Most underrated ski trails

[Greg]

Might be interesting to discuss some of the most underrated ski trails. We all hear about trails like Rumble, Paradise (MRG), White Nitro, Outer Limits, etc., but what about a thread about some of those great runs that sort of fly under the radar? Two trails that I was really impressed with this Spring at Sugarbush, despite the thin cover are two natural runs called Lixi's Twist (formally known as just "Twist") and Moonshine:

Twist:

Moonshine:

Granted, the cover in those pics is what many folks would consider appalling (I actually loved them! :blink: ), but I could imagine both of those runs being really great with some good snow conditions.

 

[skibum1321]

Twist is a great run. I don't know if we could say these are underrated since we do give them a good amount of press in here, but I would say that outside of AZ Morningstar and the Mall may be a bit underrated. Also, Black Diamond at North.

At Stowe (I know what you're thinking - an underrated trail at Stowe?) I think Lookout is underrated and is harder than either National or Liftline of Front Four fame.

Liftline, Robin's Run and Freefall at Smuggs are 3 of the hardest trails in the east and are usually missing from the best trail lists.

 

[Greg]

Twist is a great run. I don't know if we could say these are underrated since we do give them a good amount of press in here, but I would say that outside of AZ Morningstar and the Mall may be a bit underrated. Also, Black Diamond at North.

At Stowe (I know what you're thinking - an underrated trail at Stowe?) I think Lookout is underrated and is harder than either National or Liftline of Front Four fame.

Liftline, Robin's Run and Freefall at Smuggs are 3 of the hardest trails in the east and are usually missing from the best trail lists.

By underrated, I don't necessarily mean overly difficult. Twist and Moonshine are far from technical runs, but I think they offer a great combination of decent pitch, natural snow and a more classic skiing experience. Steep and gnarley are not always prerequisites for great runs in my mind.

I agree The Mall is a really great liftline.

 

[skibum1321]

By underrated, I don't necessarily mean overly difficult. Twist and Moonshine are far from technical runs, but I think they offer a great combination of decent pitch, natural snow and a more classic skiing experience. Steep and gnarley are not always prerequisites for great runs in my mind.

I agree The Mall is a really great liftline.

I wasn't saying that we can't call Twist underrated. I agree with you that they don't need to be overly technical. I was saying that I don't know if we could call the Mall or Morningstar underrated due to the amount of time we talk about them. But on a larger stage, I believe they are often overlooked.

 

[kcyanks1]

I'd think Morningstar at least would qualify as underrated. I skied at SB a number of times before I skied Morningstar or even went up the North Lynx lift. E

Empire at Whiteface also gets my vote. I think among Whiteface skiers it gets its due, but among the eastern skiing population generally, few know about it (of course this board is not a representative sample!).

 

[AdironRider]

I second Empire

 

[SkiDog]

woods run at Kmart....JULIO....tough entrance..tight or no first few turns...kinda opens in the middle, but overall a great run when there is snow...

Oh and anything in the woods over to left or right of Outer limits (in the woods)...I prefer skiers left though

M

 

[andyzee]

For sheer steepness, I would say Ovation at Killington. I've seen many people take a fall on that trail and they don't stop til they hit bottom.

 

[thetrailboss]

Good nominees, Greg. When I was a passholder, those were usually good trails often overlooked.

My nominees, no surprise, would be any upper mountain run at Burke, particularly Powderhorn, Carriage Road, or Wilderness. Not tough, but entertaining and old school!

 

[tree_skier]

i"ll second Lookout @ Stowe

 

[JimG.]

Stowe (I know what you're thinking - an underrated trail at Stowe?) I think Lookout is underrated and is harder than either National or Liftline of Front Four fame.

You beat me to it; totally agree with skibum on this one.

 

[skiadikt]

another yup on lookout. nice tricky double falline up top.

at k, i'd go with something like downdraft. doesn't get a lot of hype but lower usually has huge, steep, icey bumps and just when you think you're done at the merge with dipper, it gets steeper, icier and the fall line changes. one of my faves, and probably the best trail at k before they ruined it when they put double dipper in.

 

[Tin Woodsman]

Two come to mind for me:

1) Chin Clip at Stowe - It's a full 2100' verts of sweeping, sometimes moguled expert run that is really out of the way from most traffic on the gondola side. Great woods access. Nice and soft late in the season. Just fantastic.

2) Semi-tough at SB North - Dips and dives just 30' wide through a beautiful forest canopy. Pitch and bumps getting too tough for you? It eases off the accelerator so you can catch your breath before turning a corner and then back at it. Best run in the East, IMHO. Only problem is cover, or lack thereof. It's low elevation and faces ESE with no snowmaking (both a blessing and a curse).

 

[Greg]

2) Semi-tough at SB North - Dips and dives just 30' wide through a beautiful forest canopy. Pitch and bumps getting too tough for you? It eases off the accelerator so you can catch your breath before turning a corner and then back at it. Best run in the East, IMHO. Only problem is cover, or lack thereof. It's low elevation and faces ESE with no snowmaking (both a blessing and a curse).

I've seen Semi-Tough recommended before. Need to try that one.

 

[Tin Woodsman]

I've seen Semi-Tough recommended before. Need to try that one.

Yeah, I think that was probably me. I should shut up now.

Regardless, I have no doubt that I'll be receiving a PM from you shortly after you ski it. If you though Twist and Moonshine were great, you ain't seen nuthin yet.

 

[andyzee]

another yup on lookout. nice tricky double falline up top.

at k, i'd go with something like downdraft. doesn't get a lot of hype but lower usually has huge, steep, icey bumps and just when you think you're done at the merge with dipper, it gets steeper, icier and the fall line changes. one of my faves, and probably the best trail at k before they ruined it when they put double dipper in.

Never did anything but upper Downdraft before this year. Did Downdraft a number of times this year and I have to agree. Nice challenging run that will decieve you.

 

[SkiDog]

Never did anything but upper Downdraft before this year. Did Downdraft a number of times this year and I have to agree. Nice challenging run that will decieve you.

Not too goo too off topic here, but I ski K all the time....and I dont find really anything but the steepest tree runs there challenging. Maybe I need new ski partners. The trees are only challenging becasue they are soo tight....mmmmmm east coast hardwoods......

Im not saying I dont like the mountain, becasuse I do love it, and its is the mountain I call "home" for now......im just saying I don't think its all that "hard" for an experienced skier...one of the toughest things is avoidance awareness...

M

 

[skibum1321]

Two come to mind for me:

1) Chin Clip at Stowe - It's a full 2100' verts of sweeping, sometimes moguled expert run that is really out of the way from most traffic on the gondola side. Great woods access. Nice and soft late in the season. Just fantastic.

2) Semi-tough at SB North - Dips and dives just 30' wide through a beautiful forest canopy. Pitch and bumps getting too tough for you? It eases off the accelerator so you can catch your breath before turning a corner and then back at it. Best run in the East, IMHO. Only problem is cover, or lack thereof. It's low elevation and faces ESE with no snowmaking (both a blessing and a curse).

Regarding Chin Clip, we'll have to agree to disagree here. The only reason I ever go on this trail is to get into the woods. It's usually icey, ugly, widely spaced bumps.

I don't think I've ever skied Semi-Tough - I usually stay away from Inverness. At SB North I enjoy Hammerhead and Tumbler. They are on opposite sides of the GMX and are both pretty narrow and usually ungroomed with natural snow. 2 fun runs IMO.

 

[Tin Woodsman]

Regarding Chin Clip, we'll have to agree to disagree here. The only reason I ever go on this trail is to get into the woods. It's usually icey, ugly, widely spaced bumps.

I don't think I've ever skied Semi-Tough - I usually stay away from Inverness. At SB North I enjoy Hammerhead and Tumbler. They are on opposite sides of the GMX and are both pretty narrow and usually ungroomed with natural snow. 2 fun runs IMO.

I agree re: Hammerhead and, to a lesser extent, Tumbler. If you haven't skied Semi-tough (assuming a decent natural snow year), you don't know what you're missing.

As for Chin Clip, maybe we're just hitting it on different days. I've never had a bad experience on it. I'm sure that disparity in experiences dramatically influences a lot of the responses we see in this and related threads. Regardless, any run can be icy with a lousy bump pattern, but I don't think those aspects are necessarily endemic to a particular trail (unless it has a lot of snowmaking, in which case it will often be an icy mess). Conditions will always vary, but Chin Clip will always be a full 2,100 vertical, with enough steeps, twists, and turns to keep it interesting all the way to the bottom. As always, YMMV.

 

[skibum1321]

As for Chin Clip, maybe we're just hitting it on different days. I've never had a bad experience on it. I'm sure that disparity in experiences dramatically influences a lot of the responses we see in this and related threads. Regardless, any run can be icy with a lousy bump pattern, but I don't think those aspects are necessarily endemic to a particular trail (unless it has a lot of snowmaking, in which case it will often be an icy mess). Conditions will always vary, but Chin Clip will always be a full 2,100 vertical, with enough steeps, twists, and turns to keep it interesting all the way to the bottom. As always, YMMV.

Usually if I make the effort to go over to the Gondola and Chin Clip I tend to be in the woods. I skied a whole season at Stowe (split with Smuggs) last winter and probably skied Chin Clip all of 2-3 times.