Parson West Face

West-facing alpine face dropping from Parson’s summit area toward the Parson / Columbia River valley. Access is from the summit via the south side, or slightly shorter from Ross Pass via the north ridge, then trending onto the broad southwest ridge to reach the west face. Expect mostly open alpine slopes with short rolls and some micro-gullies rather than a single defined couloir.

From the summit, sneak down the southwest ridge a short way to a broad col. A large cornice typically hangs on skier’s left here; most parties enter carefully on skier’s right where the lip is lower and the start is less committing. From Ross Pass, the north ridge gives more straightforward entrances that drop you directly onto the main face without dealing with the biggest cornice features.

The face skis as a sustained west to southwest slope, often wind-affected and cross-loaded. It needs a deep, well-settled snowpack to cover rocks and old summer talus, and is very sensitive to solar input and warming; timing is usually earlier in the day in spring, or during colder, overcast winter periods. Watch for wind slab over harder layers near the ridge, and for pockets of faceting or crust lower down after clear spells.

There is also a shorter option that simply follows the southwest ridge from near the summit, linking wind-scoured ribs and shallow bowls back toward the valley. Egress from any of these lines is long and convoluted, which is why the zone sees relatively little traffic. From the lower apron, trend out via the Ross Peak Designated Access Route if coverage and stability allow, or commit to the more complex Smart Minor wrap toward the Flat Creek Designated Access Route.