Fraggle Rock

Ride Date:

28 Dec 21

Snow conditions:

Hard

Avalanche level:

2 - Moderate

Terrain:

Front country

Weather conditions:

Partly Cloudy

Precipitation:

Clear

Elevation entry point:

1700m

Elevation exit point:

1600m

Aspect:

North West

Max slope angle:

Under 30 degrees

Drop in:

Trees

Exit:

Ski out

We’ve ridden this line a few times, always in good visibility, with a decent base of packed powder. It’s a short but sweet line, that feels like you're getting away from the crowds, although you are never far from the marked Crystal Road trail. Whilst it's super easy to access, it's relatively technical, requiring skills to make steep tight turns in the trees in the lower third. If you are unsure if it's for you, then maybe it’s something you seek out on a powder day, as it’ll be a lot easier to control your speed and make the tighter turns towards the bottom.

Access

Access couldn’t be easier. From the top of the Crystal Ridge Express chair, turn left and stop on the right hand side of the trail. Look down to the right of the chairlift line, you will see a prominent knoll, this is your entry point. You’ll want to head down riders right of the groomed trail, then cut left up the left hand side of the knoll. The more speed you carry the less of a push you have to the top. Once on the knoll, head around to the right, this leads you to the back side of the knoll, which is visible from the chair. Here you will find a wide glade with some prominent rocks (depending on snow depth). This is the start of your line, from here you can pick your route down through a few rocks, into tightening trees, eventually dropping down onto the Crystal Road trail.

What 3 Words entry point

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What 3 Words exit point

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Tech

This is inbounds riding so no specialist equipment is required, however given the rocks, trees and gradient, it would make sense to ride with a helmet and a back protector. Personally I don’t head out without my Transceiver, Shovel and Probe, so that makes sense to me too.

Stoke

This doesn’t score super high on the stoke meter as it’s pretty short and quite technical, so you’re unlikely to let it rip. However it feels great when you ride this with flow and it’s even better when chasing down your buddies. I imagine that bouncing down here on a powder day would up the rating a few notches.

Gnar

Depending on your line, you may find a drop or two and even a small cliff, the trees are tight at the bottom, so some caution on your first descent would be wise, that said, you’re unlikely to come to any serious harm here. The steepest gradient is 35-40 degrees but as this is in bounds and often ridden, the base is likely to be well packed and pretty stable.

Awe

On a clear day, it's definitely worth taking a moment to take in the view before dropping in. You can not only see the Blackcomb Valley below but also a plethora of peaks, including Gin & Tonic Mountains, Rainbow Mountain and a hundred more.....