Description

The most challenging terrain at Monarch is in Mirkwood, accessed via a 15-minute hike up from the top of the Breezeway Lift.

Just when the slog stops being fun, the 11,952-foot summit appears.

Runs down from here are universally steep, with the added challenge of tight trees.

Mexico isn’t on the trail map—it’s just to the right of East Trees.

Access it by heading skier’s right from the summit and traversing past Staircase.

Stay on the lookout for cliff bands and other potential hucks that sneak up on you.

Staircase, East Trees, and Mexico all hover in the mid- to upper 40-degree range.

Finding someone to guide you is handy, since it’s tough to navigate on your own through the trees.