Blue Northstar, CA
Lower Pioneer drops 656 vertical feet over 3,157 feet of skiing, with a steepest pitch of 21° about 1,210 feet below the top. That's steeper than 46% of the 5,615 blue runs we've measured in North America, and the 57th steepest of 90 named runs at Northstar. It faces east.
Facing east at an average 12°, Lower Pioneer gets about 94% of the winter sun that flat ground at Northstar does, December through March. That's sunnier than 65% of the runs we've measured, and the 12th sunniest named run at Northstar. Its top sits at 7,500 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.
under 25°25–35°35–45°45°+ Hover to follow the line on the map.
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.