The Pass

This Arc’teryx film journeys deep into the heart of Rogers Pass—a treacherous corridor in British Columbia where the Trans-Canada Highway and Canadian Pacific Railway thread beneath 134 avalanche paths that unleash over 2,000 slides each winter. Once off-limits to ski touring, Rogers Pass skiing is now made possible through a complex avalanche control program managed by Parks Canada, the Canadian Armed Forces, and a unique winter permit system. This 12-minute documentary reveals the untold story behind that system’s creation and the women who helped shape it.

At the center are Sylvia Forest and Danyelle Magnan—two trailblazing figures in the realms of avalanche safety and backcountry skiing. Sylvia, a pioneer in mountain rescue and guiding in the Selkirk Mountains, was instrumental in establishing the winter permit system in 1995. She later mentored Danyelle Magnan, who became the first woman on the elite Rogers Pass avalanche forecasting team. Reuniting for a ski tour in Glacier National Park after a decade, their story unfolds across the dramatic snowscapes between Revelstoke and Golden, BC, and highlights the powerful evolution of Rogers Pass CP Rail safety, avalanche control, and the quiet revolution changing mountain culture. A moving entry in the Arc’teryx film catalog, it celebrates legacy, leadership, and resilience in one of Canada’s most dangerous and iconic alpine environments.

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LIST OF TALENT:

Name: Danyellye Magnan
Role: Avalanche Operations Officer, Parks Canada
Town: Revelstoke, BC

Name: Sylvia Forest
Role: Visitor Safety Manager, Parks Canada (2005-2013)
ACMG/IFMGA Mountain Guide
Town: Golden BC

LOCATION INFORMATION

Glacier National Park
Revelstoke, BC
Golden, BC

Filmed on location with permission of Parks Canada and the Canadian Armed Forces,
in Glacier National Park

Drone/UAV shots used in this film were taken from outside the park boundary and/or in compliance with the Parks Canada Agency UAV rules and regulations. Please note that Recreational use of drones at all Parks Canada places is prohibited.

CREDITS

Production Company: Well Travelled Collective (@wearewelltravelled)

Director: Andrea Wing
Producer: Zanny Venner
Director of Photography: Christopher Clark
Additional Cinematography & Drone: Joël Barrow
Writer: Cassidy Randall
Photographer: Zoya Lynch
ACMG Guide & Locations Support: Andrew McNab
Helicopter Support: Glacier Helicopters

Post Production: Holocene
Edited by: Mattias Evangelista, Micah Evangelista
Original Score: CORBEN
Sound Design & Mix: Caleb Carroll
Colourist: Dylan Hageman
Graphic Design: Tora Hylands

Avalanche Footage: Francois Desrosiers
Archival Film Footage: Royal BC Museum / National Film Board of Canada
Archival Photos: Revelstoke Museum & Archives
Rescue Footage: Glacier National Park, Rogers Pass, British Columbia, Canada

0:00 Introduction
1:07 About Danyelle Magnan
2:34 About Sylvia Forest
4:55 Navigating The Selkirk Mountains
6:05 Ups & Downs of Building The Rail Line
7:09 Avalanch Control Program
10:15 Backcountry Skiing In Rogers Pass
11:23 Winter Permit System
13:16 Ending Credits

#arcteryx #arcteryxpresents #rogerspass #backcountryskiing #transcanadahighway