Black diamond Vail, CO
Challenge drops 535 vertical feet over 2,085 feet of skiing, with a steepest pitch of 35° about 1,440 feet below the top. That's steeper than 84% of the 4,740 black diamond runs we've measured in North America, and the 17th steepest of 194 named runs at Vail. It faces northeast.
Facing northeast at an average 15°, Challenge gets about 70% of the winter sun that flat ground at Vail does, December through March. That's shadier than 71% of the runs we've measured, and the 69th shadiest named run at Vail. Its top sits at 10,760 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.