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Drifter

Blue Northstar, CA

Steepest pitch21°
Vertical1,115 ft
Length4,869 ft
Average pitch13°
FacesW
Top7,900 ft

Drifter drops 1,115 vertical feet over 4,869 feet of skiing, with a steepest pitch of 21° about 1,630 feet below the top. That's steeper than 48% of the 5,615 blue runs we've measured in North America, and the 53rd steepest of 90 named runs at Northstar. It faces west.

How well Drifter holds snow

Snow preservationBelow average

Facing west at an average 13°, Drifter gets about 103% of the winter sun that flat ground at Northstar does, December through March. That's sunnier than 75% of the runs we've measured, and the 7th sunniest named run at Northstar. Its top sits at 7,900 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.

Drifter profile

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

Where it is on the mountain

Runs like Drifter elsewhere

Nearby at Northstar

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.