MacDonald South Face

MacDonald South Face is a serious ski-mountaineering line above the NRC lot in Rogers Pass, sitting on the south side of Mount Macdonald in Glacier National Park. The line climbs from mature forest and moraines into a broad alpine face, with multiple options for how you gain the upper mountain. Expect a mix of skinning and short bootpacks, with route-finding decisions that matter once you leave the lower benches.

From the lower fan, trend generally north toward the obvious south face, weaving through moraines and ribs to avoid steeper rollovers and overhead exposure. Around the mid-mountain benches you’ll need to choose an up-track that keeps you out of terrain traps while still setting you up for the upper face; many parties aim for a high traverse that lets them step onto the main south face rather than committing too early into gullies.

At roughly 2,450 m you can usually traverse east onto the upper face, often crossing a rock rib that becomes part of the ski line on the way down. Above here the terrain opens into big, sustained turns with significant exposure to the ridge overhead. Cornices along the summit ridge are the primary hazard: give them a wide berth on the ascent, avoid stopping under them, and pick a ski line that minimizes time below the largest overhangs.

Snowpack on this aspect is often variable, with a reputation for faceted, weaker layers and wind effect compared to more sheltered Rogers Pass classics. Treat the face as a high-consequence avalanche feature with limited safe islands once you commit above the traverse. Many parties time it for cooler, settled periods with good overnight freezes and stable hazard, using the face as part of a longer traverse toward Banana Couloir or the Hermit side when conditions and energy allow.

This route lies in Glacier National Park and is subject to Parks Canada winter permit, highway corridor, and artillery closure systems. Always check the current Rogers Pass winter permit information, daily avalanche bulletin, and area/road closures before heading out. Full regulations and daily updates: Parks Canada – Glacier National Park.