Route 66 | Cities | Beaches |
Slopes |
Beginners |
Little Bluff Also comes
off chair # 2, and runs parallel to Ski Wiz on the westward side of
the lift, but maintains the steep pitch halfway down the slope. A natural
step up from Ski Wiz. Not quite as wide and bordered by trees on the
left. Still a straight drop back to chair # 2, but offers the choice
of bearing to the left and picking up chair # 5. |
It could be considered high novice, except for several challenges.
First is the exit from chairlift #5, which is not very user friendly.
Second is the entry drop, which is quite steep and funnels into a
narrow chute, requiring beginners to show quick control. Third is
the narrowness and sudden tilts and angles of the trail until it comes
out of the trees, where it widens and smooths out. Nevertheless, this
is a great trail for developing skills, a relaxing run for the whole
family on a winter afternoon. Widened and smoothed for 04-05 season.
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Clyde’s Super Slide The toughest of PN’s intermediates, this is wide and smooth but has an angled first drop, then a sharp right turn and high speed chute through the trees until it opens out for the lodge run. That first drop can test skiiers’ carving or speed skills, but once past the turn this could be considered high novice. Backstage Intended as a mirror image of The Far Side, this trail down the eastern shoulder of the ridge drops much faster over a much shorter distance. It is steeper than Far Side, but not unmanageable. It could be considered high novice for anyone with snowplowing or carving skills. Tuff Enuff A true intermediate, this trail runs
parallel to but much steeper and narrower than Backstage. Tuff Enuff
opens out onto the NASTAR racecourse. Very narrow on top, then steep
drop. Some bumps, uneven terrain. |
Proficient Center Stage May be shorter than black diamonds at the major resorts, but is no less challenging. This is the showcase run at Perfect North, the one people gather on the sundeck or in the lodge to watch. Quite a few pretty good skiers in the region have never successfully descended Center Stage. Many major resort black diamonds begin with a long approach and conclude with a long exit runout, so their actual black diamond drop is no longer than this one, which drops immediately from the lift and stops abruptly at the lodge. Includes moguls and a jump. Deception Runs parallel to Center Stage but the ridge face turns slightly and angles out further, allowing a lesser pitch. Still a challenging descent, without the moguls or jump. Not smooth at all; bumpy and narrow. |
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Left: Center Stage from the base of the main drop. This is Perfect North's crown jewel, and competes with any of the region's black diamond runs. Right : Deception from its intersection with SuperSlide. The skiiers on the inside are coming down the narrow but smoother track. Outside are moguls and drifts, offering a semimaintained run for those up for a little adventure. Skiiers are allowed to cut through the trees between runs and the maintenance staff keeps most of the brush cleared out. |
Encore Angles off the Far Side and drops straight down the shoulder. Steepness is complicated by uneven terrain and narrow trail, so carving is not an option. Runway & Intermission Runway angles off Encore and is a fairly level approach run to Intermission, which drops down parallel to Encore but only about half as long. Very narrow; bumps and drops. Showtime A hairy mogul descent through the trees below
# 5 chairlift. PN’s toughest run but short. Provides entertainment
for chairlift riders; expect cheers or hoots as you come down. |
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The Tubing Hill may be a recent addition, but it's no afterthought. Perfect North's Chuck Heist studied rival installments across the region and set out to surpass them. The runs are longer and faster than all others except Winterplace. They are not really steeper, but are maintained smoother, so nothing slows or deflects the tubes. The twin conveyor belts take tubers back to the top faster than the usual rope tows, allowing many more runs per hour. There are more tracks, cutting lines at the top. It is a well designed slope. PN offers a complete tubing “lodge,” an inflatable bubble housing rest rooms, food counter, tables, second floor observation deck, and an outside fireplace with tables and benches. There’s a parking lot just for tubers. Different runs have different dips and rollers. There are "expert" runs, which begin higher on the hill and curl to the right. A beginners hill lets toddlers have fun under parental supervision. A modern ticket shed is very efficient. With its snowmaking and grooming equipment and plenty of room for future enhancement, PN’s tubing hill should prove a great asset for years to come. |
The Terrain Parks
are the only differentiated facilities in the region. PN has
a green park to the left of the lodge, where beginners can work on their
skills mostly out of sight. But the black diamond park adjacent to Center
Stage and in clear view of the lodge audience is a challenge. Snowboarding
rails (two shown to the left and a long S shaped version visible in
mid photo at the right toward the top of this page) test their skills,
and numerous hairy ski jumps keep the hot doggers humble. It's the best
show in town. |
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The Ski School & Learning Area is the best in the region for two very good reasons : location and location. The Ski School, situated in the center of a circle of Indianapolis, Louisville, Lexington, Cincinnati and Dayton, has a tremendous choice of outstanding skiiers either currently in college or working some white collar job, and wanting a weekend seasonal job as a ski instructor. There are great instructors at every resort, but Perfect North has more. And the teaching area is better than anybody else's. PN has two 50 square yard slightly tilted meadows with room for magic carpets, special turning courses, bleacher seating for parents, and other features (shown at left and lower left). These, coupled with the outstanding low and middle green runs, make PN the ideal facility in the entire region to bring a group of kids to begin their skiing careers. |
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