home of the Pure Awesomeness Factor Better Data, Better Skiing

Powder Keg

Black diamond A-Basin, CO

Steepest pitch34°
Vertical505 ft
Length1,899 ft
Average pitch16°
FacesE
Top12,038 ft

Powder Keg drops 505 vertical feet over 1,899 feet of skiing, with a steepest pitch of 34° about 520 feet below the top. That's steeper than 82% of the 4,740 black diamond runs we've measured in North America, and the 73rd steepest of 161 named runs at A-Basin. It faces east.

How well Powder Keg holds snow

Snow preservationBelow average

Facing east at an average 16°, Powder Keg gets about 99% of the winter sun that flat ground at A-Basin does, December through March. That's sunnier than 70% of the runs we've measured, and the 33rd sunniest named run at A-Basin. Its top sits at 12,040 feet.

With little slope to hide behind, it takes nearly the full winter sun of open ground: powder settles and turns heavy sooner after a storm, and spring snow softens early. Shading from ridges and trees isn't counted yet.

Powder Keg profile

under 25°25–35°35–45°45°+ Hover to follow the line on the map.

Where it is on the mountain

Runs like Powder Keg elsewhere

Nearby at A-Basin

Measured by ZRankings from 1-meter USGS lidar. Steepest pitch is the steepest stretch of about 50 vertical feet along the skiable line. Run lines come from OpenStreetMap and can sit a little off the skied path.