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Why

Black diamond Aspen Highlands, CO

Steepest pitch38°
Vertical355 ft
Length691 ft
Average pitch31°
FacesW
Top10,838 ft

Why drops 355 vertical feet over 691 feet of skiing, with a steepest pitch of 38° about 480 feet below the top. That's steeper than 93% of the 4,740 black diamond runs we've measured in North America, and the 35th steepest of 104 named runs at Aspen Highlands. It faces west.

How well Why holds snow

Snow preservationAverage

Facing west at an average 31°, Why gets about 79% of the winter sun that flat ground at Aspen Highlands does, December through March. That's shadier than 56% of the runs we've measured, and the 66th shadiest named run at Aspen Highlands. Its top sits at 10,840 feet.

It gets an ordinary dose of sun: powder lasts a typical amount of time, and spring snow softens on a normal schedule. Shading from ridges and trees isn't counted yet.

Why profile

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

Where it is on the mountain

Runs like Why elsewhere

Nearby at Aspen Highlands

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.