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Ambush Glades

Black diamond Big Sky, MT

Steepest pitch24°
Vertical613 ft
Length2,297 ft
Average pitch16°
FacesNW
Top8,374 ft

Ambush Glades drops 613 vertical feet over 2,297 feet of skiing, with a steepest pitch of 24° about 1,340 feet below the top. That's steeper than 19% of the 4,740 black diamond runs we've measured in North America, and the 184th steepest of 290 named runs at Big Sky. It faces northwest.

How well Ambush Glades holds snow

Snow preservationGood

Facing northwest at an average 16°, Ambush Glades gets about 68% of the winter sun that flat ground at Big Sky does, December through March. That's shadier than 74% of the runs we've measured, and the 67th shadiest named run at Big Sky. Its top sits at 8,370 feet.

Shaded snow stays colder and drier, so it holds powder longer after a storm and is slower to crust over or turn to slush in spring. Shading from ridges and trees isn't counted yet.

Ambush Glades profile

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

Where it is on the mountain

Runs like Ambush Glades elsewhere

Nearby at Big Sky

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.