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

[fixedgrip16]

Very true. I'll definately be hitting that when I go over there this season. Read here or heard somewhere Dark Wizard glades are awesome and by all rights "must ski." The old T-bar line's wider than the whip at the Loaf but similar steepness, length. Actually, now that I think about it, the new trail might be a lot like #3-Tbar line at the Loaf. That's a closed trail because of the lift but when/if the lift's closed on a powder day. . . . . Just curious, have you or has anyone heard anything about skiing Saddleback's backside snowfields?

 

[tipsdown]

Dark Wizard is an absolute must ski. It's the most gnarly glade in the East IMO. Another glade there Intimidator is a close second. Get Dark Wizard from the summit. It's unmarked from this access point but there's a little goat path to the left of the new Quad that dumps you into the top of it. Look carefully and you'll find it.

I actually hit Saddleback's backside snowfields last year in the February timeframe I believe. It was an amazing experience. The problem is we had to hike back up as we couldn't find a way to get back to the front although we heard it's possible if you take the right route. It's well worth it though. I love the Loaf snowfields when they're open but this definitely has more of a back country feel and the terrain is just as challenging..I also heard that they're going to be "cleaning up" the front side snowfields as they continue to develop. There's 2 new trails going in skier's right of Warden's Worry and I think they'll clear somewhat of a path down from the snowfields there. There's also a gladed patch that's unmarked that you can dump out onto from the snowfields in between Warden's and one of the new trails.

 

[fixedgrip16]

I've always wondered about the front and backside snowfields there. I remember seeing that patch your talking about to skiers right of "powderkeg--" that's the name I recall for the trail skiers right of "Tight Line" or "Broncobuster" Send me a pm if you want to go turn a few over there when it's good---I live a half hour away. It'd be fun to explore some of the routes above the new chair.

 

[riverc0il]

Another Trail you can add to this list is new for this season at Saddleback. It's the old T-Bar line where they have installed a new Quad. The name of the trail is Artula. It's barely been widened and it's straight, very steep, and very narrow and it's about 1000 vertical ft. It won't be groomed either….

Nice to hear that is on the map now. At least there is some benefit to installing a quad other than the long term viability of the mountain Though I would not consider that trail "very steep". It was steep for a t-bar but it would not be very steep for a trail.

 

[NHpowderhound]

Diagonal Gully- Huntington Ravine, Mt. Washington, NH
http://www.bridgefootcottage.co.uk/...ointour/skitracksseeninthisgullyhellslum.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fe5qKISGF1I

((*
*))NHPH

 

[loafer89]

Unless I missed it reading through this thread, Muleskinner at Saddleback should be up for consideration IMO. Unfortunatley now it will be serviced by a quad chair and have 1,001 people on it.

 

[Starter Jackets Rule!]

"CHURCH"@dabush!!!
cliff @smuggs

 

[rocojerry]

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.

Last st pats, I was on sugarbush's mt ellen... and Double Black Diamond called out to me as I rode up that chair... I think the mountain was laughing at me, 'you won't do it'... I don't even really remember a time feeling intimidated by a pitch (or soo many bumps on a narrow, steep pitch)... On a snowboard, hop turning from bump to bump Double Diamond was awesome... Probably one of my toughest workouts of the year, and definately steepest pitch of last year for me (aside from some freefall )

Stowe, Smuggs and Saddleback are calling me this year -- hope I get to one or all of em...

 

[Newpylong]

Upper Giant Killer at Pico deserves a worthy mention.

I don't agree about Annapurna. When its bumped up its a workout but its not narrow nor that steep compared to others listed.

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

Unless I missed it reading through this thread, Muleskinner at Saddleback should be up for consideration IMO. Unfortunatley now it will be serviced by a quad chair and have 1,001 people on it.

Interesting that Saddleback took 8 pages of posts before it was mentioned. Muleskinner certainly deserves mention, although it is just under 1000' vertical. The T-bar line has a couple of steep pitches...I reserve judgement until I can get back up there and ski it.

I'm mixed on having that part of the mountain serviced by a chair. I know it's important for viability. I always loved the vibe of that little piece of heaven.

 

[fixedgrip16]

Good point. I'm getting back over there this season. Skied there years ago and recall that t-bar and trails off that x-cut ( used to be Eagle's ledge). . . Nightmare glades. . . 'Course everything's been renamed since then along with numerous improvements in other areas. Sounds like Black Diamond and Freefall have it going on for steeps.

 

[tipsdown]

Muleskinner should definitely be right at the top of the list. Back country at it best...

 

[riverc0il]

Muleskinner should definitely be right at the top of the list. Back country at it best...

I wouldn't rate Muleskinner for this list. It isn't one of the steepest trails around, its not long (though it is a respectable length trail), and it does have a few meandering curves so not completely straight. Definitely not even close to backcountry at any rate.

 

[loafer89]

Muleskinner is unique in that it is so seperated from the rest of the trail system and the treck across Dazzler makes it a challenge to get to. In that way it has a sort of semi-backcountry feel to it.

It's my favorite trail at Saddleback and we make a point to ski it as often as we can during the ski season. Hopefully it never gets touched with snowmaking or grooming.

It's definitely one of the narrowest trails at Saddleback and one that was cut by hand.

 

[tipsdown]

i didn't know straight was a credential. It's narrow and it's quite steep although not the steepest. And with it being completely removed from every other trail and it being au natural, it certainly has a back country feel.

 

[deadheadskier]

Muleskinner is unique in that it is so seperated from the rest of the trail system and the treck across Dazzler makes it a challenge to get to. In that way it has a sort of semi-backcountry feel to it.

It's my favorite trail at Saddleback and we make a point to ski it as often as we can during the ski season. Hopefully it never gets touched with snowmaking or grooming.

It's definitely one of the narrowest trails at Saddleback and one that was cut by hand.

I hate to say this, but if they put in the proposed false peak chair, I'd imagine Muleskinner would get widened and graded. That chair would double or perhaps triple the traffic on the trail. I hope to get up there again when it's open and experience it before it potentially gets ruined.

 

[riverc0il]

Muleskinner is unique in that it is so seperated from the rest of the trail system and the treck across Dazzler makes it a challenge to get to. In that way it has a sort of semi-backcountry feel to it.

Absolutely not. Any one who says Muleskinner has any sort of backcountry feel to it is kidding themselves and probably have not actually skied backcountry. It is hard to feel very much in the backcountry when there is a medic sled at the top of the run and the trail is patrolled. Just because a run is remote and you need to traverse to get to it doesn't mean it feels anything like skiing backcountry. Backcountry is being 100% self reliant and not having ski patrol have your back if you get hurt. Its hiking up, not traversing out. It is needing to ski in a different frame of mind because if you get hurt, you are f'd big time. Muleskinner is a unique trail in the northeast for sure, no doubt. There is nothing even approaching a backcountry feel to that trail. None. And folks that have not done actual backcountry really have no business making the comparison.

 

[riverc0il]

i didn't know straight was a credential. It's narrow and it's quite steep although not the steepest. And with it being completely removed from every other trail and it being au natural, it certainly has a back country feel.

By that definition, East Bowl at Burke has a backcountry feel too. It doesn't but the traverses are similar.

 

[deadheadskier]

Absolutely not. Any one who says Muleskinner has any sort of backcountry feel to it is kidding themselves and probably have not actually skied backcountry. It is hard to feel very much in the backcountry when there is a medic sled at the top of the run and the trail is patrolled. Just because a run is remote and you need to traverse to get to it doesn't mean it feels anything like skiing backcountry. Backcountry is being 100% self reliant and not having ski patrol have your back if you get hurt. Its hiking up, not traversing out. It is needing to ski in a different frame of mind because if you get hurt, you are f'd big time. Muleskinner is a unique trail in the northeast for sure, no doubt. There is nothing even approaching a backcountry feel to that trail. None. And folks that have not done actual backcountry really have no business making the comparison.

note to self

don't ever make the comment that a marked run has a 'back country' feel in the presences of rivercoil :lol:

 

[loafer89]

He is entitled to his own opinion, that does not mean I have to agree with it. It has a back-country feel for me and that is good enough for my satisfaction.

I have skied backcountry in Rocky Mountain National Park, skied Tuckerman and heli skied in B.C so I do have some backcountry experience.