Red Rocks

Type: Backcountry or Sidecountry

This is a unique geologic feature on Wheeler Peak's west slopes that prominently sticks out when seen from across the valley. Either side of this rock slide area, along the tree lines, has some good short lines that make for easy laps.

This is a west facing terrain feature that is often scoured by winds during storms, moving snow from the middle and depositing it in deep drifts on one side or the other depending which way the winds are blowing from. More a zone than a specific line, if you ski the middle it starts at a glacial moraine bench just above treeline. Large, red-hued rocks line the drop in and boulders that rolled down are scattered across the slope.

It's not incredibly steep, but be aware of small pockets that could slide, and along the northern section of this zone a large, long, short but steep drift deposit creates a particularly avalanche prone feature that should be avoided during and recently after a snow or wind event. At the bottom, the best way to ski out is to trend to the skier's right side and follow the natural contours northwest towards the bottom of the Hidden Chute. If you go left, the terrain flattens out and there's a lot of deadfall to navigate over and around.