Steepest Ski trails by state

[Greg]

I always liked the saying "a pictures worth a 1000 words"

Pitch is always hard to capture accurately with a photo, but I think this shot demonstrates the steepness of White Nitro Extension at Sugarloaf:

 

[koreshot]

I always liked the saying "a pictures worth a 1000 words"

Where the F is that? Is that a trail at killington? Either the camera action is adding 20 degrees of pitch to the trail or its the steepest marked/legal trail this side of Denton, PA.


EDIT: definitely the camera work. the trees on the far side of the trail are nowhere near vertical.

 

[JimG.]

Where the F is that? Is that a trail at killington?

That's Ovation at Killington, the lower headwall to be exact.

 

[ALLSKIING]

Pitch is always hard to capture accurately with a photo, but I think this shot demonstrates the steepness of White Nitro Extension at Sugarloaf:

Really..See, I thought that shot makes the run look flat.:???:

 

[andyzee]

That's Ovation at Killington, the lower headwall to be exact.

Actually not the headwall, but lower Ovation. Yes the camera pitch may make it look a bit steeper, but not much. I tried rotating this pic a bit so that the trees were pointing straight up, and it didn't look much less steep. And quite frankly, I don't believe that there was much angle in the way I was holding the camera. That lower part is one steep slope.

 

[Greg]

Really..See, I thought that shot makes the run look flat.:???:

See what I mean about trying to capture pitch in a photo? Concentrate on the tower at the summit and the sun. I don't know; maybe becuase I took the shot I can visualize the actual steepness...

 

[andyzee]

See what I mean about trying to capture pitch in a photo? Concentrate on the tower at the summit and the sun. I don't know; maybe becuase I took the shot I can visualize the actual steepness...

I think that you will never catch the steepness of a slope if you shoot it from the bottom looking up. You need to get it from the side.

 

[Greg]

I think that you will never catch the steepness of a slope if you shoot it from the bottom looking up. You need to get it from the side.

Or from a somewhat equivalent elevation some distance away looking straight at it. For example, this shot of Jiminy from the condos on the hill across the street make Jericho, Whitetail and Upper Whirlaway look pretty steep:

 

[andyzee]

Or from a somewhat equivalent elevation some distance away looking straight at it. For example, this shot of Jiminy from the condos on the hill across the street make Jericho, Whitetail and Upper Whirlaway look pretty steep:

Yeah that shot show the steepness pretty good. I think the lift poles on that one help a lot. Plus the fact that it's taken from further away helps a lot.

 

[andyzee]

Yeah that shot show the steepness pretty good. I think the lift poles on that one help a lot. Plus the fact that it's taken from further away helps a lot.

One more thing, it looks like I gotta check out Jiminy

 

[riverc0il]

I think that you will never catch the steepness of a slope if you shoot it from the bottom looking up.

getting close to the snow helps from the bottom up


but then again, sometimes a steep trail just looks steep from the bottom -- and that isn't even the steepest part of tram line

 

[tirolerpeter]

Steep?

That's Ovation at Killington, the lower headwall to be exact.

Yep, and to the left in the picture is the "Escape" route if you have second thoughts. I love Ovation when it is NOT icy. Icy moguls are not smart for "old guys."

 

[Marc]

getting close to the snow helps from the bottom up


but then again, sometimes a steep trail just looks steep from the bottom -- and that isn't even the steepest part of tram line

I'd give my left nut to ski tramline with conditions like that.

 

[from_the_NEK]

Since I didn't do any stowe trails here are four of the front five. I threw out National since it covers the same general terrain as Liftline but is wider and goes slightly across the falline.
Additionally, I didn't do the full length of the trails. I just did the steepest upper section of the trails before they start to flatten out.

Goat:
1320 rise / 2837' Run = 46.5% or 25 degrees
Upper 1/4 of the trail: 380' rise / 740' Run = 51% or 27 degrees
(Note Stowe's website claims 36 degrees)

Liftline:
1300' Rise / 2857' Run = 45.5% or 24.5 degrees

Starr:
1080' Rise / 2254' = 48% or 25.6 degrees

Lookout:
1060' Rise / 2098' Run = 50.5% or 26.8 degrees

 

[from_the_NEK]

I'd give my left nut to ski tramline with conditions like that.

Damn it, I AM going to ski that trail this year :flame:
Every time I drive through the notch, I almost hit the guard rail as I stare at the "Line". 8)

 

[awf170]

When looking downhill try to zoom in a little or crop out the foreground.

Original picture:

After being cropped:

Original picture:

After being cropped:

People can also be a good judge of steepness.

Then some stuff just looks wicked steep because it is. And probably because of the funkyness of the angle.

And I agree with Greg on distance shots.

 

[Ski Diva]

Believe it or not, I'm reading this thread so I know what to stay away from.

What a wuss.

(At least I know my limitations -- and I'm not afraid to admit it!)

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Believe it or not, I'm reading this thread so I know what to stay away from.

What a wuss.

(At least I know my limitations -- and I'm not afraid to admit it!)

That's cause you're not a man. We are afraid to admit our limitations. Also I've read that men tend to overestimate their atheltic abilities and women underestimate theirs.

Viva La Difference 8)

 

[AdironRider]

I second that. No trail is going to hold me back. Famous last words.

 

[SkiZone]

i think k-27 isnt that steep mayb becuase im just used to it?
anybody think different?