Trailhead: Skiumah Trailhead
Vertical Gain/Distance: 6.8 miles, +3450’
Difficulty: Hard
A favorite ski loop near Kalispell in the Great Bear Wilderness off of Hwy 2 offers excellent panoramic views of Glacier National Park and the chance to experience two very accessible drainages in the area. Starting with Rescue Creek and ending in Cascadilla Creek provides the easiest and clearest climbing route, but either direction will work. This route does include avalanche terrain, so a knowledge of current snow stability is required.
Head into Rescue Creek by following the powerline road until you cross Rescue Creek (bridge). Shortly after crossing you will see a sign for the summer trail heading up the drainage into the Wilderness Area. Follow this trail, there most likely will be a skin track, the entire way until you reach the opening terrain junction. You will head Southeast up the avalanche path and continue into the next drainage, which is Wahoo Creek. From the multiple times I’ve completed this I recommend ski crampons or boot crampons if attempting the traverse in the spring, as this slope can often be frozen and slick. Traveling across Wahoo Creek is easy and obvious. you will head towards the ridge that is on the L side of Cascadialla creek. Ski down into Cascadialla Creek with the fall line of your choice.
When exiting Cascadilla to head back to the highway, there is the summer trail (resembles an abandoned road) exiting the drainage on the east side. Follow this trail until you get connected to the powerline road. From there you can ski this road to its end at Highway 2 or ski through the trees to end up back at your car.
