Written by: Nick (@outdoorzboy)
Selkirk snow: A Ski Touring Day in Rogers Pass
Dawn at Rogers Pass never fails to stir something deep; that sudden reminder of just how big these mountains really are. The Selkirks rise in every direction, sharp and snow-choked, glowing blue in the early cold. The parking lot thermometer reads well below freezing, but the air is still, and the quiet feels like its own kind of welcome. Skins on, hoods up, we slide into the forest and start climbing toward the first ridge.
Touring here is never casual. Rogers Pass demands preparation, respect, and gear you trust completely. Here are the five pieces that carried me through a full day of cold smoke, deep turns, and classic Selkirk weather.
1. Moving snow With confidence: Backcountry Access Dozer 2T Shovel
No one comes into Rogers Pass without a shovel worthy of the terrain. Mine is the Backcountry Access Dozer 2T, and it earns its place on every single tour. The aggressive blade profile cuts through consolidated layers easily, has a ‘stompable’ blade, and the T-grip handle is solid even with gloves iced over from the climb.
Midway up our ascent, we stepped off the skin track onto a small bench to dig a quick pit. The Dozer 2T bit cleanly into the dense upper pack and moved snow fast, without that tiring flex you get from lighter shovels. It’s not flashy gear; it’s the tool you hope you never need for rescue, and the one you absolutely depend on when conditions call for a closer look.
2. The Unsung Essential: A Solid Transceiver
No day in Rogers Pass begins without a beacon check.
Every partner. Every time.
There are plenty of excellent transceivers available at VPO, and the best one is the one you know how to use instinctively. Practice matters. Familiarity matters more. In a place with this much terrain and this much snow, nothing replaces competence.
3. Precision when it matters: Backcountry Access Stealth 330 Probe
If you tour in Rogers Pass long enough, you know that probe length matters here. Deep Selkirk storms stack snowpack fast, and the BCA Stealth 330 Probe offers the depth, rigidity, and reliability the terrain demands.
During our morning beacon drill at the trailhead; a ritual before any big day, the Stealth 330 deployed instantly with that familiar, satisfying snap. Once locked, it punched straight down without flexing, even through more than three meters of consolidated snow. It’s the probe you want when seconds count, and the lightweight build keeps it unobtrusive on the big climbs.
4. Quiet efficiency: Dynafit Speed Radical Bindings
The long climbs of the Pass reward gear that works quietly in the background. Dynafit Speed Radical bindings are just that; simple, efficient, and unwaveringly reliable.
As we snaked through trees and onto the steeper switchbacks, the heel risers snapped into place smoothly. The toe pieces held with total confidence on icy sidehills and uneven skin tracks carved into wind-scoured slopes. Lightweight gear is great; lightweight and trustworthy is what gets you through a 1,500-meter day with a smile.
5. Stability and Strength: G3 Via Carbon Poles
Skinning higher into open bowls and soft morning light, the G3 Via Carbon poles did exactly what I needed them to do; stay stiff and stay light. The upper soft-grip section made choking up on steep kick turns effortless, and the carbon stiffness was confidence inspiring when edging along firm sidehills beneath cliffy terrain.
6. AND a BONUS Sixth Item Because I Couldn't Narrow It Down: Outdoor Research Trailbreaker Tour Pants
Rogers Pass loves to remind you that winter isn’t over just because the sun is out. That’s why I trust the Outdoor Research Trailbreaker Tour Pants; breathable on long climbs, tough where it counts, and weatherproof enough for anything the Selkirks throw at you.
The upper-leg shell fabric dumped heat on the ascent through the trees, while the waterproof lower legs shed snow as we wallowed through deeper sections higher up. The stretch, pockets, and ventilation make these pants feel perfectly tuned to big mountain touring; exactly what this terrain demands.
Our final run dropped us into cold, protected north-facing snow; bottomless Selkirk powder pouring over our knees as the afternoon light slipped into gold. By the time we reached the flats, lungs warm and legs quivering, the Pass had returned to silence.
This place rewards good partners, good decisions, and gear that quietly has your back.
A shovel that moves snow like it means it, a probe built for real depth, bindings you can trust on big climbs, poles that support every step, and pants ready for any condition; these five pieces were the backbone of a safe, memorable tour in one of North America’s most iconic backcountry zones.
If you want gear that works seamlessly from trailhead to ridge to powder bowl, this setup delivers.
And in Rogers Pass, that’s exactly what you want.
