Black diamond Sunlight Mountain, CO
Defiance drops 1,037 vertical feet over 3,220 feet of skiing, with a steepest pitch of 30° about 2,890 feet below the top. That's steeper than 56% of the 4,740 black diamond runs we've measured in North America, and the 27th steepest of 69 named runs at Sunlight Mountain. It faces north.
Facing north at an average 19°, Defiance gets about 53% of the winter sun that flat ground at Sunlight Mountain does, December through March. That's shadier than 90% of the runs we've measured, and the 18th shadiest named run at Sunlight Mountain. Its top sits at 9,420 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.