most difficult trail in the east

[riverc0il]

I'd say Hillman's is steeper than any of the WF Slides but not as steep as anything in the Tuckerman bowl proper. A great long rung with fairly consistent pitch, steepest at the top.

 

[MadMadWorld]

I would guess that Hillman's highway is in the 35-40 degree range but very sustained. Certainly not as steep as anything in the headwall including the top of the left and right gullies. I hiked to the top of Dodge's drop one year (from Hillman's highway) and I would venture about 50 degrees but sustained for a while, whereas the headwall is only 50 degrees at the very top. Never skied Dodge's drop because it is 'no-mistake' run. You may definitely die if you fall. In the headwall, especially early in the ski season, there are a few lines where if you fall you'll simply slide with little chance of hitting a rock. In all my years at Tuck I've seen only one skier in Dodge's drop.

Dodge's is probably in the 45-50 range at the top. Same thing for Duchess. Never skied Dodge but did ski Duchess once in 2003. Takes a lot of snow to fill in Duchess but it holds it well once it's there. It's the closest feeling you will get to skiing a couloir in the east.

 

[C-Rex]

Really makes you wonder how guys ride/ski things like this:



Or how they can walk with the giant, steel balls they have clanging away in their pants.