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Nova

Blue Heavenly, CA

Steepest pitch18°
Vertical318 ft
Length1,541 ft
Average pitch12°
FacesN
Top8,962 ft

Nova drops 318 vertical feet over 1,541 feet of skiing, with a steepest pitch of 18° about 990 feet below the top. That's steeper than 28% of the 5,615 blue runs we've measured in North America, and the 102nd steepest of 124 named runs at Heavenly. It faces north.

How well Nova holds snow

Snow preservationGood

Facing north at an average 12°, Nova gets about 65% of the winter sun that flat ground at Heavenly does, December through March. That's shadier than 78% of the runs we've measured, and the 32nd shadiest named run at Heavenly. Its top sits at 8,960 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.

Nova profile

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

Where it is on the mountain

Runs like Nova elsewhere

Nearby at Heavenly

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.