From both the top and the bottom, this simply looks like a north-facing treed aspect, but as you prepare to drop, you may see a few small orange signs warning you of cliffs ahead. Hidden beneath the towering pine trees on the side of this ridge is a formidable cliff band, measuring about 30-40 feet high. For aggressive skiers, it may be possible to drop these cliffs in good conditions, but the landing zones are minimal.

Most skiers choose to thread their way between the rocky outcroppings in an attempt to keep their skis on the ground. Narrow chutes between the cliffs offer obvious—but technical—lines.

These chutes are home to some of the steepest skiable lines on Monarch Mountain. Since they rest between two cliff faces, snow tends to sluff off the cliffs and into the chutes, helping fill them in quickly and keep them skiing well. However, since this face is below treeline, don’t expect wide-open straight line options—instead, expect to thread your way between small trees and rock faces as you work your way down the mountain. Depending on with chute you choose, you could be faced with a tight choke point, only increasing the technicality of the line.

Once out of the chute, the steepness continues, and you may be able to score a section of small, pillowy drops. Keep your speed up after the drops, as you’ll have to cross a flat zone to reach the cat track traverse out of Mirkwood Basin.