The primary line in the East Trees descends an open face that’s actually a slabby rock cliff, with a maximum steepness of 40°. Unfortunately, it takes a lot of snow to fill in this line, as the snow that does accumulate has a tendency to sluff off the rock face.

If you do decide to take the obvious line, be aware that it’s easy to break the slab loose, even if it looks secure. While this may not cause a significant slide to occur, if you’re unused to skiing unstable snow and technical terrain, it could cause a crash or injury.

Even though Mirkwood Basin is technically avalanche-controlled, unmarked hazards do exist, and it’s still possible to cause a significant in-bounds slide if you’re not careful. As the signs at the base of the hike advise, it’s always best to ski or ride with a partner, carry standard avalanche gear, and know how to use it.