Gunners Siding

Gunners Siding is a rarely-skied ski line above the Trans-Canada corridor near Rogers Pass, sitting in the Glacier National Park (Canada) backcountry. Parties typically stage from the Ross Peak area parking and skin in via the Ross Peak Designated Access Route before branching toward the upper ridge that forms this wind-hammered feature. Expect a long approach with complex micro-routefinding around small gullies and tree bands once you leave the main Ross Peak track.

The line itself is a narrow alpine feature with room for about three skiers across in its main gut. The upper ridge is heavily affected by the highway wind-funnel, so you need supportive, well-bonded snow before committing; thin, wind-scoured conditions are common. At treeline the skiing can be scratchy and irregular but this section is short-lived before you drop into more sheltered trees.

For the mellowest option, enter on skier’s left and stay away from the steeper convex rolls and cliffy pockets that define the more direct fall-line. A deeper-than-average snowpack is recommended to smooth out the mid-line rock and terrain features and to reduce the chance of tagging buried hazards. Watch for wind slab overlying weaker snow on the upper ridge and for terrain traps lower down where the line constricts.

Use the Ross Peak Designated Access Route for egress to get back out efficiently and to stay aligned with Parks Canada’s preferred up/down corridors. Check the Glacier National Park avalanche bulletin and any seasonal closures or access notices before committing to this objective.