Skiing Terminology?

[St. Bear]

I've heard the term "fall line" and "double fall lines" a lot when describing trails. I've never known what they mean, and this is the perfect place to ask. Can anybody explain it to me?

Thanks.

 

[drjeff]

Essentially the falline would be the path that a ball would take if you rolled it down the hill.

A double falline is basically one where you introduce a second pitch that would take that ball off to one side or the other as it goes down the hill

In compass terms, a falline would be a straight path from North to South, whereas a double falline would take you on a SSE or SSW heading when traveling from North to South

 

[Greg]

The fall line is basically the most direct or steepest way down a slope. Roll a ball down a hill and see which way it goes. That's the fall line. A double fall line is one that goes down as well as tilts to one side. The ball you rolled would eventually go into the woods on one side. For example, this is a double fall line:

 

[ctenidae]

Should we mention Denton's infamous triple fall line?

Oh, wait, I just did.

 

[St. Bear]

So a fall line would follow the "natural" contours of a mountain, and a double fall line would do the same, just with the trail rotated slightly about it's axis?

Do I have that correctly?

 

[ctenidae]

So a fall line would follow the "natural" contours of a mountain, and a double fall line would do the same, just with the trail rotated slightly about it's axis?

Do I have that correctly?

Prettty much.

 

[Greg]

So a fall line would follow the "natural" contours of a mountain, and a double fall line would do the same, just with the trail rotated slightly about it's axis?

Do I have that correctly?

Sorta. I think most people think of the fall line on a given trail as the overall most direct route, not really taking into account every little variance in terrain.

 

[poconovfr]

The fall line is basically the most direct or steepest way down a slope.

That's it. That said people need to keep this in mind while traversing across a trail. Always keep an eye up hill. Chances are if you are traversing you're in someones line.......fall line.;-)

 

[Geoff]

I've heard the term "fall line" and "double fall lines" a lot when describing trails. I've never known what they mean, and this is the perfect place to ask. Can anybody explain it to me?

Thanks.

The fall line is the direction you would slide if you fell.

With a double fall line, you'd slide into the woods if you fell.

 

[skiadikt]

generally skiers turn across the fall line to control their speed. on a double fall line, greg's pic for example, you'll get acceleration as you turn to the left. at k, lower double dipper has a pretty nasty double fall line on the steepest part of the trail.

greg, where's that pic from? kinda reminds me of lookout at stowe.

 

[2knees]

Castlerock Liftline at sugarbush.

 

[tjf67]

Double fall line. Can there really be such a thing. I mean the fall line is going straight down. I guess the double fall line could be if you are at the top of the hill and can go off the back side and the front side. That would be a double fall line.

What we all refer to as a double fall line is trail that is cut across the fall line. Should it be called a cross line? Or a cloth line?

 

[poconovfr]

Double fall line. Can there really be such a thing. I mean the fall line is going straight down. I guess the double fall line could be if you are at the top of the hill and can go off the back side and the front side. That would be a double fall line.

What we all refer to as a double fall line is trail that is cut across the fall line. Should it be called a cross line? Or a cloth line?

See above post.

 

[Marc]

Double fall line. Can there really be such a thing. I mean the fall line is going straight down. I guess the double fall line could be if you are at the top of the hill and can go off the back side and the front side. That would be a double fall line.

What we all refer to as a double fall line is trail that is cut across the fall line. Should it be called a cross line? Or a cloth line?

Came here to say that. Leaving satisfied.

A double fall line is something you only really hear skiers talk about.. to describe a trail that does not follow the fall line.

 

[Marc]

A better definition, IMHO, of a fall line is one that is perfectly perpendicular to the contour lines of a slope.

 

[bvibert]

A better definition, IMHO, of a fall line is one that is perfectly perpendicular to the contour lines of a slope.

Thanks for the more exact answer, Mr. Wizard. :roll:

 

[poconovfr]

Thanks for the more exact answer, Mr. Wizard. :roll:

You typed it ,I thought it.

 

[Greg]

A double fall line is something you only really hear skiers talk about.. to describe a trail that does not follow the fall line.

Yep. And that's good enough for me...

 

[ctenidae]

Came here to say that. Leaving satisfied.

A double fall line is something you only really hear skiers talk about.. to describe a trail that does not follow the fall line.

Which is why it's jargon, not science.

 

[Marc]

Which is why it's jargon, not science.

And remember jargon is just one step away from full on gobbledy gook.