I’m in SS first couple days of February.
I was able to get the trail map mailed to me. If I want to start my day off the Sundown Express lift line, is the only direct route from the base (Sheraton) taking the gondola?
If I take Christy Peak Express up, can I get to Sundown Express or am I forced to ski to Burgess Creek lift? The map doesn’t show top of Christy to Sundown that well.
@Tiki
what are you hoping to hit off of Sundown? I presume the Tomahawk side of things, at least that's what most instructors and folks will reference the runs between Tomahawk and the High Noon to Fawn to Spike all going to the Sunshine lift. Those below the High Noon runs will drop you back to the Sundown Lift area.
In any case, the basic routes to the Sundown lift comprise of getting to the top of the Gondola - The Thunderhead Lodge. From there one catches Spur Run to the Sundown Lift.
To get to the Gondola top and then Spur Run you have two general options:
- Take the Gondola
- Take the Thunderhead to the top of the Gondola
- Christie Lift to Boulevard down to the Thunderhead
- New "Wild Blue Gondola" to the Thunderhead - Central Reservations confirmed this can be done
I can't state I know for fact the Wild Blue takes you to the Thunderhead but I'm nearly 100% confident it will. The topology of the land in the "Rough Rider" area ran down to the Thunderhead and I see no manner this changed. I suspect it'll depend on if Steamboat is using the Wild Blue Gondola for and if they do any limiting of it's access, but I can't see them not allowing anyone to use it to get to the Thunderhead lift.
My general thought is if heading right up to the Sunshine lift area, then I'd hit the Gondola and right to Spur Run and down to the Sundown Lift.
If Gondola lines are long, then maybe I'd give the Wild Blue Gondola a try and then the Thunderhead up. You'll have to do a bit of light polling from the Thunderhead, straight out a bit past the Thunderhead Lodge and then to Spur Run but it's not bad.
(There is an alternate method to get towards High Noon from the Storm Peak lift via Highline but it's far easier to catch Spur Run to the Sundown as this will drop you off higher on the "Tomahawk" side of things.)