The sun peeks through the clouds as I type, breaking open the sky, blue pushing white further into the mountains... bringing visibility for fireworks this evening as we ring in the new energy, new decade, new year!But that wasn't how it was this morning; pitch black and dumping snow when we woke, adding what seemed like another 6" to the 12" that was up there.This week is our early week, the ski area opens 15 minutes early during this busy 7 days between the holidays to cut down on the morning lines- brilliant for us early...
You know it's a slim December when the locals are amped up for 8 inches since the mountain closed, 11 in the last 24 hours, but that's what this morning offered as we joined the pack at Storm Peak at 8:52am. It was still snowing lightly at the 5degree summit when we arrived and bombed down Storm Peak; ahh, some of our favorite terrain is finally skiable on December 24th. Merry Christmas!We continued down Rainbow to freshly-opened Moonlight, littered with piles of new and old snow that hadn't been touched by anyone but Ski Patrol....
Steamboat hosted yet another Olympic skiing event this holiday week; nordic and alpine skiers competed to qualify for their seat on the Olympic team. 10k, moguls, and aerial categories included, the visitors and locals had a lot to spectate and enjoy during December 23rd and 24th in The Boat. We were also Christmas-blessed as always, and awoke to 11 new inches of snow this morning... more on that in the next po...
Spent a few hours on the hill today with sister Laura, dad, and Leslie from VA; as always there's a fun group visiting for the holidays. The slopes are in good shape, and the safety crew has done a great job at marking most of the obstacles. You can read that as truth, yes there are some rocks, particularly on our favorite Sunshine liftline, and yes, it's glazey on Vagabond but that's the only place on the hill I felt an edge slip. Stay...
This video was taken Monday... when we got about 6 new inches to play on, and a foot in spots. It was my first day up, but Craig's 3rd... it's been a slow December, reminiscent of 2004 perhaps (32" total for the month); but we hope it only means whatever's missing from 2009 will plummet down from the skies in 2010 for an epic January as usual, hopefully a la 1996 style. (216" total for the month! Please note THAT 95-96 season they also...
We headed up to Thunderhead this morning to train the food & beverage department on disability awareness. Still waiting on Craig's new shock and some more snow but we hope to make some turns soon!...
The only thing that would keep the plastic butt of Craig's monoski off the first chair of the Christie sixpack this year is the Broncos-Giants game in Denver... which thanks to modern technology we are driving down to while this autoposts to the blog... Fear not we return tomorrow to make some turns!HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!...
As guaranteed, we always post when we get snow... and today was Steamboat's first unofficial powder day, as with no lifts running, we couldn't get our turns in just yet.But we're excited to post today's pics and to report that this system is going to stick around for a few days of heavy, dense snow, perfect for base-building! 'Bout time, since we only have 13 days left to build that base! They've been blasting the guns all day too, which...
It's been warm. It's been sunny. It's November. There's panic in the air. But never fear, "it always comes," we say around here, because if there's one thing we can count on, it's that white stuff! It's just a matter of WHEN.The WHEN is now. We had our first official "Winter Storm Warning" in October this year; a blasting, paster of a storm, we got below-average temps, feet of snow in some areas of Colorado, and yet, it's all gone.Well,...
30 days and the weather-watching begins!! Tonight: Snow. New snow accumulation of 4 to 8 inches possibleWednesday: New snow accumulation of 7 to 11 inches possibleWednesday Night: New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possi...
... this is about the time of year last year where we checked in with our loyal fans and began the official countdown of weeks... (we've all be counting days for about a month now) Steamboat is only 8 weeks away from opening, and the snow has begun to dust our peaks with the reminder that fall is not a long season around here. The leaves change and fall over a course of only two or three weeks, and October always, always, brings us snow.We...
Today Craig tested out the KBG Monoski, designed by Kevin Bramble, whose name you might recognize from the XGames and Paralympics. After years of being disappointed by the upkeep and (lack of) durability of various monoskis on the market, Bramble designed and began manufacturing his own beefed-up model of monoski.As you can see, the frame sits Craig up a little higher and straighter. He found it easier to load onto the chairlifts, and...
Today was no foolin', another deep, epic day in the 'Boat. I had resigned myself to sitting this week out, but after two days of watching Craig come home with that poo-eating grin, I decided I had better make a few turns in this "triple threat" storm myself. Where Monday and Tuesday were cold, (infamous local Y-Von even told me she was actually SORE from shivering yesterday) today wasn't so bitter once you got off the peak; about 15-25...
So the tourists are gone, direct flights stop coming in and out of the ‘Boat like tomorrow, and the SNOW IS DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!WOW! What a time to be a local! After a kind blessing of white stuff last week I kind of figured we were all through. And then it started dumping on Sunday and it hasn’t stopped since. Yesterday was one of those days where you firmly realize WHY you live in Steamboat. An epic day by all accounts. First tracks...
Steamboat TV18's and NRC Broadcasting's Eli Campbell injured his knee early this season and has been unable to ski since the start of the year. We ran into Eli and his lady Erin at Creekside one day, and discussed the idea of monoskiing... it gave him something to look forward to... when the doc would clear him for some strapped-in safe snow sliding! That day was finally yesterday, March 29, coincidentally one day after the anniversary...
While most people in Steamboat have been basking in the sun and thinking about golf for the past few weeks as the sun baked our SKI TOWN under 60+ degree skies for a week and a half, I was sitting at home crying and praying for more snow. Well we finally got it! This past Sunday it was a balmy 58 degrees, but by Monday morning it was back down to 15 degrees and dumping snow. By Wednesday, we (and really I mean me because nobody was on the...
Despite the lack of new snow, everyone's happy when it's sunny out. The temps remained low, but that didn't stop the crowds from covering the slopes. It's that time of year where Steamboat gets to flex its Family Friendly Resort status. The carnival rides are out, the base is slushy, and everyone's thinking spring.We made our turns late today to let the hill warm up and soak up some afternoon sun. Everyone we knew reiterated the same...
Yep, we're back, and yep, so is our glorious mountain. The storm started blowing in around 10pm last night, and its ferocity got us into bed and setting the alarm for the early rise. We woke to an 11'' report this morning and made first chair on Christie. Storm and Morningside were closed for av blasting, so we beelined it for Four Points, bracing against sideways winds, white out visibility, and temps we haven't felt in months; -1 at...
Although it's overcast now, we spent the weekend skiing under cloudless skies and on great conditions. Sure they were April/Spring-like conditions, but Winter's not over, so we don't expect them to last. But you never know.It was enjoyable none the less; I myself rarely get up to enjoy days like that, preferring the fresh stuff of course. Saturday, we took our first turns from the top down Buddy's, getting our legs under us, taking...
We probably wouldn't have gone up today had it not been for Jeffrey Krauthamer (left) celebrating his birthday on the hill all the way from MD... we woke up to a 1" report and bad reports all week about the hill. Craig had been up once, made it to Thunderhead, and turned around because he said it felt like a skating rink. Our temps have been warm, too warm, and we just haven't gotten any snow for about two weeks. Some locals go up every...
Yesterday's 14 inches was an anomaly. The report said 6" mid, 14" summit, 5" mid since the mountain closed. What does one make of that, while lying in a very uncomfortable bed 2 hours from home at 5am? We had three options: 1. We could have stayed in Vail and skied, but purchasing lift tickets when you have a season pass just seems inane. 2. Stay in Vail and have breakfast with our buddies. 3. Drive home and expect the best. Needless...
Yet another un-crowded, peaceful day on the mountain today. While the economy continues to struggle, the locals continue to benefit from the lack of crowds on our huge mountain and another great snow year. The 8 inches we got yesterday (on top of the 15 on Monday) were waiting for us this morning and we didn’t even waste the traverse over to Thunderhead. Instead we skied the bottom of the T-Head lift line to cheers from above.After a quick...
Perish the thought, but we slept in. We're not total slackers, we called the snow report at 6am and heard "4 new inches since the mountain closed... NOT currently snowing." To me that meant dust-on-crust, and a Monday in the office. When we actually made it to the living room however and looked at the deck, the house was in full-blown emergency... nearly a FOOT was on the deck, how the hell can that be?? We made it to the hill by 9 in...
Well after several weeks of ski camps, drop-ins by college buddies, and family visits (and TONS of snow, we are up to 250 inches so far), the sun is out and the groomers are fast. I spent the last three days enjoying the sunshine and blue skies, and taking advantage of warmer temperatures and soft snow. While the mountain honestly is still in great condition, we are approaching that moment when we need more snow too. Maybe I am just spoiled by all the snow the last couple of seasons (489 inches and 60 powder days last season...
We didn't get up early today, and instead watched the snow fall in piles of snowflakes the size of pancakes from our offices until we could take it no more. The 2" and 5° on the 5am report kept building and building, and by the noon report there was a foot. So sometime after lunch we both started putting our gear on for some late day turns and made it to the top by 2. The wind, snow, and cold were relentless all day apparently; Storm Peak was such a blizzard we couldn't even get across the plain to drop off onto the Face and...
Another gorgeous day in the Boa, people... a perfect condition kind of day. With 11 new inches today on top of yesterday's foot, and however many before that (how long has it been snowing?), the groomers were covered, the bumps were filled in, and the trees were like butter. The snow was exponentially lighter today than it has been, the temps cooperated, and we're back to our Champagne!A little wind blown from the dropping jet flow at...