We ranked our favorite mountains for steep chutes and extreme terrain.
We want our double black diamonds to point down with a steep incline.
Here are our picks of the best.
The Peak at Crested Butte is a well known ass kicker. Butte is famous for very steep chutes. It is their forte and pride.
They officially claim 23% beginner, 57 % intermediate and 20% advanced.
Not sure who did this accounting but I couldn't dissagree more.
Perhaps they don't want to scare people.
The vast majority of the upper mountain is double black diamond steep chutes. You won't get to it all in one day. I LOVE IT!
"Big Couloir" is a 42 degree, 1,400 plus vertical foot, rock lined chute on the peak of "Lone Mountain". One at a time, please. To get there take the Lone Peak Tram. "The Gullies" is also available from the same tram.
If that doesn't do it for you, look for the 50 degree "Castro's Shoulder" also on the same peak. It's all steep off this peak.
It has only one, two seater
chair lift installed in 2002
and requires traversing or hiking to reach many of the runs.
While much of Silverton Mountain resembles back country skiing
and is ungroomed, it is avalanche controlled.
This is NOT a luxury resort and hosts a wood stove heated portable
tent/building structure as its "lodge".
You can rent the required avalanche beacon, shovel, avalanche probe and knapsack.
The 2008 season will introduce heliskiing for $150.00 per drop. This sure beats the long hikes to fresh powder.
Open Thursday through Sunday.
Ski "Drop Out" under lift 23 or "Avalanche Chutes" off of lift 22 for a variety of steep chutes.
"Avalanche Chutes" are sure to give you a rush. While not technically chutes, the runs at the top of the mountain (top of gondola) are also steep and challenging.
This mountain has copious quantities of challenging terrain for the advanced skier.
The lifts near town are the quickest way there. The traditional steep chutes can be found on runs such as "Dihedral Chute" on "Black Iron Bowl" off of lift 12 (Prospect Lift) plus a hike.
The Peak at Crested Butte is a well known ass kicker. Butte is famous for very steep chutes. It is their forte and pride.
They officially claim 23% beginner, 57 % intermediate and 20% advanced.
Not sure who did this accounting but I couldn't dissagree more.
Perhaps they don't want to scare people.
The vast majority of the upper mountain is double black diamond steep chutes. You won't get to it all in one day. I LOVE IT!
