Also known as: South Slide, South Tripyramid, South Tripyramid Slide
The South Slide on South Tripyramid earns its place on the Terrifying 25 not through technical climbing moves but through relentless, unforgiving terrain: roughly 2.2 miles of steep, loose rock requiring precise foot placement from start to finish. Where the companion North Slide presents exposed slab and committed scrambling, this slide is a sustained gravel-and-scree pitch at what feels like a 60-degree angle, with eroded gullies cutting through the loose material. Slipping here means a long, rough slide and serious abrasion; picking confident lines is mandatory, not optional.
The typical approach exits the wooded ridge from South Tripyramid through a steep forested pitch before breaking out onto the open face. A flat rock just below the slide's upper edge offers a brief respite and a good view south toward Lake Winnipesaukee and the Belknap Range. From there, the descent demands steady concentration: chunks of broken ledge mixed into the scree shift underfoot, and eroded channels funnel loose debris downhill. The Kate Sleeper Trail branches left at the base, marking the return to forest.
Almost everyone descends rather than ascends this slide; going up adds dangerous rockfall risk for parties below and is strongly discouraged. Wet or icy conditions make the surface far more treacherous than it looks, so dry weather is essential. The total Tripyramid Loop covering both slides runs about 11 miles with 3,000 feet of gain.
