Average Route Difficulty Rating

Our route difficulty rating is automatically generated based on slope angle, slope type, tree density, ascent type, exit difficulty, ascent mileage and vertical gain. These are then averaged together to produce the average difficulty rating based on the resort system of green, blue, black, and double black. Read below for descriptions for each degree of difficulty and how each category is broken down.

Slope Angle
Green = Anything less than 25 degrees
Blue = 25-35 degrees
Black = 35-45 degrees
Double Black = 45+ degrees

Slope Type
Green = This starts at blue difficulty.
Blue = Anything that does not require skiing a chute or couloir.
Black = If it has a chute, gully, or glacier.
Double Black = If it has a couloir.

Tree Density
Green = None.
Blue = Sparse.
Black = Nicely spaced.
Double Black = Dense and Super Dense.

Ascent Type
Green = Lift Access, Snowmobile.
Blue = Bootpack, Skin, Bike.
Black = Easy Crampon/snow axe.
Double Black = Technical Climbing.

Exit
Green = Clean.
Blue = N/A.
Black = Sketchy but doable.
Double Black = Rappel or parachute.

Ascent Mileage
Green = 0-1 miles.
Blue = 1-3 miles.
Black = 3-7 miles.
Double Black = 7+ miles.

Vertical Gain
Green = less 1000 ft.
Blue = 1000-2000 ft.
Black = 2000-5000 ft.
Double Black = 5000+ ft.

Avalanche Terrain Rating
Blue = Simple.
Black = Challenging.
Double Black = Complex.

Subscribe to our Guide!