Let's explore Macleod's West ridge via 8 Mile Creek FSR (map in link). I scouted this area on foot in September. Logging roads lead to a moderately sloped ridge. The trees are somewhat dense (but still easy to hike or skin through) at the end of the logging roads, but soon open up. Skiing on the ridge should be safe in all but the very worse avalanche conditions. If conditions allow, you could ski steeper slopes by heading North or South off the ridge.

I expect that the skiing might be more of 2 than a 3 in difficulty. Given the uncertainty, you should be able to survival ski steeper slopes, but expect mostly  low angle terrain. People relatively new to touring are welcome to join, but this shouldn't be your first ski tour.

Distance and elevation gain depend on where we park. We'll drive as high as snow allows. If we park at the highway, it's 9km with 1453m elevation gain to the western most subsummit of Macleod. The nearby highway webcams (3/5 junction and Hope Slide) give some idea of the snowline.

In September, 8 Mile Creek FSR was in very good shape. My AWD low clearance vehicle had no trouble. The spur heading South at 800m elevation was rougher, but would be easy for any high clearance 4wd vehicle. Snow would likely stop any vehicle soon after that anyway.

Gear required: Avalanche gear (transceiver, probe, shovel), AT, tele, or splitboard equipment, headlamp.

Welcome additional gear: GPS, PLB, camera, first aid kit, radios.