The Five Toughest Runs in the East

[Tonyr]

The answer to this question is very weather dependent. I've been on Stein's Run when it has been a complete sheet of ice and the experience was as tough as anything I've skied anywhere and I've also been on that run recently groomed in good snow which made it super easy.

I guess with good snow, making all things equal, and I'd say Paradise at MRG and Goat from the top all the way down through Lower Goat are probably the two most challenging marked runs in the east that are both open fairly often throughout a ski season.

The two hardest lift served runs not on the map are Poma Line at Pico and Pipeline at Stowe which is the run right behind the Octogon to the skiers left of Upper Goat. The unmarked trees to the upper left and right of Starr are pretty ridiculous as well.

 

[BenedictGomez]

Okay, I'll give a serious answer. The hardest east coast run I've skied is liftline at Smuggs. I only attempt it after a decent snow. Harder than Jay Peak's Chutes IMHO and Whiteface Slides (at least the ones I've done). I've skied everything at Stowe, and IMHO it's tougher than any of Stowe's Front Three.

 

[raisingarizona]

Okay, I'll give a serious answer. The hardest east coast run I've skied is liftline at Smuggs. I only attempt it after a decent snow. Harder than Jay Peak's Chutes IMHO and Whiteface Slides (at least the ones I've done). I've skied everything at Stowe, and IMHO it's tougher than any of Stowe's Front Three.

Facts. Madonna liftline is by far the rowdiest trail on the east coast.

 

[SkiingInABlueDream]

Okay, I'll give a serious answer. The hardest east coast run I've skied is liftline at Smuggs. I only attempt it after a decent snow. Harder than Jay Peak's Chutes IMHO and Whiteface Slides (at least the ones I've done). I've skied everything at Stowe, and IMHO it's tougher than any of Stowe's Front Three.

Have you skied Tramline at Cannon?

 

[deadheadskier]

Madonna and DJs are basically a tie for me. I feel those and Paradise at MRG are kinda the big 3 for inbounds in the East. They're all steep, long and have multiple rock features / drops to navigate.

Face Chutes is a tier below just because it's short. Upper Goat isn't that hard if you're a capable bump skier who can hold a single zipper line well. If you can't hold the single bump line skiers left, then yeah it's a little tough as skiers right rarely has much snow to bail to. But if you can hold a line, it's really no different than any other very steep, double fall line, bump run. It's just one lane wide vs several.

 

[snoseek]

The thing that makes djs so tough is it never really gets to pack in and the snow is almost always choppy crud unless you open it.

 

[slatham]

You guys need to also add “season” to the criteria. Like steepest lift served, marked trail that is often open during winter ski season.

In July the steepest trail open is Big Snow NJ!

 

[BenedictGomez]

Have you skied Tramline at Cannon?

Never been to Cannon sadly.

 

[Smellytele]

Never been to Cannon sadly.

 

[Smellytele]

Tram line is only tough for a few hundred feet. But it is very tough during that.
Kinsman is not as tough but the difficulty is more sustained.

 

[snoseek]

Tram line is only tough for a few hundred feet. But it is very tough during that.
Kinsman is not as tough but the difficulty is more sustained.

And the stuff in between is pretty fucking rad I found out a couple months ago

 

[Tonyr]

Madonna and DJs are basically a tie for me. I feel those and Paradise at MRG are kinda the big 3 for inbounds in the East. They're all steep, long and have multiple rock features / drops to navigate.

Face Chutes is a tier below just because it's short. Upper Goat isn't that hard if you're a capable bump skier who can hold a single zipper line well. If you can't hold the single bump line skiers left, then yeah it's a little tough as skiers right rarely has much snow to bail to. But if you can hold a line, it's really no different than any other very steep, double fall line, bump run. It's just one lane wide vs several.

I've skied down the right side of Upper Goat as well, it is super spicy. Probably a one and done on that as it destroys your skis. On another note, I see lots of Liftline on Madonna as the most challenging east coast run, how does it compare to the Black Hole which is marketed as the toughest run at Smuggs?