The Tusk

Out of all the rockslides in Smugglers Notch, The Tusk is the longest and the most fun. The Tusk gets its name due to its shape and proximity to the Elephant’s Head rock feature. There are a few ways to approach from lifts, but these are not favorable and you have no sense of the conditions. It is much safer to approach from below, so you can assess stability and snow conditions. The Tusk begins with a long winding rock chute, often completely untracked. The first 500 feet are usually the highlight of the journey. About half way down there is a choke that sometimes has an ice flow, but nothing too technical. The bottom half is somewhat uneventful until you reach the Notch. From there you can take the Notch Road back to the resort parking lot. Be warned! The Tusk is considered avalanche terrain and should be treated like a western backcountry tour. Ski one at a time and don’t stop anywhere that looks like a slide path.