Black diamond Bear Valley, CA
Big John drops 670 vertical feet over 2,807 feet of skiing, with a steepest pitch of 24° about 2,200 feet below the top. That's steeper than 18% of the 4,740 black diamond runs we've measured in North America, and the 51st steepest of 74 named runs at Bear Valley. It faces west.
Facing west at an average 14°, Big John gets about 96% of the winter sun that flat ground at Bear Valley does, December through March. That's sunnier than 67% of the runs we've measured, and the 13th sunniest named run at Bear Valley. Its top sits at 8,470 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.