In this era, instead of arguing subjectively over how generally steep specific slopes are, people should just use websites that show gradients like the below plus a resort trail map. Generally many skiers have always tended to overestimate actual gradients of steeper slopes so usual blabbering without actual doing that basic homework is likely to be embarrassing. This shows Chute 75 and Westface (JR) at Squaw that average a bit less than 80% grade.
Well, this is fun. Since we started with talking about groomed runs....
o At Squaw, the top bit of the main run off Granite Chief is about 35 deg. for a while. That might be the Tahoe champ for sustained pitch.
o The run down the middle of the valley skier's left of Oly Lady gets groomed occasionally--not often--and it's a bit steeper.
o The top of D-8 at Alpine Meadows starts out at 35 deg. plus.
o At Sugar Bowl, some of the runs off the east side of Disney that get groomed from time to time are right around 35 deg., going on that way for a long distance.
o Moving south, the first part of Cornice at Mammoth Mtn. is something like 40 deg. Those who have been there know that what makes that run really interesting is that it often gets quite firm and wind polished, and might have bits of pumice embedded in it. Plus you'll be dodging traffic (some of it out of control) the whole way down.
Anything
really steep in the Sierra Nevada will be ungroomed. It's pretty much the sky is the limit, as the common dumps of Sierra cement adhere to steep terrain so well, setting up a base in spots that would be unskiable in Rocky Mtn. powder. Of course, you can always find 90 deg. plus if you look around. They're called "cliffs." Or plenty of other drops through short chutes. Some standouts for larger patches of steep terrain skiable by mere mortals:
o Squaw: The Palisades, of course--the drops pretty much all start off at about 50 deg., where there's snow and not just air. Sometimes overlooked is Upper Sun Bowl, which starts out just about as steep and continues as a much longer sustained steep run. The Slot goes on for a while at the upper end of the 35 to 45 deg. range. Classic Chute is close to 50 deg. and narrow. 50 deg. plus chutes off Granite Chief Peak. Chute 75 is close to 45 deg. for a
long time. No shortage of lines pushing or exceeding 50 deg. at the maximum off Oly Lady. Poulsens Gully has some seriously steep entries. Silverado just keeps coming at you, with short 45 deg. pitches all but unavoidable. Etc., etc.
o The Palisades at Sugar Bowl are the real deal--easy to get cliffed out there, and the fun continues throughout the continuation of the same cliff band east across Silver Belt and beyond. The steepest parts are short, but
plenty steep.
o Alpine Meadows--The Keyhole area is tops here, with 50 deg. spots in all lines. The topmost part of High Yellow Face (
above where the Our Father traverse comes in) is nearly as steep, and to make it even more fun has a blind rollover.
o Mt. Rose--The Chutes stand out on the map as probably the largest solid block of lift-served terrain in the 40 deg. range in the Tahoe area. (Even Miller Time.)
o Heavenly--Killebrew Canyon takes things to the next level, much of it right around 45 deg., plus or minus.
o Mammoth Mtn.--You know. It goes on and on. Hangmans Hollow shows at topping out around 50 deg.
Not to overlook Sierra-at-Tahoe and Kirkwood--they have their moments!