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Freeriders

Beginners and families will like the fairly flat bottom of Stevens Pass, along with the trails under Blue Jay Chairlift, Brooks Chairlift, and Skyline Express Quad. At the other end of the spectrum, you'll find super steeps serviced by the Double Diamond Chairlift and the 7th Heaven Chairlift, with chutes to the right and cliffs to the left. Some of the cliffs are rideable further down near the Meadows area, providing you know your line and haven't eaten anything beforehand. There are also some adrenaline-inducing lines around the Tye Mill Chairlift, such as Roller Coaster and Tye Bowl. Big Chief Bowl has long, steep shots and cliffs leading toward the expansive powder fields of Showcase. There are some superb tree runs between Double Diamond and Wild Katz, which can be sessioned for hours without taking the same line twice. Over on the backside, similar tree turns beckon around Corona Bowl and in the gullies of Polaris Creek. The rest of the acreage here is open and fairly steep, producing many a mogul to negotiate. After a fat, fresh storm, there are screaming speed runs to be had all over the backside.

Freestylers

The halfpipe is situated in between Marmot Meadows and Skyline. Minimal vertical and an easy transition make it a less daunting practice forum than many other pipes. There is a funpark on the right as you come down Broadway, which is often overcrowded. Jibbers should look for the gullies full of soft fluffy and the natural hits that are spread around the mountain, even in the trees. Check out the possibilities in Polaris Creek.

Carvers

The steep groomers get chopped up quickly so be early for runs like Parachute and International. The backside has some wide cruisers like Aquarius and Orion.

The Nitty Gritty

Elevation:

Summit: 5,845 ft.

Vertical drop: 1,784 ft.

Base: 4,061 ft.

Snowfall:

Annual average: 415 inches

Snowmaking: None

Area:

Total Area: 1,125 acres

Advanced: 35 percent

Intermediate: 54 percent

Beginner: 11 percent

Length of season: November—early April

Number of lifts: 1 high-speed quad, 10 chairlifts

Hazards and Rules: Retention devices are required. If you poach the boundary trees on the backside, don't cut right or you'll be post-holing back to the lift. Washington law allows for some backcountry hiking. Check with officials before setting out.

Snowboard School: Contact Stevens Pass Snowboard School at 360-973-2508 for rates and programs. There are also independent, snowboard-only schools worth checking out.