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Upper Kaniksu

Black diamond Schweitzer, ID

Steepest pitch34°
Vertical601 ft
Length1,565 ft
Average pitch23°
FacesNE
Top6,369 ft

Upper Kaniksu drops 601 vertical feet over 1,565 feet of skiing, with a steepest pitch of 34° about 220 feet below the top. That's steeper than 81% of the 4,740 black diamond runs we've measured in North America, and the 27th steepest of 98 named runs at Schweitzer. It faces northeast.

How well Upper Kaniksu holds snow

Snow preservationExcellent

Facing northeast at an average 23°, Upper Kaniksu gets about 63% of the winter sun that flat ground at Schweitzer does, December through March. That's shadier than 81% of the runs we've measured, and the 23rd shadiest named run at Schweitzer. Its top sits at 6,370 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.

Upper Kaniksu profile

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

Where it is on the mountain

Runs like Upper Kaniksu elsewhere

Nearby at Schweitzer

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.