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Tour to access a north face with moderate to extreme terrain.


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Map Key

2.1

Miles

3.4

KM

Ascent

5,401' 1,646 m

High

2,599' 792 m

Low

2,843' 866 m

Up

74' 23 m

Down

26%

Avg Slope (15°)

92%

Max Slope (43°)
Type: Backcountry or Sidecountry

Need to Know

The Red Rock Canyon Road is not always plowed in the winter. If it is, they usually only go to the entrance of the canyon.

Description

This is the prominent north face that is visible from the big pullout about a mile north of the Red Rock Canyon Road. A true gem in the Alaska Range because the approach takes much less effort than the climb. This face is also holds powder late in the season and has around a variety of ski lines that range from moderate to extreme.

Park at the entrance to the canyon on the Red Rock Canyon Road. Head due south for a quarter mile in a valley bottom on a 4-wheeler trail toward a gut that is visible from the parking lot. Skin or boot up the steep, slightly brushy gut. Depending on the snow and avalanche conditions, it may be better to drop down the small hill and follow the valley bottom to the bottom of your line. Otherwise, embrace the right leg burn on a massive traverse across the face to the base of your line. The face is a lot bigger than it looks from the bottom. Remember there is about 2,000 ft. of vert from the top of the gut to the summit.

There are some smaller, more mellow lines on the east side of the face. It is possible to ski directly off the peak, but there are some cleaner lines just down from the summit that are much higher quality.

If the gut is in poor condition, head further out the Red Rock Canyon Road and follow the valley in from the northeast, crossing the small lake marked on the topo map. This might be a more mellow and direct approach for riding the lines on the east side of the face.

Shared By:

tgrams

Trail Ratings

  4.3 from 3 votes

#156

Overall
  4.3 from 3 votes
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Ascent Rankings

#5

in Alaska

#156

Overall
5 Views Last Month
416 Since Apr 22, 2019
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Photos

North Face Canwell Pk. Look for ski/snowboard tracks for scale. Photo by Phillip Wilson.
Apr 22, 2019 near Black R…, AK
Skinning up the gut.
Apr 22, 2019 near Black R…, AK
Looking down from the summit. The highway, Red Rock Canyon Rd. and the top of the gut are visible to the left and the small lake can be seen on the right.
Apr 22, 2019 near Black R…, AK
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