Blue Northstar, CA
The Islands drops 1,093 vertical feet over 4,202 feet of skiing, with a steepest pitch of 24° about 2,360 feet below the top. That's steeper than 68% of the 5,615 blue runs we've measured in North America, and the 38th steepest of 90 named runs at Northstar. It faces west.
Facing west at an average 15°, The Islands gets about 92% of the winter sun that flat ground at Northstar does, December through March. That's sunnier than 63% of the runs we've measured, and the 16th sunniest named run at Northstar. Its top sits at 8,040 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.