Milky Way Bowl - Heavenly [4K]

RUN STATS:
Run Name: Milky Way Bowl
Location: Heavenly
Rating: ♦ (Single Black)
My Personal Rating Opinion: ♦ (Single Black)
Lift Taken: Dipper Express
Maximum Pitch: 31 degrees
Run Type: Bowl
Total Run Length: 0.6 mi.
Total Vertical Drop: 625 ft.
Run Aspect: North
SNOW CONDITIONS: Soft snow with a few hard spots here and there
DATE OF RECORDING: March 25, 2024
DESCRIPTION:
Milky Way Bowl is one of my favorite non-canyon runs at Heavenly! You can get here from either Sky or Dipper Express, however, you get a bit of extra vert. if you come from Sky. If you come from Dipper like how I did, the trick is to stay as far skier's left as you can along the Skyline Trail connector. Milky Way Bowl is primarily used as a means of getting to the Upper Gates of Killebrew Canyon. However, the bowl itself is still really fun. This is some of the only above treeline terrain at Heavenly (The Burn offers a similarly wide-open feel, however, it's entirely below treeline). The snow quality is typically a bit better than on the lower down Milky Way Run. However, like Milky Way this run is definitely on the shorter side. I overall don't really have too much to say about this run, other then it's worth checking out! If you're lapping Mott Canyon, the most efficient way to get to its Upper Gates is via Milky Way run. However, Milky Way Bowl can be a nice way to mix things up a bit and for what it's worth, I do like this run a bit more than Milky Way! This is definitely a unique run at Heavenly that's worth checking out at least once for all advanced skiers!
PERSONAL ENJOYMENT RATING: 7/10
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Intro
0:05 - Skyline Trail Connector
0:22 - Milky Way Bowl Traverse
0:32 - Milky Way Bowl
1:06 - Milky Way
EXTERNAL LINKS:
Skiing Bucket List:
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
Double Black Diamond Runs I've Done:
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

[@ajitkirpekar4251]

This is my favorite run at Heavenly. Do you know what your top speed was for this run?

[@arjunski]

It's a really fun one! No idea what my top speed was but it looks like I wasn't going very fast. In the past, I've straightlined down Milky Way when it's all bumped up and I definitely picked up some serious speed!

[@JP-GFR]

Subscribed and I smashed the like button. I sometimes struggle to keep my hands 🙌 in front of my body while skiing . ⛷️ It looks like your hands were forward and that you were in total control of your line, your form, and your speed on that run. (and it looked crusty) Bravo! 😊

[@YesS410]

I see that you had the Atris for around 3 months. Do you consider it to be very durable and a "do it all ski". Thinking of buying a pair for the 2025 season.

[@arjunski]

Good question! I would say that the Atris performs exceptionally well in all soft snow conditions. Soft groomers, chop, pow that's not too deep are all fair game. Where the Atris starts to struggle a little bit are in hard-packed or variable conditions. I'd say it actually performs pretty decent on hard-packed off-piste runs, but it definitely starts to chatter on icy groomers. With that being said, it's totally manageable on icy groomers, just not the best ski in the world for them. The ski also struggles a lot with hard-packed moguls, definitely not a great bump ski. Also, because it's made entirely of wood, it's not the most damp ski in the world. So if you're into high speed straightlines, it's not the best ski, but it still does pretty decent. Durability-wise, I've had no major issues. I've hit a couple of rocks here and there and the skis are still in very good condition (very very minor scratches, no core shots). I will say that the top sheet does scratch kinda easily but that's mainly an aesthetic thing rather than a performance-related thing.
Conclusion: This ski's really good for pretty much all soft snow conditions. It's also pretty decent for hard-packed off-piste that still has a bit of grip. It starts to struggle on hard-packed groomers, bumps, and chutes that require high-speed straightlining, but it can definitely still perform decent. The ski is really really playful and in general is a whole lot of fun to ski! Definitely the best pair of skis that I've owned and I 100% recommend them if it suits your style!

[@YesS410]

@@arjunski Appreciate your thoughts and insights. Since my style is mainly freestyle and very aggressive I think these should fit my style. I'll definitely demo these and see if I will buy them!