Granny Chutes

Hunkered between Cascade and the uppermost portion of Dick’s Ditch are the Granny Chutes. These tight, meandering chutes are south facing and often rocky due to sun exposure. However, catch them when the snowpack is deep and you’ll find great skiing in this slightly secret stash. On a powder day or corn cycle, hit the Granny Chutes straight from the Bridger Gondola. Begin down Gros Ventre/ Lupine Way (the wide groomed section headed skier’s right from the facilities). Stay to the skier’s right side, and when Lupine Way splits to the right around a corner continue just past the cat track before heading slightly right yourself. The beginning of the Granny Chutes area rolls over gently and blindly, but soon you will find yourself in one of a few tight chutes bordered by rocks. There are a few clean paths through the rock outcroppings, but all of them meander slightly. The chutes are tight, requiring hop-turns at times. For the expert who knows where they’re going, it’s possible to ski the chutes with speed, as the runout is forgiving until careening into the Nez Perce Traverse. The main hazard in the Granny chutes are a usually thin snowpack resulting in rocky conditions, and small willowy trees waiting to trip you.