Colfax NE Face and Thunder Glacier
Mt. Baker AreaBest Mar–May
A Black Buttes ski linkup — Colfax NE face under the icefall, then Thunder Glacier exit to Grouse Creek.
About This Trail
Colfax Peak is the northernmost of the Black Buttes south of Mt. Baker, and its NE face is one of the more committing ski lines in the area. The standard linkup approaches via the Baker-Colfax saddle, traverses the ridge below the East summit, drops the NE face under Colfax's massive hanging icefall, then continues across the West summit and exits via the Thunder Glacier headwall to Grouse Creek.
The skiing demands attention to overhead hazard above all else. Turns on the NE face run directly below a hanging icefall — pausing to breathe is genuinely not recommended. The line works through cliff-exposed terrain with limited bail options. The Thunder Glacier exit usually goes via the headwall, but rime ice can shut it down — alternative routes through the lower glacier exist.
Receding glacier conditions change the route year over year. Coverage that supported a clean line one season may demand a thin rocky traverse the next. Spring corn cycles deliver the best windows; cold midwinter stays icy and dangerous. Northwest Forest Pass at the trailhead.
Steep NE face skiing under hanging icefall, cliff-exposed throughout. Thunder Glacier headwall exit (or alternative gullies) for descent to Grouse Creek.
Approach via Heliotrope Ridge to Baker-Colfax saddle. Bootpack on the steepest sections of the East summit traverse.
Seasonal Highlights
Astronomy
Trail Conditions
Scorecard
Few parties attempt the line in any season.
Safety & Considerations
Today's Hazard
- Strong sun — sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses recommended
Persistent Hazards
- Direct exposure to hanging icefall on NE Face — do not stop
- Cliff-exposed skiing with limited bail options
- Rime ice on Thunder Headwall can shut down exit
- Glacier travel with crevasse exposure throughout
- Receding glacier conditions change route year to year
- Limited beta and route-finding required
Getting There
Approach typically via Heliotrope Creek trailhead area; exit via Grouse Creek. Northwest Forest Pass required.