Scariest ski trails in the northeast

[tjf67]

:lol: Something tells me TJ has never thought of himself as anything less than a bad ass....

I never think of myself as a bad ass. I guess its the vibes I throw off.

Which gives me a good topic. See you in Misc.

 

[dmc]

I never think of myself as a bad ass. I guess its the vibes I throw off.

Which gives me a good topic. See you in Misc.

Thats not exact vibe i get off you now.... But the word ass is in what I think...

 

[zinger3000]

Rumor at Gore

I've heard that "Rumor" at Gore is really tough. It's a double-black diamond, so way beyond my ability level, but I have a friend who considers himself an expert skier, and only tried it once - never again. He said that for about the first third of the way down the trail, his skis were perpendicular to the slope as gravity pulled him down the trail. He was able to straighten himself out eventually to actually ski the rest of the way down the trail.

The signage at the top of the trail reads: "Rumor - Experts Only. Are you an expert?"

 

[Mapnut]

I guess a good definition of "scary" is any trail that you would consider, even for a moment, not going down. If that's an option.

 

[danpop]

The new double black diamond trail at Loon, Ripsaw... not very steep (except the head wall for about 200 feet or so) but very icy.

We skied that for two days last winter... first day, it was fine, but second day it was all ice... nearly everyone will fall/slide down the super icy headwall. The trail should have been definitely closed that day.

 

[deadheadskier]

I question those who say they do not get 'scared' anywhere in the East. My nomination of Waterfall is about the primary feature of the trail. Dropping from the top of the cliff is a solid 20-25 feet. I would venture that that would scare all but the top 1% of skiers.

A rail in a terrain park will scare me and so do giant table tops these days.....both I'll ski around.

I don't think there's anything wrong with admitting that certain trails/features on the mountain scare you.

 

[redalienx11]

I question those who say they do not get 'scared' anywhere in the East.

i was thinkin that too. maybe theyre using a different definition of scary as talked about before...or maybe they never get in over their head and play it extremely conservative....who knows.

while there are different objective hazards in the east compared to the west, the objective hazards remain and should be respected, although not necessarily feared. Even if all the subjective hazards were eliminated (which is impossible) there are some things that will remain out of our control. no mater how styled and dialed my decision making skills are, there is still a little feeling of nervousness when skiing some of the more challenging terrain in the east.

 

[billski]

I guess a good definition of "scary" is any trail that you would consider, even for a moment, not going down. If that's an option.

If it's a patrolled trail and it's open, I don't worry too much - that doesn't make it easy by any stretch; plenty of icy trails get opened. As in most sports I'm involved with, I have great respect and take great care, but I do take calculated chances. In most cases I can become fearful if I hang around on top staring down, worrying about it. I just get up and go - it's been a great lesson in overcoming fear, in any sport. Often the first few turns I might have a couple of self=doubts (Oh bleep, what did I get myself into), but it always has worked out. Again, its calculated, not reckless.

I just figure I'll be walking away even if I get injured. If I have any concern for my life, that is, such that I'm reviewing my will or a rescue plan, then I might not go. Then again, I'm probably not going to put myself into that position to begin with.

I know most of the areas well enough to know when something's not good enough - for example a lift line trail with more exposed rock than snow.

 

[Riverskier]

I can't say I have found any of the trails I have skied to be scary. However, I did ski Spruce Cliffs at Sunday River once while it was briefly on the map. While I didn't find it scary, it was certainly a challenge trying to get down it. Completely exposed ice covered ledge, so side slipping wasn't even an option. Definitely not fun and I can see why it is no longer on the map. I am sure it is great for the first 5 or so skiers who ski it after a storm, but after that all that is left is rock.

 

[Edd]

I did ski Spruce Cliffs at Sunday River once while it was briefly on the map.

If those are the cliffs you can see while on Lazy River than that's something I wouldn't choose to ski. Looks like too little room for error.

 

[KevinF]

IThe signage at the top of the trail reads: "Rumor - Experts Only. Are you an expert?"

I guess a good definition of "scary" is any trail that you would consider, even for a moment, not going down. If that's an option.

At the top of the tram at Big Sky, Montana you have to push through a little gate to actually get outside and put your skis on, etc. And there is a sign on that gate saying "if you have to think about it, don't even think about it".

It was way too rocky to ski down anything when I was there, so I just went up for the view. (Awful snow year when I was there). I guess most of the stuff up there is easily pushing 40 degrees -- falling would mean a really long slide.

 

[Riverskier]

If those are the cliffs you can see while on Lazy River than that's something I wouldn't choose to ski. Looks like too little room for error.

Those are the cliffs you see from Lazy River. They are actually pretty easily skiable by your average expert right after a storm. The problem is, after roughly 5 or 10 skiers they get scraped off and aren't skiable by anyone. Best left off the map.

 

[4aprice]

I can't say I have found any of the trails I have skied to be scary. However, I did ski Spruce Cliffs at Sunday River once while it was briefly on the map. While I didn't find it scary, it was certainly a challenge trying to get down it. Completely exposed ice covered ledge, so side slipping wasn't even an option. Definitely not fun and I can see why it is no longer on the map. I am sure it is great for the first 5 or so skiers who ski it after a storm, but after that all that is left is rock.

I spent 4 wonderful March days at Sunday River with my former college roomate who has a condo there back in I think 2004 (what ever year it was it was a good snow year). Spruce Cliffs was the only trail closed and therefore the only trail we didn't ski. Interesting that its no longer on the map.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[bigbog]

Lots of trails in early season cuz of their runouts...usually all merging somewhere. Not much you can do about it as usually there is another trail closeby that can have decent cover at roughly the same time...

$.01

 

[RENO]

Lazy Mile, Blue Mountain 1:47 PM, any Saturday.

Lazy Mile, President's day! :blink: :-o

 

[jerryg]

Those are the cliffs you see from Lazy River. They are actually pretty easily skiable by your average expert right after a storm. The problem is, after roughly 5 or 10 skiers they get scraped off and aren't skiable by anyone. Best left off the map.

Actually, the "cliff" part of Spruce Cliffs, the trail, isn't really visible as it's blocked by pretty tall trees in the flat section at the bottom. The cliffs that are seen are to the left (looking from Barker) and were never part of the trail. The problem with the cliff part wasn't so much that the cliff got exposed, it wouldn't be a cliff it it didn't, IMO, but the fact that right below the cliff was totally flat and there were lots of trees. You couldn't just launch it cause the landing was/is super-sketchy.

 

[gimme789]

Belt Parkway (Hunter) on a crowded weekend.

I'm not sure which of the Stowe front four it is (Goat?, Starr?) , but I remember they had a fence with an opening at the top of the trail so skiiers would not launch themselves into orbit ... it was so freakin steep.

 

[SIKSKIER]

Well,I didn't see this thread qualified with lift-served so I'll say the top of Airplane on Mt Washington.Pucker-up

 

[dns1764]

the cliff at the top of the west mountain at bretton woods is up there.

 

[bobbutts]

Since others have mentioned the overall toughest runs like tucks, jay face chutes, tramline, etc and the most crowded runs (grand junction at Loon is another), I'll use different criteria. Ice on steep groomed runs where self-arrest may be tough and a slide can end up in the woods.. White Nitro at Sugarloaf, Ripsaw at Loon.. those are the only ones that pop into my head now but pretty sure there are several other similar runs around NE.