Park’s Winter Restricted Area system. Check the daily Winter Permit System map and avalanche bulletin before committing, and be aware of overhead hazard from the larger Cheops north-face paths, including STS. Full avalanche kit, strong partners, and conservative timing are mandatory here. More info: Parks Canada – Glacier National Park winter avalanche safety.