Blue Knob

Upper Mambo Alley-  An easier section of Mambo Alley on the upper part of the mountain.  One of the first trails to open.  A new skier might take the midstation lift back up and do this a couple times before attempting the lower half of Mambo which is slightly more challenging.

Upper Mambo Alley curving into Mid-Mountain.

Lower Mambo Alley- Mambo Alley is a great beginners trail. It is not boring and twists and turns down a ridge to the bottom, combined with Run Out it is quite a long ride.  It is only the 3 mile trail boasted by BK if there is natural snow and you ski a mile or so past the lifts and either hike back up or hitch a ride.  Mambo Alley has several chutes of its sides and it does unfortunatly pass right through the middle of the blue run Expressway. The final pitch at the Triple lift can be a bit challenging, to avoid this, hang the last left and cut to the last dip of Jack Rabbit, which has a shallower final descent.

Looking down Mambo Alley from Mid-Mountain.

Snow Drop - Beginner's Area, wide and shallow with a dedicated lift, completely seperate and safe from the rest of the mountain and advanced skiers.  A great place to learn how to ski.  The ski school offers group and individual lessons of various lengths and costs.  I recently had an excellent experience with the New Generations Ski School whom have an excellent program for young skiers.

Looking down the Snowdrop area.

Upper Route 66- The home of BK's NASTAR course and the signiture run of the Top of the Mountain.  A fun, not-to-steep drop, runs right under the Route 66 double lift.  Racers can take the midstation lift back up or continue on from the mid-mountain which allows access to many trails.  This is one of the first trails to open every year. This trail is almost always groomed. At mid-mountain there is the Mountain Oasis or what the official map calls the Mid-Way Barbeque.  You can catch food here during some events but mostly it houses NASTAR needs and usually has a fire during races and events.

Looking up Upper Route 66, Upper Shortway is what the drop on the left is called. The Mountain Oasis on the right, getting ready to set up for NASTAR races.

Jack Rabbit- A fun cruiser on the far west side of the resort.  It borders many private ski homes and has many paths out to these homes.  The shelf on the left run offers some challenging terrain riding at times like a tight bump line with no exit at times! Keep an eye out for the log 'rasta' shack on the left of the trail.  Runs to the base of the Triple lift.  It starts and ends fairly shallow allthough it has one fairly steep drop, so while it is an easier 'blue' run it does present some challenge.  On a day with natural snow you can access the Triple and Forever Glades off the right of this trail as well as cut over to the very bottom of Mamabo Alley. Runs about 575 vt feet allthough it feels much longer and it is not crossed by other trails or lifts giving it a more isolated feel.  This trail is usually groomed.

Looking up Jack Rabbit. Photo by Jim Keeney.

The 'Rasta' Shack!

Upper Expressway-  Upper part of a nice blue cruiser with a nice pitch.  The different sides of this trail offer fun lines and seem to have unique character.  Feel free to hit some trees on the right side on a nice day, I have seen the trees on the left skied but if I were you I would expect to eat some wood. The conditions on Expressway change, it is usually groomed but is allowed to bump up for a couple days after a snow.  I have seen the grooming team only groom one side for a couple days after a big snow. There are freshies to be had on a powder day for a couple hours. The Triple lift runs up this trail and on the upper portion is centered more on the right of the trail allowing room for larger turns on the left side. The complete trail decends about 575 vt ft.

Looking up Upper Expressway.

Lower Expressway-  Lower half of a great fall line cruiser with consistent pitch.  The trail is cut in half by Mambo Alley, so be careful at this point. Same conditions as Upper Expressway allthough the lift poles seem more centered.  It also descends into the same bowl as Mambo Alley, Laurel Glades, Jack Rabbit and Deer Run so control your speed at the end of the run.

Looking up Lower Expressway.

Looking down Lower Expressway.

Ritchey's Run-  A short chute that connects a bend in Mambo Alley.  It is a fun little drop though and always has natural conditions and is never/rarely groomed.

Looking down Richey's Run.

Looking up at Richey's Run.

Deer Run- A classic fall line BK run.  Home of the Blue Knob race course and program.  The left side and center is groomed and great for fast GS turns and the far right side is usually left to bump up. Nice wide steep trail with a consistent pitch. You can get to Deer Run via the Double Lift midstation or Upper Shortway merges with it. Access Lower Shortway on the right in good conditions for a challenge. Careful at the bottom as the trail merges with 5 others.

Looking at Deer Run from the Triple Lift! Don't worry they groom it sometimes! Photo by jamesj.

Looking over Mambo Alley at Deer Run!

Skyline Glades- Some of the easier glades on the mountain.  Found in between the terrain park, Expressway and feeds into Mambo Alley.  They can be accessed from the Terrain Park or Expressway.  Lots of fun, needs natural snow.

Looking up the Skyline Glades.

Looking down the Skyline Glades.

Forever Glades- Great glades, fairly steep and a little challenging.  Never groomed but in places it is wide enough to be. Accessed off of the lower portion of Jack Rabbit or the right side.  Hang a left and access more terrain through the trees.  Usually a jump at the bottom as it connects into Mambo Alley. Or hang a left down a little track and come out where Jack Rabbit and Mambo Alley meet.

Looking down the Forever Glades!

Laurel Run Glades-  A lovely drop past a few large trees.  Access from Mambo Alley or use Burma Road to cut over to it on Mambo.  Sheltered by trees in between Expressway and Deer Run. Ski carefully at the bottom as you merge with other several trails.

Looking at the Laurel Run Glades from the Triple Lift.  Photo by jamesj.

The Playground - Terrain Park  Located at the top of High Hopes, under the High Hopes Double usually features 3-4 Jumps with 2 or so Jibs. Nice pitch.

Looking up Lower High Hopes!

Looking down High Hopes!

East-Wall Traverse-  Not really a

trail, just a connector to get to Stembogan.

Edgeset- A wonderful trail with lots of character that connects from the top of Extrovert to Stembogan.  Very narrow and coming-round-the-bend, access it by taking the very top of Extrovert and continuing to the right.  Try taking Edgeset to D-Trail to Stembogan to Ditch Glades on a snowy day for a leg burning challenge. Edgeset bumps up (sometimes big) after the powder is tracked a bit and can be very challenging; to be skied well requires a tight line, but it is just wide enough for short turns.  Once you hit the main drop it levels out and traverses toward Stembogan.  Acceses East-Wall Glades and D-Trail.

Looking up Edgeset!

Looking down Edgeset!

Stembogan Field-  Stembogan is another classic BK trail, and while it has three sections to it, it rides like 1 trail.  Has a mid-atlantic bowl at the entrance that is fun allowing for lots of different lines and then it tucks into a series of switchbacks down the mountain.  The first time down this trail is challenging as you attempt to anticipate the next turn.  Once you know it well, you can take your favorite drop and then bobsled down this run leaning into the tight turns.  There are a couple decent drops but nothing too crazy. For some this is the trail to come back for- it is very unique, has been pointed out as being reminiscent of Stowe's "Nosedive" and therefore a great deal of fun.

The first two turns of Stembogan!

Dropping in on Stembogan. Photo by Jim Kenney.

Ditch Glades-  A natural half-pipe tucked in on the East side of the resort.  There are few large trees left from early pictures I found of this run, but there are a few, especially at the steeper start of the trail. The trail starts fairly wide and funnels down to a tight pass. Needs natural snow to open, but when it does, this is one of the best rides on the mountain or at least the most interesting.  Access from the fourth big turn on Stembogan.

Looking down the Ditch Glades! Photo by jamesj.

Looking up The Ditch Glades.  Photo by jamesj.

Lower Shortway- A fantastic natural snow only, ungroomed trail running up a double fall line.  It is fairly narrow and has a nice pitch, getting steeper towards its lower third.  This trail was probably originally cut as the power line for the summit.  From it you used to be able to access the Mineshaft and Boneyard Glades, much of the glades are ther but you will have to forage a way out of them!  The end of this trail is actually a little steeper then Short Cut but is a little wider.

The top of Lower Shortway. Photo by Laurel Hill Crazie.

Lower Extrovert- This trail (along with Lower Route 66, Stembogan and off-piste skiing) is what brings advanced riders to BK. A total 28.5 degree pitch with occasional pitches up to 55 degrees on the upper half with occasional drops and a little cliff on the right side line.  Lower Extrovert is left to bump, and the differernt sides ski uniquely the right having a more consistent descent and the left being more difficult.  Perhaps it has to do with snow gun placement which is on the left.  Upper Extrovert can be a little icy, well windswept.  It is a very challenging run and on par with expert runs at much larger resorts.  Sometimes intimidating during icy conditions and endless amounts of fun on a powder day. Lower High Hopes and Lower Route 66 cross the trail so be careful at this point when on any of these trails.  The lower portion is long and can be a leg burner. It does have snowmaking but it is often the last trail with snowmaking to open and BK will not open it without a cold winter.

Looking up Upper Extrovert.

Looking down Extrovert!!! Lookout folks!!! Photo by Jim Kenney.

East Wall Glades-  This natural snow only trail is considered by BK regulars to be one of the most challenging on the mountain.  It decends over small drops and rock outcroppings down a steep and true glade.  

Coming down the East Wall Glades.  Photo by Jim Kenney.

Telemark riding down the left side of the East Wall Glades. Photo by Jim Kenney.

D-Trail- Very steep drop into Stembogan from Edgeset. Towards end on left side. At least a 75-100 vt ft steep drop, short but long enough it must be skied with skill. Perhaps the steepest drop on the mountain.

Looking down D-Trail! Photo does not do justice to how steep this is! Photo by Jim Kenney.

Lower Route 66-  BK's Liftline.  This narrow trail (natural snow only) bumps up into one of the sweetest, most challenging descents on the mountain.  A favorite of regulars when its available, the quote I always get is, "When it's nice, its as good as it gets!"  Go around the mid-station or hang a right off of Upper Extrovert before High Hopes crosses it.

Lower Route 66 looking down.

Lower Route 66 looking up! Nice!