Arguably the best terrain in the universe accessable by chairlift, the terrain of KT has a repetition for being super rad. On storm days this is where it all goes down. On powder mornings the race for the fingers is one of the greatest spectacles in skiing. But the fingers are not the only highlight of KT. Althought you need to find many of the lines yourself, we’ve listed some of the more easily found and fun ones.
- Chute 75: – Sometimes corniced at the top, – it’s a straight chute down to Time Square on Mountain Run. A rock band makes up the left wall and a tree band makes up the right. It is somewhat shaped like a natural half pipe. The top of the chute will sometimes slide, leaving the top bare and the bottom with big VW size mounds. Nonetheless, a must ski run – always worth it.
- Tip: Get in there first thing before it has time to be skied out.
- Location: Take a right off KT chairlift and then go straight. It is skiers left of the trees.
- Red Dog Ridge: – Nicely spaced old growth pines at a sustained 35 pitch make for some ultra fun high speed tree skiing when the conditions are right. One of the less intimidating routes down KT, Red Dog Ridge holds powder lines longer than other areas of KT due to its long traverse out.
- Location: Make a left off KT and start traversing out staying tight to Squaw’s boundary line on your right. Go up around Olympic Lady chair unloading dock. If you are getting off Olympic Lady make a left. After you pass O.L. traverse out until you see where it funnels down. After this the trail will curve to the left and you will see the glades ahead of you.
- The Alternates: – Always a safe bet when conditions are good to moderate. The Alternates provide quick laps down kickass terrain that leads you right back to the lift for more runs.
- Location: Take a right from KT and head to the right of the patrol shack. Stay along the ridge with GS bowl just to your left. You will see tracks leading back to the Nose just after the traverse makes a leftward bend. Start to ski down the Nose and the Alternates will be on your left hand side just beyond the woods.
- The Fingers: – The infamous Fingers refers to the cliff band located just to lookers right of where KT Chair makes its first steep assent. You would be an idiot not to see it. On powder days when the line for KT is backed up nicely, the lucky few with seats on the first chairs have the pleasure of racing down to hit drops ranging from 20 to 60 feet before the landing zone gets all bombed out.
- Location: Follow the chairlift line down or take the Nose and make a right as you exist.
- Eagles Nest/McConkey’s: Eagles Nest was recently renamed after one of Squaw’s favorite sons and skiing super hero, Shane McConkey. It’s Super steep with what is usually a 10 to 20 foot mandatory air to exit. Eagles Nest is one of the more extreme section of lines at Squaw. Located just left of – KT unloading. If you are going to ski it you better know it. It’s peppered with rocks that are usually dangerous shark fins. (just barely under the snow)
- Location: Make a left off KT just when you come around the corner.- Take your skis off and start hiking up to your immediate left.
