home of the Pure Awesomeness Factor Better Data, Better Skiing

Big Dipper

Blue Burke Mountain, VT

Steepest pitch26°
Vertical880 ft
Length3,762 ft
Average pitch14°
FacesNW
Top2,558 ft

Big Dipper drops 880 vertical feet over 3,762 feet of skiing, with a steepest pitch of 26° about 850 feet below the top. That's steeper than 85% of the 5,615 blue runs we've measured in North America, and the 19th steepest of 56 named runs at Burke Mountain. It faces northwest.

How well Big Dipper holds snow

Snow preservationExcellent

Facing northwest at an average 14°, Big Dipper gets about 64% of the winter sun that flat ground at Burke Mountain does, December through March. That's shadier than 80% of the runs we've measured, and the 29th shadiest named run at Burke Mountain. Its top sits at 2,560 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.

Big Dipper profile

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

Where it is on the mountain

Runs like Big Dipper elsewhere

Nearby at Burke Mountain

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.