Blue Terry Peak, SD
Empress drops 954 vertical feet over 3,996 feet of skiing, with a steepest pitch of 22° about 2,070 feet below the top. That's steeper than 52% of the 5,615 blue runs we've measured in North America, and the 15th steepest of 26 named runs at Terry Peak. It faces east.
Facing east at an average 14°, Empress gets about 100% of the winter sun that flat ground at Terry Peak does, December through March. That's sunnier than 71% of the runs we've measured, and the 2nd sunniest named run at Terry Peak. Its top sits at 6,970 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.