Blue Bear Valley, CA
Grouse Connection drops 682 vertical feet over 3,126 feet of skiing, with a steepest pitch of 21° about 1,270 feet below the top. That's steeper than 48% of the 5,615 blue runs we've measured in North America, and the 62nd steepest of 74 named runs at Bear Valley. It faces west.
Facing west at an average 13°, Grouse Connection gets about 97% of the winter sun that flat ground at Bear Valley does, December through March. That's sunnier than 68% of the runs we've measured, and the 12th sunniest named run at Bear Valley. Its top sits at 8,490 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.