What are the longest, steepest, and narrowest trails in the Northeast?

[fixedgrip16]

I'm curious what you guys have to say about this subject. I know nothing of skiing Vt. having grown up skiing in Maine. Skied a little at Wildcat but mostly the Loaf and Saddleback. IMHO at the Loaf such a trail might be Misery Whip, Upper Winters, Bubblecuffer. But for long, straight, narrow trails they're pretty limited. Gondi Line would have met the narrow criteria years ago but not now. That's the kind of trail I'm thinking of. . . a narrow, steep, long, straight trail.

 

[deadheadskier]

Interesting thought on the 'straight' component. Nothing really comes to mind that would be similar to Misery Whip

 

[kcyanks1]

Haven't gotten to ski them, but I'd have to figure the Face Chutes and Tuckerman's Chute at Jay. Maybe Black Diamond at Sugarbush North? How narrow is narrow?

 

[fixedgrip16]

Straight's not key well except with some things:lol: so maybe Fall Line at MRG might be considered a candidate. It's Chute that's under the single chair-- right? The liftline under the Wildcat summit chair's pretty steep and direct. When I'm thinking narrow, I'm thinking like that trail Castlerock shown on a different thread.

 

[deadheadskier]

Face chutes would be a good call, though not very long. I had thought of Black Diamond as well. UN at Jay and Starr at Stowe might fit his criteria some, but neither are as narrow as Misery Whip.

 

[fixedgrip16]

Doesn't have to be as narrow as Misery Whip-- that's real narrow. Seen Starr in the summer. You like the Front Four DHSkier?

 

[deadheadskier]

I like Starr and Goat. Liftline and National are meh except on warm spring days. I think my favorite might be #5 Lookout

 

[fixedgrip16]

I've got to get over there this year. Starr and Goat have always had a pretty bad ass reputation. Starr looked wicked steep when I saw it one summer peering over the toll road. Goat looked like a workout also. At least what I could see from the Octagon Rest.

 

[Philpug]

I will repeat Fall Line at MRG.

 

[riverc0il]

Straight's not key well except with some things:lol: so maybe Fall Line at MRG might be considered a candidate. It's Chute that's under the single chair-- right? The liftline under the Wildcat summit chair's pretty steep and direct. When I'm thinking narrow, I'm thinking like that trail Castlerock shown on a different thread.

I wouldn't call any of those trails steep or narrow by a long margin. Castlerock liftline is steep and narrow at the very top but it relents and windens so also not a viable candidate given the characteristics.

Steep, straight, and narrow probably brings most to mind the steepest of lift lines. Magic's Red Line would be pretty near the top of the list. Not sure how steep Smuggs liftline is but from what I gather, it probably would also be a candidate. Most of the steepest trails I know are either not narrow or not straight so this is a tough triple criteria that rules out most trails that might be in contention for two out of three of the characteristics specified.

 

[riverc0il]

Fall Line is wide, not steep, and turny. It fails all three characteristics. Goat at Stowe would be a good consideration but it has turns near the bottom though the top part from the Octogon to the cut in via Liftline is a perfect candicate for this thread. Since Stowe renamed all their trails to triple their trail count, I think "Upper Goat" matches up well with Red Line at Magic for the two leading contenders that I have skied (haven't skied those nominated from Loaf but seen pictures and the Whip seems spot on). Nothing else at Stowe comes to mind, the other trails on the front are all pretty wide.

I am going to have to dissent on the nominations from Jay as well. Face Chute is not exactly narrow and Tuckerman Chutes aren't exactly straight shots. UN is narrow and straight but not overly steep.

I will admit, my definitions of steep and narrow may not match up with other people's but use Red Line at Magic and Upper Goat at Stowe as examples of where I am bench marking from.

 

[fixedgrip16]

Yeah I guess looking up at that pic of Castlerock makes it look steeper than it actually is. As to MRG, haven't skied there but I'd read in one article or another that Chute and Fall Line were quite challenging. And that section at the top of Wildcat right under the chair has some decent pitch-- nothing more than the Loaf but still good. From what I've gathered in Vt. the Front Four esp. Starr/Goat have best for steeps/length. Glen Ellen has Double Diamond. Magic's Red Line (read Magic was steep somewhere) Smuggs looks like its got some stuff at the top looking pretty steep and direct. . .

 

[riverc0il]

Good call on Double Diamond at Bush. Never skied it but I drolled on it profusely a few years back during spring skiing at Ellen.... but alas it was closed.

 

[riverc0il]

The trail under the triple at Wildcat would be close.... Feline. it is just a tad short in the steep category... but it is one of the narrowest on map trails in New England for sure. It is a liftline, so definitely straight. Half the width of Red Line but not as steep.

How steep is Spillesville at Bush? I can't remember specifically but I remember that being narrow and steep despite being short.

 

[fixedgrip16]

You think Ellen's steeper overall than Sugarbush proper?

 

[fixedgrip16]

Here's a recent pic (I think) of Magic from their website. Looks nice. . .

 

[Greg]

Magic's Red Line would be pretty near the top of the list

Broomstick at Magic is Misery Whip width, but nowhere near as steep as the headwall of the Whip.

How steep is Spillesville at Bush? I can't remember specifically but I remember that being narrow and steep despite being short.

Spills is a great run. Pretty steep, but nothing crazy. Probably Ripcord steepness.

 

[SLyardsale]

The triple criteria: steep, staright, narrow, does make it tough for me to pin down others. The Whip at Sugarloaf does fit - and while we lament the wind at Sugarloaf, that NW wind flow blows New England meritage powder onto that thing on a regular basis, which, unbelievably makes it a tasty choice more often than one would think.

 

[BushMogulMaster]

You think Ellen's steeper overall than Sugarbush proper?

Not overall, simply based on the fact that there is less terrain overall at Ellen. Lincoln Peak and Mt. Ellen both have some fantastic steeps (Stein's, Paradise, Upper Liftline, Upper Rumble, Black Diamond, FIS, Exterm, Bravo headwall, Hammerhead headwall, etc.).

Ellen does have the steepest sustained pitches at Sugarbush (FIS and Black Diamond, both have 300 foot horizontal sections >33 degrees, and average about 28-30).

 

[fixedgrip16]

How 'bout Black Hole, Upper liftline, Freefall at Smuggs? Anyone skied those? Black Hole's the East's only triple black.