A-Basin ski instructor dies in Steamboat tree well

[Marc_C]

I've never seen tree wells in a pine tree forest only in the Evergreens.

Pine trees are evergreens, as are firs and spruces. Evergreen is an idiom, with no botanical meaning.

 

[Tony Crocker]

those are percentage gradients and not degrees, correct?

I'm sure. This is common practice among ski areas that don't have much extreme terrain to quote gradient instead of degrees.

I am not impressed with the trees on the front side of Vail. Way too dense in the NW sector with good pitch. I have not seen Blue Sky Basin; the trees rate to be better there. I haven't skied enough at Winter Park or Beaver Creek to compare.

 

[EMSC]

I am not impressed with the trees on the front side of Vail. Way too dense in the NW sector with good pitch. I have not seen Blue Sky Basin; the trees rate to be better there. I haven't skied enough at Winter Park or Beaver Creek to compare.

Best front side trees at Vail are in the Northwoods area (along with cliffs; It can be fun in there). Best overall trees at Vail are in Blue Sky. A number of different pitches and decently extensive. One could also argue that Mongolia Bowls have decent tree skiing - though a bit of a pain to get to...

Winter Park does have some decent trees - mostly on Mary Jane side and Eagle Wind lift (a couple small sections of decent on WP side, though nothing extensive).

Beaver Creek

Interestingly, I've never found the tree skiing to be all that spectacular at BC. Though I also don't have a ton of mid-season days there either (mostly early season around world cup time). I do know that I find the stuff skiers left off Grouse to be too tight (and those I think are the signature steep glades for BC).

On a relative basis though, my top tree skiing places (so far) would be Heavenly and Bachelor.

 

[Tony Crocker]

On a relative basis though, my top tree skiing places (so far) would be Heavenly and Bachelor.

Yes, those trees are better than Colorado (also Baldy/Waterman when there's enough snow) but the Kootenays, Selkirks and Monashees are the gold standard of tree skiing IMHO.

 

[longshanks]

On a relative basis though, my top tree skiing places (so far) would be Heavenly and Bachelor.

Yes, those trees are better than Colorado (also Baldy/Waterman when there's enough snow) but the Kootenays, Selkirks and Monashees are the gold standard of tree skiing IMHO.

FULL agreement here - one could argue that Red Mountain has the best tree skiing on the PLANET! with Poochie Trees & War Eagle Trees on Red and The Powder Fields, Pale Face, Jumbo, Bombshack Trees, The Orchards, Hans Run, Coolers, Doug's Run, Beer Belly, Capt. Jack's Trees, Roots, Roots Meadow, Maggie's Farm, Mini Bowls, etc.etc. on Granite...Yup, you could say they have some tree runs. If you don't like trees don't go there...

 

[Tony Crocker]

one could argue that Red Mountain has the best tree skiing on the PLANET!

I agree. For lift service tree skiing, Red Mt. is #1. It would be nice if it were a little higher and got more snow though.

I was disappointed in Revelstoke's trees considering what the Selkirk cat/heli places have. Somehow they are noticeably denser on Mt. MacKenzie.

 

[longshanks]

one could argue that Red Mountain has the best tree skiing on the PLANET!

I agree. For lift service tree skiing, Red Mt. is #1. It would be nice if it were a little higher and got more snow though.

I was disappointed in Revelstoke's trees considering what the Selkirk cat/heli places have. Somehow they are noticeably denser on Mt. MacKenzie.

Yes, RMR needs to do some Glading especially in the Ripper Chair Area - Powder Monkey & Back 40 are thick - Glades of Glory is better. I did like the trees in the South Bowl more and was impressed with what I found from Clyde's all the way skier's left to the outer edge of Jalepeno where they noticably tighten up. On this last visit, I met a Pro-Patroller/Photographer who works in the Glading crew in Summers and he says they are working at opening some areas up. It must be a tough job given the terrain and the bugs etc.

 

[Killclimbz]

I've never seen tree wells in a pine tree forest only in the Evergreens.

Pine trees are evergreens, as are firs and spruces. Evergreen is an idiom, with no botanical meaning.

Thanks man, I meant Aspens...

I'm surprised I didn't take a bigger flogging over that one... :dead horse: