Sifton South Face

South face of Mount Sifton in Glacier National Park, Rogers Pass. Big, committing alpine face with exposure over cliff bands and a serious fall line. The line drops from the upper south ridge toward the Sifton Glacier, with a smaller couloir option just west that has seen descents. Terrain is mostly open alpine panels with some rock ribs and thin spots, especially on skier’s right.

Access is typically from Hermit parking, following the Hermit Meadows trail into the basin, then continuing onto the Sifton Glacier and up toward the northwest ridge to gain the south summit ridge. Expect glacier travel with crevasse hazard and complex route-finding around seracs and rolls. The south face itself hangs above large cliff bands; you need a clean, well‑filled snowpack and a clear exit line back to the glacier.

This is generally a spring objective once the snowpack has bridged rocks and the face has filled in; mid‑winter it can be too thin and peppered. Watch for cornices along the summit ridge, wind slab from shifting S/SW and N/NE winds, and overhead hazard from the face itself. The terrain sits in a Winter Restricted Area under the Rogers Pass Winter Permit System, so you must confirm daily area status and carry the appropriate permit before heading in.

Serious ski‑mountaineering line: strong glacier skills, steep‑skiing competence, and tight group management are mandatory. A conservative play is to scope the face from Hermit Meadows and the Sifton Glacier, then decide between the main south face and the smaller west couloir depending on coverage and stability. Full avalanche kit plus glacier gear, boot crampons, and an ice axe are standard. More info on permits and seasonal closures: Parks Canada – Glacier National Park ski touring.