Steepest Ski trails by state

[Greg]

I think andy is right. Austin is the math geek. I'm sure he'll chime in here.

 

[from_the_NEK]

Superstar @ Killington = ~39% slope
I used the Vermont DEM to create contours and the Vermont Orthos to see where the trail is located. I then selected the top and bottom contours (yellow lines) that determine the trail and got their difference (3700'-2580=1120'). I then measured the horizontal distance between the lines (red line = 2850'). I then calculated rise over run to get the percent of slope (1120/2580= .3929*100 = 39.3). See image

P.S. Using the same formula - The lower part of Superstar = 380' height / 811' in length =47%
The same lower section of Ovation = 380' in height / 699' in length = 54%! :-o

Superstar:

Lower Superstar:

Lower Ovation:

 

[Greg]

Percent of Slopes and Degrees are different. For example a slope of 45 degrees is 100% slope or something like that. Ask the trig experts...

 

[from_the_NEK]

Sorry from_the_NEK, I forget my trig formulas, but that is not trig. I think you're formula is flawed and the only thing you're really figuring out is what the percentage of the horizontil is the veritical. In other words " the angle or the dangle equals" oh nevermind, bottom line I think you need to go back to the drawing board. IMHO, although I could be wrong.

You're absolutely right. :dunce: I forgot all about the Inverse > TAN function. Hey its been 12 years since I did any Trig :razz:

http://geology.isu.edu/geostac/Field_Exercise/topomaps/slope_calc.htm

All of the nubers have been %slope at this point. Here are the nubers converted to degrees...

Upper Warrens @ Burke - 41% = INV^TAN = 22.2 degrees
Outer Limits @ Killington - 49.8% = INV^TAN = 26.4 degrees
Superstar - 39% = INV^TAN = 21.3 degrees
Lower Section of Superstar - 47% = INV^TAN = 25.17 degrees
Lower Section of Ovation - 54% = INV^TAN = 28.36 degrees

:dunce: Sorry everyone!!:dunce:

 

[andyzee]

You're absolutely right. :dunce: I forgot all about the Inverse > TAN function. Hey its been 12 years since I did any Trig :razz:

http://geology.isu.edu/geostac/Field_Exercise/topomaps/slope_calc.htm

All of the nubers have been %slope at this point. Here are the nubers converted to degrees...

Upper Warrens @ Burke - 41% = INV^TAN = 22.2 degrees
Outer Limits @ Killington - 49.8% = INV^TAN = 26.4 degrees
Superstar - 39% = INV^TAN = 21.3 degrees
Lower Section of Superstar - 47% = INV^TAN = 25.17 degrees
Lower Section of Ovation - 54% = INV^TAN = 28.36 degrees

:dunce: Sorry everyone!!:dunce:

Now it looks low, but closer to the truth The formula you used is for % grade.:beer:

 

[from_the_NEK]

I think I'm going to stick with the % slope approach. :argue:
I did know that 100% slope is a 45 degree angle. I should have put it together for a 45 degree angle: Rise = Run :dunce:

 

[JimG.]

The simple formula to calculate steepness:

Stand on top of pitch.

Steep=butterflys in stomach and mild case of ass puckering.

 

[from_the_NEK]

Now it looks low, but closer to the truth The formula you used is for % grade.

It sounds low. However, it is all coming back to me now. I took out a piece of paper a drew a isoceles right triangle with equidistant "A" and "B" sides on it. This type of triangle has the 100% slope for the hypotenuse (aka longest "C" side). The two remaining angles of the triangle = 45 degrees.

http://mathworld.wolfram.com/RightTriangle.html

If you bisect the triangle at the bottom 45 degree angle, you end up with a 90, 22.5, 67.5 triangle. the degree slope of the hypotenuse (aka ski slope) is 22.5 degrees. This is still quite steep if you try to visualize steping off the top of the triangle onto the slope. It seems about right as I visualize the steepness of Upper Warrens Way in comparision to the vertically growing trees on the trip up the Quad at Burke.

Any place that claims to have a 66 degree trail is on crack. You would barely be able to stand up. The cliff drop section on the Face at Jay may be the only inbounds place in the East that approaches this steepness. That is the one I will work on next.

 

[andyzee]

It sounds low. However, it is all coming back to me now. I took out a piece of paper a drew a isoceles right triangle with equidistant "A" and "B" sides on it. This type of triangle has the 100% slope for the hypotenuse (aka longest "C" side). The two remaining angles of the triangle = 45 degrees.

http://mathworld.wolfram.com/RightTriangle.html

If you bisect the triangle at the bottom 45 degree angle, you end up with a 90, 22.5, 67.5 triangle. the degree slope of the hypotenuse (aka ski slope) is 22.5 degrees. This is still quite steep if you try to visualize steping off the top of the triangle onto the slope. It seems about right as I visualize the steepness of Upper Warrens Way in comparision to the vertically growing trees on the trip up the Quad at Burke.

Any place that claims to have a 66 degree trail is on crack. You would barely be able to stand up. The cliff drop section on the Face at Jay may be the only inbounds place in the East that approaches this steepness. That is the one I will work on next.

Now I'm getting a headache, more thinking than I care to do And before he chimes in:

 

[from_the_NEK]

The Face @ Jay = 56% slope
I used the Vermont DEM to create contours and the Vermont Orthos to see where the trail is located. I then selected the top and bottom contours (yellow lines) that determine the trail and got their difference (3720'-2480=240'). I then measured the horizontal distance between the lines (red line = 424'). I then calculated rise over run to get the percent of slope (240/424= .566*100 = 56.6%). See image (NOTE: these are 5 ft contours and not 20' as in the other images)

P.S. 56.6% works out to 29.5 degrees. Remember this is the entire chute. The headwall is definitely steeper than this.

In the Pump House and Saddle areas I get a reading close to 70% slope or 35 degrees. Again certain cruxes of the pitch may be steeper. (note: I'm not going to go willy-nilly and post maps of these places )

 

[AdironRider]

Rumor at Gore is steeper than anything at Whiteface, other than a few real steep sections of Upper Mackenzie.

Tramline at Cannon for NH

Cant comment on MA, VT, or CT really.

 

[riverc0il]

ah, the annual steepness thread, lol. such a hard figure to come to a conclusion because even if you use measurements like from_the-NEK used to calculate entire run pitch, it minimizes the extreme steepness of something like jays face chutes because it averages everything out. same with the other calculations for other trails. something like paradise at MRG is only really steep for a short drop off, then is still steep but nothing too bad after that first big drop. i didn't find FIS at bush to be that steep. but that just goes to show you the relative aspect of pitch. especially when you add bumps. bumps make a pitch feel much less steep than it actually is because you can park your butt on a flat back side and the bumps really slow your descent. compared to trails that don't have bumps, equal pitch feels much steeper on a non-bump trail.

for NH, for some weird reason, kinsman always "feels" steeper than tramline to me. tramline has a huge crux move though that is substantially pitched steeper than anything else on the map in NH. hard to call, both trails are a rush for steep fans.

jay chutes for VT sounds good to me for pitch. that would of course not include the blue square run out trail.

 

[Greg]

The simple formula to calculate steepness:

Stand on top of pitch.

Steep=butterflys in stomach and mild case of ass puckering.

That seems like the best formula to use... :lol:

 

[riverc0il]

another formula is come to a complete stop and place your skis parallel to the fall line. if you can reach back and feel the snow without falling, you are on a steep trail.

 

[AdironRider]

Kinsman always feel the same way to me as well Riv, but I know it isnt. Maybe in 20 foot sections it might be in spots, but its a completely different trail, as well as my personal favorite.

 

[ALLSKIING]

another formula is come to a complete stop and place your skis parallel to the fall line. if you can reach back and feel the snow without falling, you are on a steep trail.

I don't think there is any on-piste run in the east that you can do this on?

 

[riverc0il]

i think that is a fair assessment allskiing, i was just being funny building on jimg's humor even though that formula wouldn't apply to any eastern ski areas i know.

 

[maplevalleymaster]

only place in the east thats ever held an extreme skiing contest, as far as i know.

I cant answer the question as i know i havent skied the steepest trail in any state other than ct, and that doesnt really count.

I sincerely doubt ovation is the steepest trail in VT.

Ripcord @ Mount Snow could be one of the steepest in Vermont. As for the rest, I believe their correct.

 

[JD]

Yea. face chutes fresh at J is pretty darn good skiin'.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

If your uphill ski is about at your butt and your downhill ski is 3 feet lower, you know your on a steep trail.