Today's tasty surprises were everywhere, and the skiers were nowhere to be seen. We had the place to ourselves this morning, and it was delightful. Craig's bff Keith insisted on the Gondy, even though Thunderhead is now open, and we got first tracks down Rudy's, fresh untracked cord with a few inches of butter on the side... tasty. Storm wasn't open so we rode up BC for a few turns down newly-opened Surprise for some fresh.
Up Sundown and on to High Noon for a top-to-bottom hauler, speedy, carvy, buttery, delight. I've literally never seen High Noon look or feel so good with one person on it, me! I lost the boys who headed down Sunshine Lift Line, reporting it to be identical conditions of course. We met up via Sundown and Sunshine lifts at the top- I can effectively confirm that Sunshine is only about 2 chairs slowly than Sundown now... remember when that lift took 15 minutes?
Then on to Tomohawk, with 3-4" of fresh along the side we surfed to the tunes and followed Craig down to Ramrod. This one was so nice, we did it twice. Ramrod was carvable, again with about 4" max in spots, definitely stiff from the wind but not noticable on the big boards; we found fresh tracks through the meadow. Second time around our buddy and guest photographer Jessie parked it at the cattrack at the bottom of Ramrod and took some shots. . . apparently however we don't get to view them yet today!
We took The Face (lovely) to Rainbow and Vagabond; they're blasting Vagabond still, filling in the holes. We checked out the sad empty forest removed from Rough Rider Basin, wow, talk about Beetle Kill Meadow. It looks so different, there definitely will be some sad kids missing their wood ferries in there this year.
The views from the top extended to the hazy Flattops, glowing blue under partial clouds, looking downright magestic today. The sun is trying to peek through but it's mostly overcast, and no, it's not snowing. We did in fact only get about 4" max, but don't let that stop you from tasting the goods from the Gods. It's unbelievable up there.
We've been in the mix of a tentative- and temperamental- storm warning these last few days and I'm beginning to lose track of things already! It's Thursday, a week from Christmas, it's frigid, and it's snowing- it's not snowing- it's snowing... that's the extent of my awareness right now.
Yesterday we had a few new inches at the top and today we had a dusting as well. It started dumping huge saucer-sized flakes today around 11:30am, and snowed for several hours. But the big dark storm system they promised would drop several feet on us is unfortunately sneaking out the back door. We're all a bit disappointed to say the least, but that hasn't been stopping Craig from making turns religiously (well, it is the holiday season!). He went up yesterday morning and mid-day today, both times reporting conditions were above average~ cold, good leftovers, and empty.
I'm a little more finicky myself and have immediate plans to mount the helmet/bike cam on Craig's foot cage so he can fill in with better details when I bag it (as I have the past few days). For clarification, I prefer fresh snow, early morning turns, am ok with minimal visibility and swirling snow, and don't care what temperature it is so long as there's new snow. But then again, I also snowshoe....
Craig's single option in the winter is skiing, and by golly, he's in-it-to-win-it right now. Gearing up for the 1st annual Legends of the Deep Powder Invitational in January, Craig's not only skiing daily, he's also working out at the gym and his skiing shows it. He's bombing bumps and piles of old snow like it's UPS's popcorn. He'd never race, says it's too much "waiting around," but a powder competition? You just wait.
Hopefully tomorrow will bring us some powder but frankly it doesn't look like it; that storm front is puking itself dry somewhere Ft Collins right now... I mean even VEGAS got some. COME ON.
For the record, weathermen of the US, please don't predict "several feet" of snow for us ever. Steamboat's Bermuda Triangle of weather seems to like it best when you say "1-3 inches" instead.
After noticing a late opening on Storm Peak Express we headed up Burgess Creek and over to Sundown for a fast, fresh run through Keith’s ridge, followed by Sunshine Lift Line and over to Fawn and Pump House Trees. A quick ride up South Peak and we had firs tracks down Westside. What a way to start the day. It was so nice that we repeated the same lap to South Peak, and then we conquered the mighty Rolex. The next few runs we spread out all over the mountain and were very impressed with the current coverage. The mountain is indeed in fantastic shape. With just enough snow to earn some face shots and no crowds, it was a perfect day on Steamboat.
Glorious day up there today friends; Steamboat is inching towards max opening and today was an outstanding advance in the right direction. The Gondy line was enormous, full of the weekend warriors and the usual faces in front, we bypassed to the disabled entrance, loaded, and made it down to Storm to collect with the early rising hikers and staff for some fresh powder. The ride down Rudys was mint: 3" of fresh or so on top of a blanket of cord? Oh my. It was a all-layers morning, 6° at the summit, giving the snow the lightness we love.
From Storm Peak we headed right over to the sunny side and caught first tracks down 2 O'Clock, almost over Craig's head in spots, we bombed through the bumps like butter all the way down Daybreak without a sound. Silent carving, deLIGHTful.
Up Sundown and down Sunshine Lift Line, through the trees to the right and over to Fawn, again first tracks, and almost too deep to surf with tacky wax and flatter momentum. Big GS turns down Fawn to South Peak, all to ourselves.
Up South Peak and down Westside, maybe 5th tracks or so, again bombing through buttery snow and loving every minute of it, despite the goggle steam and icing corners of the lenses... I made a pitstop into the shack to warm them up at the top of Sundown, and the boys did a lap without me, spending most of it chilling out (literally) on a stopped Sundown lift.
Then onward to our last runs, traversed to Storm Face, through the meadow and down Rainbow; tasty freshies to the left side, down to Storm Express for a top-to-bottom- which included Rainbow again it was so nice. These are the days we live here for.
What's new? They're blasting snow on Moonlight and Vagabond, and they opened Thunderhead lift around 9am... as we inch towards 100% and hopefully a 100" base...
See you in the Deep-