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First Tracks in Steamboat
January 25th, 2011When you book Steamboat First Tracks three weeks out to coincide with a client visit, you certainly hope for either a fat Champagne Powder® snow day or a sunny corduroy dawn, but today exceeded all expectations.
My very charming and punctual guests showed up at 7:45am and we immediately boarded the Gondola and headed up the mountain under grey skies and a tolerable 15F/-9C with a report of 1”/2.5cm of new snow. From the top of the Gondola, we rode down Spur Run to Huffmans to the Sundown Express lift, where we claimed chairs #1 and #2 of the day, and as we climbed out of the Sunshine basin, we popped through the clouds into a brilliantly sunny daybreak. Sunbeams peaked through the snow-covered aspens and illuminated the snow surface with a diamond-like sparkle, and the whole world warmed.
Our first plan was High Noon top to bottom, and it was a fast and effortless descent on a smooth as glass surface with enough fluff on top to generate some serious face shots. As I neared the turn to Lower High Noon at Rendezvous Saddle, I recalled that steeper Westside was groomed overnight and would be untouched by other riders, so I lead my posse that way instead. Good choice –very fast and very fun! Next we hit Tomahawk. Yes, it’s a gentle blue Wally World run, but untouched and pristine with the sun coming up and frosted with new powder – oh boy! – we did it twice.
Untouched, pristine powder in Steamboat
Then our private mountain opened up to the general public, so we made a move across the top to Storm Peak Face to Triangle Trees to Cyclone to Vortex – all steep black runs groomed overnight and riding beautifully. The Burgess Creek lift then took us back up to Thunderhead for warm beverages and breakfast at the Stoker Bar. Once rested and refueled, it was time to fulfill a request for some tree skiing. From my favorite munchkin forest to the right of Buddy’s Run (not on the trail map – come and see me and I’ll take you there!) to the Sideburn side of Shadows, we were marveling at the depth and lightness and softness of the snow.
Then alas it was time to get on down and back to the desk, though I could have gone on snowboarding all day, as the turns were so free and easy. This was day #22 for me this season, and it definitely goes down as one of the top five so far! I also heard a couple of “best day evers” from my riding partners.
Steamboat stats for today, 24 January:
- 250”/635cm total snowfall to date
- Midmountain base of 72”/183cm
- 96”/244cm at the top (I must remember to get a picture by the Buddy Werner statue at Storm Peak – I’m now taller than him, and he stands 14 feet /427cm high in summertime!)
Fantastic first tracks in Steamboat
Steamboat Snow Update
November 16th, 2010Very warm greetings from my cold, white world in Steamboat, Colorado! We’ve had 23cm of new snow in the last 24 hours, and we already have a 61cm settled snow base at mid-mountain at the top of the Gondola. I also see snowy days and/or cold days in the 10-day forecast, and although I would not dare second guess Mother Nature, all signs indicate an amazing Steamboat opening day on November 24.
I spent both weekend afternoons up on Emerald Mountain in downtown Steamboat Springs. On Saturday we hiked the 3-mile Lupine Trail up to the quarry in snow clogs, but after constant snow all day and night Saturday and through Sunday, too, we were very happy to have snowshoes and poles on the same trail yesterday.
23cm of new snow in the last 24 hours!
The uphill was challenging but fun, and we took Blackmeer Drive back down, where we ran into three snowboarders, several happy dogs and one mountain biker with the biggest fattest studded tires I’ve ever seen. The snow kept dumping throughout the night, too as evidenced by the 15cm or so that I cleared from my driveway before my slow and cautious drive into work this morning. There are a bunch of smiling faces around here for a Monday!
Only 8 days until Steamboat opening day
Make your plans and get here! If you want to keep an eye on Steamboat and see their latest videos – click here
Regards from snowy Steamboat
February 26th, 2010Today’s 5am Steamboat snow report indicated a small but welcome 5cm/2″ at mid-mountain and 10cm/4″ at the summit. However, when I was shoveling my driveway at 7am and fighting a losing battle against Mother Nature, trying to clear my way out before she erased my hard work, I knew that a lot had happened since the snow stake was checked pre-dawn. And I was right!
Finding myself in a generous and selfless frame of mind and with meetings on my midday schedule, I decided to check out Steamboat snow conditions on the first gondola so that I could provide detailed information to my esteemed friends and colleagues. I rode up the gondola with some nice folks from Fort Collins, CO who were up for a long weekend, and together we planned a ski itinerary for them. Good thing, too. It is definitely a day to have local knowledge or a local buddy, as visibility is as limited as the snow is fabulous. We’re talking superlatives here, folks!
First turns of the season in Steamboat
December 21st, 2009Here is the first of our reports straight from Steamboat, Colorado. Jenny O’Farrell, Steamboat’s International Sales Manager, will be bringing you regular updates during the course of the season on what’s what on and off the slopes in Steamboat.
Saturday 19 Dec.
19/12/2009 | Bluebird days over Steamboat | Photographer: George Danellis
“Today I finally put away the golf clubs and acknowledged winter’s obvious intention to stick around for a few months, and boy, am I glad I did! My first turns on the mountain this year were so much fun! As we spoiled rotten long-time locals often do, I’ve been waiting for that first epic dump of Champagne Powder snow for my season debut, but a text from my pal Tele Kelly this morning inviting me out for a few runs changed my timeline. The 64 inches/162cm of natural snow that have fallen so far, the excellent work of our very talented Steamboat snowmaking crew, and the sustained sub-freezing temperatures have combined just perfectly for some great early season skiing and riding conditions.
After having checked to make sure I had remembered all of my gear, we headed up the Gondola. I was thinking of heading down Vagabond to confirm muscle memory from last April, but Kelly convinced me to head down Rudi’s Run to Blizzard to the Storm Peak lift to head up the mountain instead. And right she was! My first turns on Rudi’s had me hooked all over again, and we enjoyed some fabulous runs. Buddy’s Run is smoothly groomed with about 1 inch /2.5cm of soft frosting from the flurries that have been falling all morning. Cyclone, on the other hand, is a challenging mogul field, but I was connecting my turns quite well mostly, with one gentle face plant about halfway down.
Mogul training on Voo Doo for the Olympic Trials this week. | Photographer: Larry Pierce
Even Tornado Lane, known to be a bit firm on the best of days, had perfectly adequate coverage and some loose snow for carving on the flatter bits. We rode Storm Peak lift again to cross over to Sunshine Peak, where we enjoyed a fast descent down High Noon and across Rendezvous Saddle to Rolex. Rolex was a bit messy, with quite a few pine saplings showing their tips, but the snow was sweet. Next we rode Elkhead up and made our way down Heavenly Daze, which is in great shape, and on to See Me, where we stopped to admire the jumps being built on the moguls course for the Olympic Trails coming to Steamboat December 23-24. They’re huge! Then it was down Stampede and back to my desk to tell you all about my day.
Steamboat is ready for you – come check us out!
Happy Winter – Happy Holidays!
Jenny!
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