Practice Slopes #2

Despite the mellow name, this is consequential terrain. The line tucks under steeper alpine faces, and the north option in particular sits in the firing line of overhead start zones that can run big in storm or warm cycles. Treat every stop and transition with that in mind; don’t linger in the gut or under obvious paths.

Snow can be tricky here. Shaded aspects hang onto cold, faceted surfaces and wind effect, so you’re often dealing with stiff slabs over weak snow or punchy crusts rather than hero powder. It’s rarely worth “just a lap to test things”—if you’re probing stability, do it from safe test slopes with clean runouts, not directly beneath overhead hazard.

From the skintrack, pick your line so you’re minimizing time under the steeper walls above, even if it means a slightly more awkward traverse. Use islands of safety on ribs and small trees, and regroup only where you’re clearly out of any potential run path. This is a short route, but it deserves full route planning, clear communication, and a conservative mindset.