Hidden Trees

Type: Backcountry or Sidecountry

Avalanche terrain, this area is saturated with hidden slide paths and starting zones that aren't always obvious. Lots of terrain traps to watch for. Across Wheeler Peak's western slopes, early-season conditions can persist well into winter on a typical snow year, know how to recognize and navigate rock slides and link treed sections to maximize the potential of this zone.

From the Hidden Chute ride up onto the south bank and traverse over into the forest. The terrain mellows out with open shots through some large trees, then drops onto a series of steeper avalanche paths created by rock slides. There's a lot of stray boulders and it takes a decent mid-season snowpack before they're covered enough to ride this line safely, then avalanches are the main concern.

The open slides trend left and lead to a flat bench above the last drop. A traverse down to skier's left leads to another opening that turns right, into the forest and some flat ground for a couple hundred feet back to the trail. Usually there's some tracks exiting this area that can help keep your speed up, hiking a short ways may be necessary when the surface snow is deep.