Black diamond Alta, UT
Back Forty drops 786 vertical feet over 2,407 feet of skiing, with a steepest pitch of 42° about 720 feet below the top. That's steeper than 98% of the 4,740 black diamond runs we've measured in North America, and the 19th steepest of 117 named runs at Alta. It faces west.
Facing west at an average 21°, Back Forty gets about 97% of the winter sun that flat ground at Alta does, December through March. That's sunnier than 68% of the runs we've measured, and the 27th sunniest named run at Alta. Its top sits at 10,360 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.
under 25°25–35°35–45°45°+ Hover to follow the line on the map.
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.