IN THE DEEP

Another glorious day with the powderhounds in search of the mid-mountain 14 that fell since yesterday. The morning report clued us in to stay low, reporting only 7" up top, so we did mostly that...

Starting with a lap down Norther to Four Points, somewhat bumped out but still good. Next we hit Nelson's to Twister to BC, where the powder was knee deep and not as tracked. From BC we did the liftline back down, arguably the best run of the day with wide open glades of powder and empty at that, so we stopped for a few photo shots. Go Alicia!




Then we got the text I was waiting for, Craig was headed up the hill! So we hit Oops to Vertigo, also among the best of the day, lower thigh deep, glorious light powder. We ducked under the lower T-Head lift line and found the untouched stash hiding there! 

Riding Thunderhead up, we were tempted by what was below us, and hoping we were timing it right, (frankly we couldn't help ourselves) so we hit Concentration and the top was the deepest stuff we found all morning - upper thigh deep and then knee deep to Mother Nature. Wow. Back into the liftline, and back up to the saddle where Mr. Powderhound was waiting.

We took a rare trip down Vag to Surprise to get to Storm Peak so we could hit 3O'Clock and 1:30, otherwise known as ... errr, ask me in person next time you see me.   Very nice in here, all the way down the right side of High Noon even. 


From the top of Sundown we did the Face Mustache to Hurricane, freshies in both! At this point it was 10:45 and Alicia and I were hitting our limit, and apparently so was Craig's rig, which blew a bearing on the way down just before we got a chance to hit Vertigo again unfortunately.  Anyone got a new sit-ski they want to get rid of? ... yeah. Any kind will do, Craig's Revolution Pro Comp is a whopping 17 years old with 1300-1500 days on it!  A new one is $5000...

Well, we've been chewing up this mountain since before Christmas, and it looks like we will all finally get a bit of a respite to rest the old knees, backs, necks, ankles, and sit skis... a week of sunshine on the forecast should make a few people (non locals) happy for the New Year.

And when the snow returns... you'll see us In The Deep!
 

There's nothing better than waking up to a foot of fresh on Christmas! The presents can wait (unless you're us, and have to work on Christmas, so you opened your presents on Christmas Eve!), the powder is calling!

Craig had to work, so I was solo today, and other than having to ride the Gondola with grouchy, loud, hungover 20-something locals, it's often nice to have a day of silence in the snow.  From then on, every lift ride was pleasant, talking to folks from Orlando, San Antonio, Cody, and even Australia, wishing everyone a Merry Christmas with a smile.

I had one mission today and one mission only, enjoy, and find some new openings, and I got buried several times on the Sunnyside in the 14" inches since yesterday!

In spots, it wasn't that deep for sure, but if you know where to look, it was above the knees. Being Christmas, it was empty; the locals seemed to head right for Pony, so I was virtually all alone on the other side. 

I started with a gloriously deep run down a bumpy Norther, laughing at my solitude and headed right for Four Points. Sunset had been groomed, so next I headed there, also up to my knees, and then into the Moonlight Trees - very fluffy, very deep (the rope had been dropped today I think), and so I took my first video.

 

The snow Gods are smiling down on northern Colorado this week, making up for lost time, filling in the holes, and bringing joy to all the little powderhounds.



Our wee gaggle of single trackers honed in on first Gondy and first chair at Four Points today, (a-thankyou Craig!) and we were chomping at the bit after hearing a patroller say we got 18" in the last 24 hours.  It's the never-ending storm, so much so that I honestly can't - no really - remember when it started.  We are skiing ourselves into shape quickly on Mt. Werner, and no one's complaining. In fact, we're downright bragging. Everytime I look at my Ski Report app (get it, awesome), Steamboat still has the highest dropcount. 10" on this morning's report, but it's so much deeper than that. We're inching our base above 40 now... soon the trees will be safe again!

Rudy's and Blizzard were magic velvet, and it just kept getting better from there.  From 4P we did a Nelson's - Hurricane, hooting and hollering and OMG-ing the whole way down.  I was watching Craig get face shot after face shot on every turn, with snow billowing over his head (nearing goggle failure) , and up above my own knees in spots.  It felt like a backcountry day, weaving the outside of the track before me to assure freshies the whole way down. Glorious.  Hurricane was so nice, we had to hit it twice, taking Storm up to do a "Nose" run down the center of the face and then over to Hurricane's creamy left side.  There was nothing to do but smile, shit-eating-grin style.  It was perfect, every last bit of it. 

More terrain and lifts are opening every day- and today it was Sundown, so from there we headed over to do a Clock lap, from 3 to 2 to Daybreak, all good, all deep, all the time. Then another Nose lap to get us down before we headed into work.


It's still coming down out there, check the grooming report for openings, stay safe, and see you In the Deep!  (Which looks like it'll be tomorrow once again!)

Still snowing....
In lieu of a verbose description of today's 6" we got to chew up, here's a video to wet your whistle...


It was great to get up with my powderhound today,  and it looks like more snow's on the way, so stay tuned to this channel!

Powder daaaaayyy!  Celebraaaate!

Yeah that was good. We needed that. Big time.

Of course there were 300 locals chomping at the bit, and there still isn't much open, but compared to brown everywhere the white is a winter welcome for sure. It's been snowing since... I forget, Saturday? Literally. Some have told me Sunday was pretty good, but all I know is today - and it was brilliant! They've reported a foot or so in 48 hours, and so I say, Let the Games Begin! 

I'll be the first to admit, prior to today, I wasn't into it. I had no qualms about hiding out, not tuning boards, not embracing the hill until - gasp - January if I had to. But when this storm hit - and stuck to Storm Peak like glue - and piled up snow like icing on my deck railing - I shifted. Finally!  It's winter the in 'Boat! Big fat flakes comin' down!

I repeat, not much is open - so we got a safety announcement in line today from Ski Patrol: "We're blasting the top today, so for your safety, obey the closure lines," and get ready, 'cuz the rest will open later this week!

So I rallied with a boarding bunch today, 8:15 at the Gondy, the line not filling the maze, everyone hooting when we got to the top. It was Alicia's 10th day (homegrown Steamboat girl is all about it! Best facials in town for those of you who come visit!), George's second (and his excitement was barely containable because he's had to take the last two years off!) and my first- and no matter what day it was, we were all ready to rip up some of the good stuff.

We headed to White Out first, but the cat track was too deep - Alicia and I made it as far as Norther, and bombed down the first pitch with a vengeance! I was in shock by the 2nd turn, it was deeper than I expected, fresh tracks, powder puffs, it was glorious.  Again, since none of the top is open, BC lift was all we got.

We laugh at our spoiled-ness here, not waiting in lines, ever... but the massive line (for the Boat) at BC today didn't matter. We charged it thrice, and it was quick, social, and full of smiles.

After Norther, we were temped by BC liftline but passed it up for White Out and while it wasn't quite as good - with 300 locals, 5 runs get tracked up in a heartbeat - it was still very nice.  See?




By the time we took our last mid mountain run -  Velvet to Rainbow - I was realizing I have thought I was in shape, but "powder-shape" I'm not, and I was ready to call it quits.  

The Dayz and Vogue did not fare so well with the new snow... the "machine" snow is what I've been avoiding since opening day - it's not predictable, it ices up quick, and it's just simply not Godly. Like Steamboat's famous Champagne is.  But those first three were worth the last one. Unquestionable.

The skies look like they're quitting for now, so it may be a while before you see me again... but when they unload upon us, you can guarantee we'll see you In the Deep! Hopefully next time with my trusty PowderHound.

Wishing everyone a happy holiday season!~

I'll admit, it's been hard to get excited about snow when it still seems like September outside, when the east coast is getting so pummeled that talk of weather seems insensitive, and when there's so much else to think about - events, growth, progress, change; yet when the forecast barrels down on us with something this big, the buzz finally spreads.



It was just 12 short months ago when I posted It's comin' right for us! (11/14/2011),  excited for a new year, that was more of a bust than a boast like the years prior (some seasons we were posting as early as October 4th!). And here we are again, like Groundhog Day, with Craig's monoski loaded into his car for an adaptive training weekend in Breckenridge, telling me, "It's coming right for us!" Just in the nick of time. 

The system looks like the 1500-mile stretch of Armageddon-like weather that's been hitting the east coast. Spreading from north of Calgary to the New Mexico border, this storm is so impressive the Weather Channel named it Brutus. And yea, it's comin' right for us with a Winter Weather Advisory from 6pm tonight to 6am Sunday, bringing 4 to 8 inches, 50mph wind gusts, and starting with snow above 9000ft tonight, then down to the valley floor after midnight. It may even be early, the headwinds just arrived.

So enjoy today's sunshine, it's hopefully the end of it.  We say let the fun begin, it's time to praying for a deeper winter than last year, safe months on the slopes, and lots of smiles.

See you In the Deep!  Bring it on!

A great Bluebird day in the 'Boat and we got to share a few hours on the slopes with Butch, our southern buddy who just plain rips... and for us to say that, you know he's fast!


It was a spring day out there, and it's although a nice change from the cold we've had, the Almanac says nothing major until the 3rd week of March.  2 weeks of warm weather is going to wreck that good February snow.  Snow Dance time!

So the three of us spanked it down Rolex, Flintlock, 2O'clock, Face and Rainbow, as well as making some fast and wide GS turns on Sunshine Liftline and Tomahawk.  It sure was fun skiing with two monos again!




Here's praying for snow so we can see you In The Deep!  Just five more weeks of ski season, and it feels like it just began...

Today's 6am report said 4" and snowing.  That's what we call a "sleeper" report.... that's a good thing. 

sleep·er
noun /ˈslēpər/
9. A movie, book, play, etc., that achieves sudden unexpected success after initially attracting little attention, typically one that proves popular without much promotion or expenditure.

In addition to that, it keeps those lazy sleepers in bed, and leaves the rest of us with all their leftovers.  Needless to say, I took 5 runs down Pony before Craig caught up with me (delayed due to work) and there was still plenty of snow to be had at 10am.  I have officially skied myself into shape when I can ski 3 hours of - yes, A FOOT - of powder and not complain to my dance instructor that afternoon.  Booya! You can't build that shit in the gym.

So you heard me right, it was a foot of fresh today.  And it was GLORIOUS. 4 inches my ass.

I was about 20th car on the Gondola and 15th chair on Four Points, with unbelievably tasty lines down Twister - imagine about 10" over a fresh groomer and then go change your knickers.

My five runs in the 'Ridge were solitary, and I had a fresh-Zamboni feeling the first run down Longhorn- not a single track in front of me, and light, knee-deep powder over soft cord.  Seriously priceless.  I managed to stop myself and get a clip of those who trailed me; Jonathan, "this buds for you."  Great turns.



Following that I chewed that land up and spat it out - bombing down Middle Rib, Diamond Hitch, Nash Junction, Cabin Fever, Perry Park, and WJW, coming out with a stellar run down Vortex and hitting the bottom of the Storm Peak Lift Line with hollers from above as I bounced over the powder pillows.  Thanks Pony lifties, I'm sure you got sick of seeing my backside this morning.

Craig caught up with me at Storm and we headed east, finding the deep stuff on Sunset, in Moonlight Trees (video), Sundial and Ramrod as usual.  But for the first time - in perhaps ever - we meandered off Sideburn into Closets - for Craig, those tight trees and unfamiliar lines aren't good, but that part of the Closet is pretty wide open. We came back out onto Sunset again so we took the Moonlight Trees twice. Yum.


And it's not snowing now, but that storm is a big'un, and dropped a foot in Park City last night so we're hoping there's some left in those clouds for us. Timing is everything, and we sure love those Sleeper Days when the best snow falls after that 5am report.

-See you In The Deep!

There are obvious rewards for patience. For those who have said all year, "it will come, it always does," with that deep inner peace of knowing that winter was just around the corner; for those who read the Farmer's Almanac and said, "it's always right, just believe;" for those who enjoyed every blue bird groomer day anyway thankfully, this week is your week.  Your patience has paid off.

Twenty seven whopping inches yesterday broke the Steamboat record for deepest day.  And it was probably 35" by the time I came down after 10, perhaps 38 or 40 by the end of the day?   Yeah, that's three feet!

Today the ski area reported another 9" at 6am, definitely more like 12-15" in Pioneer Ridge by 9am, and it's  snowing sideways with those big fat pancake flakes that stick to your jacket and goggles and pile up fast and furious.  We're looking at another two feet today...

But it doesn't stop there. Tonight we're in the middle of a Winter Storm Warning (I love these, but it seems redundant to warn people of an eminent danger when we can look outside our window and see it's already here).  They're calling for another two feet.  I can add, that's 5-6 feet in 3 days.  Has there been a week like this since the epic 1996 January that held the record of 26" in 24 hours that we broke yesterday? 

I saw this in a Pirate Theater once... I think it's time to bring "24 in 24" back this year boys!

Today I did laps down Pony with the girls, Cabin Fever, Diamond Hitch, Royal Flush, Ambush, Longhorn, Flying Z, Drop Out, and every where we went it was the same story- bottomless leftovers from yesterday with a fresh coat of Champagne frosting. Especially in the trees. Can't beat that.

My last thoughts: Thank you Mardi Gras Gods.  It always dumps the motherload on Fat Tuesday!

I didn't take out the camera today because it was intensely blowing, and my sit-skiing powderhound was at work... so today's video is brought to you by the best at Steamboat:


©Steamboat2012


Keep it coming, Mama, thank you for this week's love In the Deep!

We called the snow report this morning twice at 5:30am. Then again at 6:30. It was so funny, we recorded it.

"Did she say twenty seven inches?"  And she did say it was still snowing.

Around 7 I checked my snow report app on the Droid to be sure ~ Vail: 0".  Winter Park: 4".  Steamboat: 27".  Holy shit. Patience pays off.

I've lived here since' 98, and I don't remember a day like this. Craig's lived here since '94 and said "that Fat Friday in January of 1996 is the only thing comparable to this."  Today may very well go down as the deepest powder day on record.  Watch for the press release, powder fans.

When we rolled into Gondola Square at 7:40am, there were hundreds, perhaps a thousand, people in line for First Tracks.  It was laughable, they had to cut the line off at 8:20 to get ready to load the regular paying customers. We hopped in before they did, and from the top, beelined it to Four Points and made 10th chair, never once thinking to go over to Sunny Side today. Can you imagine? 800 people on 3 O'clock. Right.

From 4P, we took the first turns down Tornado and Oh-My-God.  Words barely describe, Champagne was up to my ribs and Craig literally couldn't see. He looked like a mole, and had to stop every 2-3 turns to get his bearings. To do it right, there was no turning... it was straight ahead or get buried, with all of Storm Peak Lift riders hooting down at you.

Our second run was no different... from Storm Peak North we tried to get to Cyclone, to no avail- it was just too deep.  We wound up on Rainbow and took Hurricane down, laughing hysterically the entire way.

Next run, we were damned if we were getting to Cyclone, so we hit Buddy's, which was not so deep unless you hit the trees, and on the left it was about thigh deep (no one here is complaining). Cyclone was where we caught our videos... and Drop Out was ridiculous: bombing bottomless bumps like a porpoise, I should have gotten some images of Craig here, but I was too busy trying to stay afloat! 

I have only one word for today.  EPIC.





What a day for surfing In The Deep!

Jesus its coming down and no signs of stopping!

After five days of skiing and a stompin-fast African Dance class this week, I wasn't sure my body could handle the additional 9" on top of it all, man is Mother Nature piling it on!  But between a morning and afternoon meeting today I managed to make it up for about 90 minutes of powder hunting.

As I love to challenge myself when riding alone, today I decided to avoid riding the same lift twice, and went from the Gondola to Pony to Storm Peak to Sundown to South Peak to Elkhead, and think it might be a fun day to try and ride every one them once, as I am pretty sure I've never done that in one day!

The powder wasn't as elusive as I thought it might be not arriving until about 10:15; thanks to a lull in visitor numbers right now the hill was deserted.  (Although I did hear one tourist say from South Peak as we were looking up High Noon, "See honey, how crowded that is? We just need need avoid the busy runs." Lady, you have no idea what busy is apparently.)

I started out with a few Norther trees, knowing the shape it was in from yesterday, and from Pony I took Nash Junction to Chuckwagon to Drop Out.  From the top I traversed to upper 3:00 and then on to 1:00 and into 12:30, back to about 1:30 into the grove below Daybreak.  Then knowing that the Sundial grove doesn't ever seem to get eaten up, I headed there for the freshest powder of the day.  Then on to Pup's right side trees and South Peak for a West Side bomber, no powder there but the soft groomer provided a nice a break, as did Vagabond down, as I had to take the fastest route, pushing my noon meeting time to the edge.


What a week it's been!  3+ feet of snow this week and counting!

Happy Valentines Day!  It's another powder day in the Boat amigos y amigas, and we've been awarded for our patience, Pony Express opened today and Pioneer Ridge was amazing.  I only had about 90 minutes this morning, but enough for 3 sweet luscious laps in the Ridge, unfortunately without my Valentine, who got up there about an hour after I did.

But I didn't ride alone and made some turns In the Deep with Alicia (today's photographer, Steamboat native) and Peter, who has lived here since 1974 and therefore native as well. 

We started out with a lap up Four Points and down Cyclone and Drop Out, exploring the trees and about 10" of fresh, which has now pretty much covered up that ccrrrrrr sound beneath.  From Drop Out we headed right over to a newly opened Pony, which hasn't been open all year due to abysmal conditions, leaving the 16 or so in the last few days wide open for us, glorious us.  We went right to Fetcher's Glade and the bottom of Middle Rib, surfing and yipping like it was early season again.  Another lap up left me with little time to make my 10am Zero Waste meeting, so I did Cabin Fever to Longhorn to WJW- which I have always thought should be called WOW instead, and was tearing up at the return of winter. 

I must say, I'm glad I took yesterday off to work out and bulk up, because after 3 days of riding Friday-Sunday, my rudder leg was outright whining. 

A last note, it was clouding up around run two, and started snowing upon my descent down Valley View... and suffice it to say, it hasn't stopped snowing since!  BIG FAT FLAKES, tomorrow is going to be another beautiful powder day in the Boat.  Winter, we love you, thanks for sticking around.

See you In the Deep!

Today was a strange ski day. Having worn myself out the last 2 days in dense powder, I was like cold molasses moving down the hill today.  We didn't get up until around noon, as the sun was trying to poke its orb through the clouds, unsuccessfully... those clouds were extremely close all day, lightly snowing midmountain, densely foggy at the top, and by our last run, they'd broken open and begun to dump large silent snowflakes that stuck to my goggles like glue. 

We stayed up until about 2:30, mostly saving ourselves for the rest of the week, as the snow was soft on the groomers, hugely bumped up on the rest, and caked over in the trees, and snow is on the forecast for the next 3 days!

Thank God for the farmer's almanac, Winter has finally arrived.

-See you In The Deep

Just because we've had so few, because it was a gorgeous blue day, and because its Saturday, I decided I had no choice but to "Take 2!" on the powpow. I made it to the Gondy at 8:10 and was in the same spot of the singles line I was yesterday, about 25 people back: so far so good.  But I heard from the gate keepers that it was a record First Tracks (locals get 1 free Feb FT with their season pass) so I knew immediately I wasn't headed for the usual routine on Sunnyside... chomp chomp little Pacmen have already been tasting for an hour.

With that I decided I'd take a different approach and ski nothing that I had done yesterday to make my day more fun.  And away I went...

Up FourPoints and down a groomed Cyclone, catching powder in the leftside trees, lovely, soft, untracked, and vacant.  Down to Dropout, also groomed but just as soft, surfing in and out of powdermounds on the left. 

The Storm line was long, even on the backside, and I'd had it in mind that Morningside was likely still very nice and very untouched, so away I went, and it was so nice, and vacant, that I stuck around until 945 when the line grew too big for my liking.  In and out of trees and the glades on skiers right, back up to where Keith's aptly named Kodak for its picture perfect shots, I coulda stayed there all day, but had a great three runs to some Dave Matthews, The Who, and Zeppelin. 

From my last trip up MS lift I got a off the windblown top and down into Big Meadow, then taking CalfRoper all the way to Rainbow trees above Moonlight. Delightful in the trees, but still a little dangerous... I found a 2' wood ramrod in Wristband that would have gored me if I wasn't taking it slow in the tight grove.  But it made me chuckle, as I'd just skied Sundial to Ramrod before that.  Sundial won "nicest run of the day", and I'd have done it twice if Wristband hadn't taken my steam and dumped a foot of coldness down my pants... I was having trouble "committing" to my turns in there on the 162. Bugga, it was then quittin time.  And I think these new pants need a belt on powderdays...

NO complaints, all in all a fabulous Round 2 to the storm that laid a foot in the Yampa Valley. Winter has arrived!  And Craig's off work for the next 2 days so I'll be back at it tomorrow for some turns with the boys!  I might just have to miss the Carnival festivities... nothin' we ain't seen before.

-See you In The Deep! 

A good powder day is like a good set list at a live show... you're constantly excited about what's coming next. Today was one of those days, a rare one this year, where the foot of fallen fresh was only made better by what was coming out of the Skull Candy as I took some turns solo. 

So without further adieu... hum along if you so choose.

Sweet Emotion> Sweet Leaf (Sabbath v.)> Jealous Again> Isis> Feeling Alright> TNT> Sunshine of Your Love> List of Demands> I've Seen all Good People> Iron man> Higher Ground (Chili Peppers v.)> Smells Like Teen Spirit

So with that in your mind...
Rudy's> 4 Points> Dusk> Rainbow> Moonlight> Sundown> upper Priest Creek lift line> 3 o'clock> 12:30> lower 1:00> Andy's Stash> untracked left side High Noon> Sundown> Keith Ridge> Sunshine lift line> Pump House> South Peak> Westside> Wristband> Elkhead> Velvet trees> Sundown> Sideburn> Mustache Meadow> Rainbow> Park Lane> Concentration> Eagles Nest> Giggle Gulch lane and meadow> Short Cut.

My DoubleTwist app picks the songs at random but they're always perfect... EG Bob Dylan's Isis: "The wind was a-howling and the snow was outrageous!"  Or the infamous T.N.T on Keith's Ridge, our longboarder'd be proud.

They're reporting 10" but there was a wind blown foot in spots, and I found untracked goodies in the trees (no I will not tell you where Andy's Stash is) and I'd say it's finally about that time that I'm not holding my breath over logs in the woods.  Here's lower Pump House>South Peak for ya...



Oh thank God - it's finally In The Deep! 

Farmer's Almanac is calling for snow starting Valentines Day... I'm not holding my breath, but I'm sure praying they're right.  We're overdue.

-See you In The Deep one of these years...

It was a chilly 12° when I looked at the gauge this morning, but by the time we got to the mountain, the sun was warming things up nicely for a balmy Bluebird Sunday on the slopes with friends, both visiting and local. 

We started out making a few long runs -sans turns- with the Krauthamers, from MD, who have been coming to Steamboat a couple times a winter for two decades and who expressed great appreciation for our local adaptive program STARS and how far it's come in just its two short official years on the slopes, and how different it is from 20 years ago...  STARS put 60 clients on the snow yetserday, but today was a pretty quiet day around there so Jeffrey got the golden treatment with instructors and volunteers setting him up in a Bi-Unique sit-ski for the first time.  His usual rig of choice was the Mountain Man sit-ski, but adaptive king George Hurley urged Jeff to test it out for its maneuverability and better size-fit for JK, and it sure seems they all made the right choice.  Jeffrey's turns today were better than we'd ever seen. 

We took the first big run down Tomahawk, and a second lap down Flintlock, both in grrrreat shape.  



After it was time for JK to head down, Craig and I took a run down Buddys to Cyclone, found some ice on Tornado Lane, and headed back to the top where we ran into pals, all deciding to head back over to "Wally World" where the snow was just softer.  Another lap down Flintlock, then Sunshine Liftline, then 1 O'Clock, and a top-to-bottom with "Candyland" Kim from Fuzziwigs (visitors if you haven't tasted their sweets, you're missing out! Corner of 9th and Lincoln!), another summer hiking buddy of mine "Pinky" Liz, and Craiger's old buddy "CoolBreeze" Matty - poor guy's a Patriots fan but we skied with him anyway.  

There's nothing that makes Bluebird Steamboat days better than taking turns with friends.  Love you guys!



-See you in the Deep (one of these days, in big years, this statue is usually buried!)

Steamboat's had a good dumping of snow in the past few days while we were in Denver and we came home yesterday with eyes on the prize for skiing this morning's leftovers - and glad we did.  It was a beautifully warm midday under "Giants-Blue" skies (watch out Patriots!); we got up at about 10:40 and made turns for about 2 hours with Pops, aka Wild Bill, who was ashamed today was his first day of the season. (Some Local!)

We rode the lifts up and made our first mid-mountain turns down Rudys to Storm - soft groomer for carving!  We got wind that Sundown Lift was closed, so we skirted from the top to Sunshine and down the lift line and what a glorious run that was - groovy-soft rollers, powder along the sides in the trees, and I punched a little into Pumphouse and was pleased I did, cotton-ball fresh. And then came the burn for Old Man Kennedy, this is why we call it "skiing into shape."  That long run reminded Wild Bill he shoulda been riding his trusty treadmill more often!

We rode up Sunshine and took Flintlock this time, where I trailed our monoskier all decked out in his #10 Manning jersey. Why not, he'll be wearing that for 2 more weeks mind you. And hopefully more... but this isn't the place to talk football.

Watch and learn...

Good news, more snow is on the horizon - it seems Steamboat is finally out of its doughnut-hole! Time to build that base! 

-See you In The Deep!

Unquestionably, undeniably, our first full-on powder day of the year, today's foot of fresh brought the hoots, hollers, and yip-yips from locals that Winter's smile is all about.  But don't be fooled, it wore us out. And froze me out. It's a chilly-will up there today, with a -16 report on the 5am.

It snowed all day yesterday, starting while it was still warm, and bringing about 2-3" of heavy stuff, a perfect buffer layer over that unmentionable stuff beneath that we've been grimacingly skiing on for weeks now.  Then came the buttery layer; I wouldn't call it the Steamboat Champagne™ - it was heavy enough made turning not an option.  Today was brought to us by the letter P for point and go, and stick to the steeper stuff.  Unless someone broke trail for you, but since we were first, there was none of that!

We rode first car on the Gondy, got to Four Points 2nd in line behind a die-hard skinner (where all those behind us were chompin' about how great Rudy's was!) and bombed our way (hooting) down the knee deep glory on Sunset to the western gully of Moonlight trees.  A ride up Sundown gave the view of what First Tracks had chewed up, and we opted for Keith's Ridge to Sunshine LL's left side to 12:30, but never made it there.  The cut through the trees from Sunshine to High Noon was formidable, and I had to opt for the connector lane (found a frozen mouse-icle on the cat track, indicating the sub-zero temps) while Craig burned his guns out on a High Noon traverse to 1:00.  I found him at the bottom there - catching the lovely thigh-deep pow at the bottom of 12:30 mind you - and snapped this:



We did another run down 3:00 to 2:00 to Daybreak and were puffing for a top-to-bottom by then. It's time to ski yourselves in shape peeps.  We took Elkhead to Norther (omg HERO soft bumps for some more hooting), to Storm Peak for a SP-Face to Mustache Meadow (BEST run of the day without fail) to Rainbow and out.

While the snow fell early enough yesterday to fall prey to the night crew grooming schedule, even those groomers were nice again - with the only-occasional growl underneath.

I told her yesterday, "Winter, please stick around," and it looks like she will; snow is yet again on the forecast.  Check the Almanac, uncanny prediction for Winter's commencement on January 16 in the Western Rockies.  HOW do they do that??


-See you in the Deep once again-

We'll take what we can get this year, and the 2" last night turned into 5 or  6 on Morningside in the afternoon due to all the winds!  I took some late-day turns with the monos down Kodak and had a blast!  But brr, was it cold and windy!



Tomorrow is the last day of the camp, and the first time in 7 years that we've been unable to do Powdercats for lack of snow.  While as sad as that seems, it'll be nice to spend one more day with these amazing athletes on the hill! 

We're heading out for another great day on the slopes, and if you want to help by donating to these amazing partnering program that bring adaptive adventure to Steamboat, check out this movie tonight - call STARS to pick up the last tickets before it sells out!

Featuring many skiers and riders you might know, including Adaptive Adventure's own Matt "Hollywood" Feeney. :)