THE CHUTES

Text logo reads "CHUTES" in large blue letters with the number "20" in orange, overlapping the "S". Below, in smaller blue script, it reads "Twenty Years of Thrills on Chutes. Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe

Unleash your adventurous spirit in the legendary Chutes at Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe. Renowned for their steep and challenging terrain, the Chutes offer advanced skiers and snowboarders an adrenaline-pumping experience like no other. With pitches up to 55 degrees and over 1,000 vertical feet of pure exhilaration, these expert runs are designed for those seeking the ultimate thrill. Discover why the Chutes have earned their iconic status and prepare for an unforgettable ride.

What you
should know

Experts only

Entry: Entry is through designated gates only. Four are located on the Mt. Rose side, and five are on the Winters Creek Lodge side. All gates can be accessed from both summit chairs, Northwest Express and Zephyr Express.

Exit: The “Chuter” quad chairlift unloads near the lower section of the Outlaw run on the Winters Creek Lodge side.

Status: Signs located at the loading areas of both summit lifts, Northwest Magnum 6 and Blazing Zephyr 6, will have Chute gate status indicators.

Open: Each gate has a chain. If a gate is OPEN (chain is down), all the terrain accessible from that gate is available. Access into that chute is prohibited if a chain is across the gate (with a “CLOSED” sign).

Closed: Gates and runs are closed when, but not limited to:

  • Avalanche Mitigation in Progress
  • Unsuitable Slope Conditions – ski patrol deems that conditions are not suitable for skier traffic (icy/rocky)
  • Visibility Issues
  • Guest Rescue in Progress

Warning

Risk of Avalanche

While snow safety and avalanche mitigation efforts help reduce the risk of avalanches, avalanches, and snow slides may occur at ski areas, both inside and outside of the posted boundaries. Avalanches are an inherent risk of the sport due to the nature of snow and its application on steep, mountainous terrain. Become educated on how to reduce the risk of injury or death from avalanches through your actions and awareness.

Taking these steps may help reduce the risk:

  • Always ski with a partner and keep them within your sight at all times
  • Obey all signs and closures
  • Carry avalanche equipment such as beacons or transceivers, reflectors, probes, and shovels when skiing or riding in areas where avalanches may occur
  • Consider wearing a helmet

AVALANCHE MITIGATION

in the chutes

Since the early 1970s, Mt. Rose has performed avalanche-mitigation work in the Chutes as well as other avalanche-prone paths on the Mt. Rose Highway under an agreement with the Nevada Department of Transportation. Although the possibility of an avalanche in extreme terrain such as the Chutes can never be entirely eliminated, the extensive knowledge gained from this thirty-year tenure is key in preventing major snow slides.

Blasting essentially helps to reduce the danger by forcing small slides before they have the chance to grow into hazardous build-ups. Adding the technology of the Avalauncher to the arsenal of existing mitigation measures dramatically reduces the risk of unpredictable slides. Skier traffic into the area will further stabilize these slopes by providing strength to the snowpack through compaction.

RECCO®

AVALANCHE SYSTEM

Developed for avalanche rescue, the RECCO® Rescue System is used by more than 800 rescue organizations worldwide to find buried avalanche victims. Rescue teams embrace the RECCO® System because the technology makes searching significantly faster, which saves time, and time is the enemy of the buried victim.

The two-part system consists of a RECCO® detector used by organized rescue groups and RECCO® reflectors that are integrated into outerwear, helmets, protection gear, and boots from hundreds of top outdoor brands. The reflector is permanently attached, requires no training and no batteries to function. It is always “on” and ready.

RECCO® reflectors do not prevent avalanches nor guarantee location or survival in the event of a burial, but they enable organized rescue teams to pinpoint the person’s precise location.

For more information visit http://www.recco.com

Need an avalanche training class? Click here for more info.

Click below for an immersive view.

Visit avalanche.org or contact the Mt. Rose ski patrol for further information on the risks and prevention of avalanche-related injuries or death.