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Lake Chutes Traverse / Peak 8 Summit Ridge

Breckenridge

Salida

Ridge accessed from hiking to the top of Peak 8

Freeride Skiing Easy

Distance
939 m
Ascent
0 m
Descent
141 m
Low Point
3.8 km
High Point
4 km
Gradient
18˚
Lake Chutes Traverse / Peak 8 Summit Ridge Map

To get here, you must take the Imperial Super Chair and hike to the true summit of Peak 8 (10-20 minute hike depending on personal physical fitness level. Note the altitude is especially severe at this elevation of almost 13,000 feet!). Then, go skiers' right and going past the Lake Chutes sign is the official start of the ridge.

Description

While the ridge itself is relatively boring, you can access all of the extreme double black diamond Lake Chutes (Easy Street, 9 Lives, Zero Chute, Crazy Ivan I, Crazy Ivan II, Vertical Cornice, and Zoot Chute, Elevator Chute, Spine Line, Wacky's Chute, and Dwarves), all of which require cornice entries, and contain some really technical skiing. Please note that depending on snow conditions and how much speed you carry, there could potentially be a slight uphill section if you desire to get to Spine Line, Wacky's Chute, and Dwarves.

If you want, you can continue skiing past Wacky's Chute and you'll come to a sign that says "Snow White". Snow White is a extreme double black diamond bowl that begins with a mandatory cornice drop and then bumped up turns (not nearly as challenging as the Lake Chutes, think of Imperial Bowl but with a corniced entry!). Coming to Snow White signifies the end of the ridge contained in Breckenridge, but of course, you can continue further and further down until you eventually leave the ski boundary. Eventually, the ridge will start going uphill, leading to the Summit of Peak 9 (unless you're comitted to an extremely grueling out of bounds hike, it's best to drop in before this point). Just note that the further you traverse this ridge, not only are you going further and further from the resort boundary, but you'll have an increasingly painstakingly irritating walk back to 6 Chair.

As for the ridge itself, it's actually never groomed (which is extremely bizarre as typically, ridge runs are groomed) so expect some large moguls to form late into the season! It's nothing more than a necessary traverse one must take to access some of the best and most extreme terrain Breckenridge has to offer!

Difficulty

Easy

Wide gentle slopes at around 20 degrees or less.

Low Exposure (E1)

1 out of 4

Exposure is limited to that of the slope itself. Getting hurt is still likely if the slope is steep and/or the snow is hard.

Remoteness

1 out of 4

Close to help in case of emergency.

Best time to visit

between January and April

Features

  • Walk Required

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