Sir Donald Path

Sir Donald Path is a historic ski and climbing approach into the Sir Donald basin on the south side of Rogers Pass in Glacier National Park. From the Illecillewaet trailhead area, you follow the Sir Donald Trail toward the basin below the Vaux Glacier, then branch into the basin and toward the Uto–Sir Donald col if you’re linking bigger objectives. Once in the basin, the terrain opens into alpine bowls and moraines with options to push higher or treat it as an out‑and‑back tour.

The lower forest is steep, tight and brushy, so this line skis best with a deep, supportive base. Expect awkward coverage early season, alder and small trees grabbing skis, and a firm exit track that can be spicy on the way out. Above treeline you’re in big, exposed alpine terrain with complex micro‑features and overhead hazard from the west face of Sir Donald and surrounding walls.

Sir Donald’s west face is a very active avalanche zone, with the standard access to the Uto–Sir Donald col crossing beneath large paths and gullies. Overhead hazard, cross‑loaded features and debris fans are the main concerns; treat the traverse under the west face as no‑fall‑zone decision terrain. Time your travel for low hazard, good visibility and cold, settled snow, and be ready to turn around if wind slab or recent storm snow is present on the alpine rolls feeding the basin.