* Vertical drop: 1,500 feet

* Number of runs: 11

* Difficulty rating: Intermediate to advanced

* Why try it: Serves numerous fun runs of differing difficulty

Steep skiing at Solitude

The ride: Skiers and boarders riding this high-speed quad, which rises from the lower base to Eagle Ridge, have options galore for finding a way down. Intermediates have plenty of ways to pick a comfortable route down the mountain while experts have multiple choices to satisfy their desires for steep pitches. There are plenty of opportunities to find fresh or chopped powder among the trees. Tough terrain for beginners. Food available at Sunshine Grill in the mid-mountain Roundhouse.

Runs to try:

* Sunshine Bowl: The main groomed run off the top, it is broad enough that the resort can leave sizable sections as bumps or chopped powder.

* Gary's Glade and Olympia: Before you get to Sunshine Bowl, you can drop down and shoot the not-too-steep gaps between clumps of trees.

* Challenger and Inspiration: They're as steep as any groomed runs around. By the bottom of their big pitches, you can be flying.

* Rumble, Grumble and Stumble: Choose any of these intermediate runs for the return to the lift and you'll find ups and downs, bumps and powder on the edges

* Navarone: Go off the back side, right at the top, and you're in Honeycomb Canyon. Sweet.

- Mike Gorrell