Breakneck Face

Breakneck is a run often highlighted by movie companies and professional riders, but should not be attempted by anyone who is not ready. This line is highly consequential, contains mandatory airs, difficult route finding, and is a slope that often avalanches. For those looking for this sort of excitement and challenge, this slope is quite easy to access. Beginning at the base of the Powder 8 Bootpack, roll over eastward and you’ll find yourself in Breakneck terrain. There are a couple standard routes through this zone that minimize both slough and air time but will vary based on snowpack. The two most popular options are to traverse skier’s right to left starting in the middle of the slope, following a narrow diagonal ramp between cliff bands and avoiding the largest sections of cliffs, or to descend more fall line from the skier’s right (more committing and mandatory airs). For those keen to ski the line, the best way to go about it is to scope the face from the bottom of the Four Pines Bootpack, which begins at the base of Breakneck. Heads up as this slope takes a lot of sun and is often a shallower snowpack than other areas nearby. These factors along with steepness equal prime avalanche terrain.