First Notch is a experts-only ski run at Arapahoe Basin located on the East Wall. It's the first in-bounds descent from the East Wall Hike.
The entrance is commonly rocky, and the narrow and steep nature of the chute make dodging the rocks a challenging task
(base repair better than medical care!). According to 3-D Ski Maps, the upper sections are steep - about 40 degrees. It's probably not the
run that you want to take your brand-new skis on...
First Notch is located between
North Pole (well, technically, Narrow North Pole) and the
East Wall Gates. It's the first run along the uphill hike on A-Basin's East Wall. First Notch ends as you cross the East Wall traverse and enter
The Land of Giants. You'll wind up back at the bottom of the Lenawee lift.
Like many of the runs on the A-Basin East Wall, First Notch is narrow and challenging at the top, and widens as you go lower in the run. However, a
tall and prominent pair of rock outcroppings choking the ski trail about halfway down provide an intimidation factor - there's the perception that you'll pinball off them in
your slide if you fall anywhere above them.
"Chill sweat glides down my back,
I shake, I turn greener than grass.
I am neither living nor dead and cry
From the narrow between."