Montana Peak is a broad ridge feature just south of Mt Mackenzie. Accessed using the Revelstoke Mountain Resort lift infrastructure, its popular west and SW faces are a perfect objective for ski tourers and splitboarders alike. If you can deal with the technical uptrack through wind ribs and tight trees, the vast treeline feature offers a 300m open descent to the bottom of Montana Bowl. The run that is typically carried on through Montana Trees, adding an extra 170m of vertical loss for a total of 470m. Alternatively, you can gain Roscoe Col to the south and climb Kokanee Ridge for another treeline/alpine lap. As for avalanche concerns, Montana Peak’s two distinct faces are wide, interconnected slopes with a 30-35 degree angle and convex features. Perfect for skiing but also capable of producing large avalanches. On a sunny day, you’ll witness an army of skiers and snowboarders heading for the peak. Don’t succumb to the powder fever and assess the slope before dropping in.

Related: Montana Trees, Revelstoke: One Hella Deep December

Report from December 25, 2025

We ducked under the rope line and followed an existing uptrack contouring across the SW face of Mt Mackenzie. The views were spectacular. The sea of clouds hovering over the Columbia River to the west was lit up by the low December sun. Being so close to the winter equinox, the days are shorter, but the lighting is jaw-dropping. It was the first day we’d seen the sun in more than 3 weeks of a particularly snowy December.

We made our way towards Goat Peak, a prominent Thumb’s Up-looking mountain along the Mackenzie SE Shoulder. Battling various wind drifts and small Christmas Trees, we walked along the breezy ridge, keeping a safe distance from the large cornices above Highway Bowl to our left. Those cornices have caught experienced skiers by surprise in the past, resulting in injuries and difficult evacuations.

We pressed onwards towards the summit of Goat Peak. While you can easily traverse skier’s left through Montana trees to get to the bottom of Montana Bowl, we chose to extend our first lap with a south-facing descent from the summit into the bowl below. It’s a short detour that turns a traverse into a proper ski line. We transitioned a few meters below the peak to avoid a particularly wind-scoured section. With the clearer weather, we were granted panoramic views of Montana Peak and the surrounding area.

Ready for a ski, Kaitlin posted herself downhill of me for a photo opportunity, and I dropped in for my first descent of the day. With the high winds of the previous day, the surface snow on the upper section was wind-packed, offering a solid platform for making energetic turns. As we descended the slope, the snow quality improved into bottomless powder. We found our way through a series of wind lips, increasing our speed and confidence as we entered the large expanse of Montana Bowl.

At the bowl’s termination, we transitioned back into uphill mode, now ready for the ascent up the Montana Ridge leading up to its peak. We worked our way up the northern edge of the bowl, crossing below our fresh downhill tracks. The next section reminded me how technical this uptrack can be. With better avalanche stability, I typically track-set across the open west face. However, due to the considerable avalanche hazard in the alpine and treeline, we climbed conservatively along the ridge. Battling bushy trees, steep gullies and wind pillows, we eventually made it up Montana Peak with a scenic finish on the flat-topped feature.

With the winds whistling through our gear, we removed the climbing skins and buckled our ski boots. Lap #2 followed the distinct treed rib dividing the west from the southwest face. With the storm slab problem in mind, we opted for a supported line weaving through the sparse trees and opening up lower down Montana Bowl. Having been exposed to the recent winds, the cold snow was slightly pressed, but still skied great. 8/10 if I were to rate it. After all, backcountry skiing isn’t always about the snow quality – even for a powder snob such as me. It’s about the experience.

We continued our descent down Montana Bowl. Looking around, we felt quite small traversing underneath the boundless alpine slopes. After pushing past a flat frozen pond, we punched through the evergreens and skied down the southern-most lines of the Montana Trees area. We regrouped at the cul-de-sac where the Natural Selection Tour‘s Revelstoke chapter was held last March. We promptly made our way back to the resort, following the beginner-friendly Montana cat road.

Route Info

3 h	410 m	6 km	1860-2341 m