quicksilver1689

I have been "eye balling" silverton for awaile now, looks like a lot of fun like big mountain riding with a chair lift, how steep is the terrain ? thats what im curious too, i dont want to waste money and a trip trying to ride lines out of my ability. I am able to confidently ride blacks which doesnt mean much since resorts rate trails based on the mountain as a whole. I have ridden a few double blacks but they had very deep moguls almost trenches dug into them so it was pretty crappy trying to ride them. what do you guys think whove been to silverton?

killclimbz

Silverton's lowest angle terrain is 38 degrees I believe. At the hight end excluding cliffs, it's around 60 degrees. That's 'effin steep. I can only count a handful of times I have been on something that steep. I think you can expect an average angle somewhere between 40-45 degrees for most runs.
Now then the big question is are you doing guided or unguided? I believe unguided starts in early April this year.

quicksilver1689

guided for sure, judging by the pictures and research ive done it looks like silverton is a mountain where if unguided and educated about its terrain i could get in over my head very fast. yeah 60 degrees is very steep, 40-45 is like your average steep black/double black? trying to visualize steep terrain ive rode and put it into degrees but i cant really get a good idea. If i got a guide im sure he could take me to the "easier" terrain. I just want to have fun and not push my luck messing with dangerous lines

killclimbz

I would say that most black terrain tops out at 40 degrees. Anything truly double black should be over 40 but I find it's not always the case. I would say most runs are not fall and you die runs at Silverton. Sure they have a few, but you should know what you are getting yourself into. You also do a fair amount of hiking based on your groups skill level. The lowest common denominator rules there. So it is very advantageous for you to have group of similar ability and goals.
don't expect a lot of laps either. 5 runs is the average day at that place. Their guiding is overly cautious to the point of ridiculous. Anyone who knows how to travel in the backcountry usually get pissed at the guides.
For $50 to $100 more, you can get on a snowcat trip on Molass Pass. There are some steeps there, and not so steep terrain. You'll also get a lot more vertical in your day too.

Mr. Right

If you are looking for a little steep, lift accessable BC-ish terrain in that region of Colorado Wolf Creek is a great option. Sounds like youd be spending a lot of your time in the waterfall area from what you sound like you're looking for. Me, I haven't been to Silverton, from what I've heard it sounds like it exceeds my abilities and desires. That mountain is definitely not for the beginner or even intermediate rider as far as I've been told, you best be pretty well on your shit especially if they haven't seen snow for a short time and get a little carved up.

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quicksilver1689

yeah i havent been to wolf creek but almost every local ive met in southern colorado reccomends that i give it a try. Ill have to look more into silverton and see if its going to work out, yeah these site has good info, 5-8 runs is about usual most terrain is in the range from 15-45 min of hiking along the ridgeline. I want something epic to remember but i want it to be enjoyable riding where i dont feel like im on the very edge. maybe im being a little too paranoid about getting in over my head. Im not at the 30ft cliff hucking level.

killclimbz

You don't have to do any runs that have "mandatory" air there if you don't want. In all honesty it's still a ski area. That means there is a high level of access to advanced riders an up. If you classify yourself as an advanced or expert rider, and are correct in that classification, I doubt you'll have any problems. That place doesn't worry me at all, it's the guided part that bothers me. Mostly because I have backcountry training and I've heard about their guiding style. It would piss me off. I may go down there in April for unguided to check it out. Still tossing that one around.