Black diamond Northstar, CA
Surprise drops 480 vertical feet over 1,781 feet of skiing, with a steepest pitch of 24° about 1,150 feet below the top. That's steeper than 18% of the 4,740 black diamond runs we've measured in North America, and the 38th steepest of 90 named runs at Northstar. It faces north.
Facing north at an average 16°, Surprise gets about 63% of the winter sun that flat ground at Northstar does, December through March. That's shadier than 81% of the runs we've measured, and the 7th shadiest named run at Northstar. Its top sits at 7,410 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 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.