The 10 Most Challenging Ski Resorts in The United States?

[skiNEwhere]

There's a lot of variation, even within the same named run. I skied Lake Chutes at Breck, which routinely shows up on the Hardest Named Runs lists. It was steep, for sure, but I wasn't launching off any of the rocks, so I didn't think it was that bad.

Generally speaking the further to your right you go, the steeper the entrance. The steepness and length of the cornice varies on snowfall. For the 13-14 season which saw plenty of snow, there was a 10 foot cornice entrance, whereas last season which was a disappointing snow year, there was no cornice at all, making it a lot easier.

 

[skiNEwhere]

Of the places I've skied, in no particular order, and random, representative photos:
Taos, CO
Castor Glade

Aspen Highlands, CO
Highland Bowl

Squaw Valley, CA
Granite Chief Peak terrain

Kirkwood, CA
False Peak Chute

Arapahoe Basin, CO
West Turbo

To be continued...

I think west turbo easily wins the award for "most likely to destroy the bases of your skis"

 

[jimk]

Jackson Hole, WY
Corbet's Couloir

Snowbird, UT
STH/Gad Valley

Mad River Glen, VT
Paradise

Stowe, VT
Angel Food

Breckenridge, CO
Zoot Chute

So many ski areas, so little time:lol:

 

[St. Bear]

The most difficult place I've been on my skis is Octopus Garden at MRG. Second place is the trees to the skiers left of Goat at Stowe. For me, it's much more difficult when I can't see my next turn than if it's super steep.

 

[jimk]

I think west turbo easily wins the award for "most likely to destroy the bases of your skis"

If I'm not mistaken it was over by 4th Alley or Gauthier at A-Basin where I ripped out the edge of my ski?? And earned the skiNEwhere purple heart award
PS: I gorilla glued the edge back in this summer, remains to be seen if it holds next winter??

 

[skiNEwhere]

If I'm not mistaken it was over by 4th Alley or Gauthier at A-Basin where I ripped out the edge of my ski?? And earned the skiNEwhere purple heart award
PS: I gorilla glued the edge back in this summer, remains to be seen if it holds next winter??

I was scoping out east wall so I think it had to be something on that side of the Mtn b/c when I met you in front on lenawee that's when you showed me your edge. Unless you got 2 runs in? Either way I'm not surprised. A-Basin is a very rocky resort.

Good you got the edge fixed, hope it holds!

 

[snoseek]

I skied the Wall at Kirkwood on tele skis, and my wife did it and she's not gnar. We didn't think it was "one of the scariest runs in the United States" There are tougher runs at there if they wanted a callout to kirkwood.

I'm not even sure I'd put it the top ten. There's some very steep terrain but overall it got a mix of stuff for everyone. Chair 10 down the middle isnt bad at all for any advanced skier, the problem is when people need to ski from the summit for bragging rights and there's no easy way down...no cattrack or anything. The epic pass brings a lot of people that aren't used to that.

 

[skiNEwhere]

I've heard Kirkwood has some pretty damn technical terrain (never actually skied there)

Based on this pic I'd have to agree

Is that heart chutes in the background?

 

[snoseek]

I've heard Kirkwood has some pretty damn technicalView attachment 17284 terrain (never actually skied there)

Based on this pic I'd have to agree

Is that heart chutes in the background?

Google image heart chute, its terrifying. Yeah there's some really big stuff but overall the mtn is approachable by all abilities. I've been looking and not skiing a lot of lines the past couple years due to lack of snow. Its like a mini squaw with less people and a higher base meaning better snow

 

[Scruffy]

I've heard Kirkwood has some pretty damn technicalView attachment 17284 terrain (never actually skied there)

Based on this pic I'd have to agree

Is that heart chutes in the background?

Kirkwood has the goods, the Wall ( at least when I skied it) was not that challenging. I thought the alphabet chutes J-O offered more of a challenge.

 

[jimk]

tyrone shoelaces dropping hospital air at Kirkwood, March 2006

A smaller drop called "jim's", same year

Somewhere nearby, same timeframe, that must have been a good year for safer big cliff drops:

tyrone used to post some great Kwood stoke:

 

[jimk]

The Cirque at Kirkwood is sometimes a venue for Freeride World Tour events. This terrain is not generally open for the public: