home of the Pure Awesomeness Factor Better Data, Better Skiing

The Chute

Blue Northstar, CA

Steepest pitch26°
Vertical498 ft
Length2,114 ft
Average pitch14°
FacesNW
Top8,293 ft

The Chute drops 498 vertical feet over 2,114 feet of skiing, with a steepest pitch of 26° about 240 feet below the top. That's steeper than 80% of the 5,615 blue runs we've measured in North America, and the 28th steepest of 90 named runs at Northstar. It faces northwest.

How well The Chute holds snow

Snow preservationGood

Facing northwest at an average 14°, The Chute gets about 69% of the winter sun that flat ground at Northstar does, December through March. That's shadier than 72% of the runs we've measured, and the 21st shadiest named run at Northstar. Its top sits at 8,290 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.

The Chute profile

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

Where it is on the mountain

Runs like The Chute 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.