Corbin Pass, Revelstoke: Logging Makes For Epic Skiing

Corbin Pass is a truly accessible ski touring destination, directly off Highway 1, at the western boundary of Glacier National Park (Rogers Pass). Literally, you clip into your bindings at the brake check parking lot, meters from the roaring highway. The ascent is part forestry road, part old-growth forest which makes the uphill effort rather minimal. As for the descent, you’ve got a choice of several steep avalanche paths or some open, pillowy cut blocks. Either way, it’s a guaranteed good time with continuous skiing back to your vehicle. This route is perfectly suited for stormy days when the avalanche hazard is through the roof. Make sure to avoid the main cut block in that case – it frequently avalanches.

man happily ski touring up corbin pass min — Freddy, climbing up the sparse forest on his way to Corbin Pass. Photo: Beyond Our Peak

Report from January 1st, 2022

Freddy and I kicked off 2022 with some really good tree skiing at the tail end of an extreme cold weather event. It was -22C and sadly cloudy. With the visibility playing against us and our own time constraint, we decided on Corbin Pass, having only toured up the FSR during one of our professional avalanche courses. We left the Illecillewaet brake check area, a 30-minute drive from Revelstoke, around 8:30 AM. Actually, it was 9 AM – I was very late… oops. After climbing 2.5km up some snowmobile tracks on the Corbin Forest Service Road (FSR), we veered west traversing above a huge cut block, recently logged in 2017.

In the old days before this area was logged, people used to tour up the skid road crisscrossing the newly logged terrain. Now that the trees have fallen, it has become quite dangerous to follow the road through the open terrain with a ton of overhead exposure. Please keep that in mind during your ascent.

Cutblocks and avalanches

Cut blocks are logged parcels of land allotted for exploitation by the BC Ministry Of Forestry. In the winter, the barren landscape, covered with snow, becomes textbook avalanche terrain. To make matters worse, the treeless slopes are exposed to the elements (wind and sun), and are prime surface hoar territory, worsening the avalanche hazard.

man ski touring up corbin pass — Freddy, touring the top of the cut block. Photo: Beyond Our Peak

A short time later, we exited the cut block into an old-growth forest. One could almost feel the magic in the air! We continued into a large boulder field which offered some sweet, albeit short, lines. There might be a way to link up the boulder field with the main cut block. We’ve never tried!

young man ski touring in glacier national park canada — Freddy, touring up the “older” growth forest. Photo: Beyond Our Peak

Eventually, we cut a trail through the meadows directly below Corbin Pass. As we crested the bald col, we peered into the distance. I could spot Fang Rock, a peak that we scouted during our Bostock to Revelstoke traverse last spring. It towered proudly over the Tangiers River, a bustling artery. The view brought back fond memories of that trip. It was such a memorable experience! Even further, we got a glimpse into Selkirk Mountain Experience‘s tenure near the Durrand Glacier, amidst the rugged, northern range.

man in snow reaching corbing pass — Freddy, trudging through deep snow, meters from Corbin Pass. Photo: Beyond Our Peak

With the Bell 205 helicopters from Selkirk Tangiers Heli Skiing reverberating in the distance, we transitioned quickly, braving high winds and bitter cold. We dropped into the main gully, speeding past sparse trees and big boulders. The forest got a little thicker midway down, only to open up again into the main cut block. The snow was light, fluffy and facetted given the extreme cold. It also slowed down our descent making it hard to find our balance throughout the run. But really, I can’t complain! Our run wasn’t the smoothest in the end. I bet it’s worth going up there later in the season to nail down on a flowy alternative.

skier backcountry skiing in deep powder — Freddy, slashing a beautiful turn in deep power just below Corbin Pass. Photo: Beyond Our Peak

All in all, it was a rather long run considering we peaked at 2032m, still well into the treeline elevation. I’d go back to Corbin Pass in a pinch during stormy days. It’s one of the most accessible tours in the area, rivalling the well-known Avalanche Crest route at Rogers Pass. It’s worth mentioning there’s also an epic run to the NE, just past the treed bump in the ridge, that’s often skied by Selkirk Tangiers Heli Skiing. The name is Helens. It consists of a large slide path offering several entrances from the top. Make sure you traverse back to the FSR to the skier’s left at approximately 1480m, otherwise, you’ll end up right on the highway.

overview of corbin pass with route overlay — An overview of the Corbin Pass area. Sadly, no real terrain photos today! Photo: Beyond Our Peak

Route Info

For more beta on my adventures, check out the Route Map. This online map interface is a repository of Beyond Our Peak’s published ski touring and mountaineering routes. It’s the best way to browse through trip reports. Give it a shot!

Route Info

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