OpenSkiStats has analyzed ski trail maps to determine the direction of travel for ski trails worldwide. In Which Way do You Ski OpenSkiStats has used ski trail maps to determine the direction of travel of all ski trails in ski resorts around the globe.
By gathering the coordinates of all trail segments, connecting these points, and treating each segment as a vector scaled by its vertical drop, OpenSkiStats creates a "ski rose." This circular chart, akin to a wind rose, characterizes the directions of all trail segments at a ski area. Each petal represents a compass direction, with its radius proportional to the combined vertical drop of trail segments in that direction.
map and ski rose of all ski trails in Holt’s Ledge and Winslow Ledge, in Lyme, NH
As depicted in the U.S. ski rose cartogram at the top of this page, in the Northern Hemisphere, a majority of ski slopes are on the northern side of mountains. OpenSkiStats found a 'strong poleward' tendency in ski slopes worldwide - in other words, the majority of runs in the Northern Hemisphere are oriented toward the north, while those in the Southern Hemisphere are oriented toward the south.
Interestingly, OpenSkiStats also discovered a 'moderate eastward' preference in ski slopes in both hemispheres. This trend reflects a preference for morning sun, when temperatures are lower, over afternoon sun, influencing the orientation of ski trails.
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