Trails

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Permalink Reply by Rick on February 2, 2009 at 8:35pm

If just graduating to blue, my advice would be to concentrate in Wally World (Sunshine lift area, far right side of the trail map). And, to stick to Sundial the first several times to get around the steepest part of Tomahawk.

From the gondola, take Spur Run to the the Sundown Express chair. This is mostly a service road (also refered to as a cat track). There is one moderately steep pitch that is wider, but if you think this is too steep, look to the right and you will see another section of road that avoids the steep part.

Turn right after you get off the Sundown Express chair, and cross past the runout from Sunshine Express chair. Continue straight down that area. Many people will be turning right onto the top of Tomahawk, but there is one moderate and one steep pitch if you go that way. Continue straight on to Sundial the first time. It will bring you back to Tomahawk at the bottom of the steepest pitch. You can then look up at it and decide if you want to come that way the next time.

Tomahawk from there starts with a really fun rolling section, then becomes a beautifu, wide, gentle run of preetty good length. A great place to practice your turns and technique.

After you have mastered that, you can move further to skiers right to Quickdraw. The first section is steeper than Sundial but not as steep as the steepest section of Tomahawk. A few rolls, then another great cruising run.

If you go left off the Sunshine Express chair,, you can get to High Noon. You can either take this by itself, of use it to access Flintlock, and Sunshine Lift Line. If you stay on High Noon it will take you away from the Sunshine chair, unless you turn left at the restaurant and take Spike back to Sunshine.

As for Vagabond, it is a good run, with a few steeper sections (the first section right next to the top of Thunderhead chair is about the steepest). Buddy's Run is another favorite, but again it has a couple steeper sections. I have also always liked Vogue, off the Christie chair.

Stay away from: Surprise and the others that have a black diamond inside the blue square. Surprise is called that because it often looks not too bad where you can see if from Vagabond, but the moguls keep getting bigger as you go along (unless it was just groomed--check the grooming map each morning. Ambassadors hand them out near the gondola every morning).

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Permalink Reply by Gary Nichols on February 3, 2009 at 2:17pm

Rick, thanks so much for the information, it is appreciated and will be helpful.
Gary

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Permalink Reply by Mesa on February 2, 2009 at 10:18pm

Great advice from Rick. Wally's (Sunshine) is great for your level.
For another easy blue loop: Velvet/Skyline to Moonlight than back up the Elkhead lift...repeat.
A blue to avoid: Heavenly Daze. I'm not sure, but I suspect it's called a blue for marketing reasons, but it's pitch is black diamond in several areas. Moreover, it's sometimes called Heavenly Glaze for a good reason.

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Permalink Reply by Gary Nichols on February 3, 2009 at 2:18pm

Mesa, thanks so much for your helpful comments.
Gary

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