Black diamond Hemlock Resort, BC
Surprise drops 222 vertical feet over 687 feet of skiing, with a steepest pitch of 37° about 220 feet below the top. That's steeper than 91% of the 4,740 black diamond runs we've measured in North America, and the 5th steepest of 34 named runs at Hemlock Resort. It faces northeast.
Facing northeast at an average 19°, Surprise gets about 70% of the winter sun that flat ground at Hemlock Resort does, December through March. That's shadier than 71% of the runs we've measured, and the 2nd shadiest named run at Hemlock Resort. Its top sits at 4,020 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.
under 25°25–35°35–45°45°+ Hover to follow the line on the map.
Measured by ZRankings from 1-meter lidar from Natural Resources Canada. 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.