Grizzly Shoulder is a Rogers Pass classic. It's probably one of the most skied areas in all Rogers Pass. When storm snow rolls in, visibility drops and this south-facing treed area gets packed, but it has some of the most accessible skiing in Glacier National Park.
Despite being in the trees, small avalanches are common, and they can knock skiers into tree wells. On the Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale, this terrain is Challenging. There are still plenty of risks, especially if you get into the alpine on the shoulder. All precautions should be taken. You will also need to get a Restricted Permit to ski in this area. You can prepare in advance by taking the Glacier National Park Restricted Permit Annual System test online, or you can obtain a free day pass from the Discovery Centre.
To get to Grizzly Shoulder, take the track on the northern corner of the parking lot passing behind the old Glacier Lodge and through scrub behind the radio tower. A short road heads up the creek, eventually crossing a bridge and continuing over rolling terrain above the creek.
Take the first uptrack heading to the climber's right. From here it's a case of working your way upward. The skintracks are a bit too steep, so be prepared for a hard and awkward climb. After many people have gone the skinning, the ascent can be rather tricky.
You can basically drop in whenever you like. As ever with Rogers Pass, the snow tends to be better higher up. You can head in pretty much any direction you like. The trees are well spaced, but be sure to follow proper tree skiing procedure with buddy system and good communication.
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