December 30, 2007 - Out the Window Forecast: More SNOW
We woke to another dump of Champagne Powder this morning. The mountain is reporting 11 inches new. As I write this, Clint is out running the snowblower for probably the 30th time this month. It really has snowed nearly every day in December, which isn’t typically the snowiest one of the season. Makes me curious for what will happen in January. Clint and I had a wonderful day of backcountry skiing yesterday with our friends, followed up by a great dinner party with them last night. Our guests are enjoying all of the new snow, which is helping to create epic stories that they will certainly take home to friends and family.
In what other world do you actually say, Nah, to an 11 inch day. Clint and I are tired and need to be working. So many play days on the mountain and in the backcountry are taking their toll. Clint needs to work and I am feeling generally run down and tired. Summit County saw a wopping 2-3 inches, Steamboat nearly a foot and it’s still dumping out. The resorts to the West of us in Utah are reporting 15 inches this morning, which bodes well for us, since that is where our weather comes from.
We still have plenty of openings for this ski season, so book a vacation now, or as Warren Miller likes to say “You’ll be one year older when you do.”
December 29, 2007 - Backcountry Bliss
December 26, 2007 - Out the Window Forecast: SNOW
It’s official - The Steamboat Ski Area is reporting over 100 inches of snow in the month of December alone. That’s 21 out of 26 days of snow. That must be why our snowblower is acting up.
Yes folks, I kid you not, it is snowing again. After our 2 foot dump on Monday night - Tuesday night, it seems almost comical that we could really be getting more snow! Driving through the City Market parking lot last night had me in awe. There was a pile of snow as big a house, with a front end loader and a dump truck moving it all away. If you have never seen snow like this, then what are you waiting for. I know it’s getting deep, as we can barely see out of the driveway when we back out in the morning. Soon people will start putting flags on their cars, don’t laugh, that really does happen in Steamboat. So put up your windshield wipers and keep praying to the snow gods!
It just keeps comin’ this winter
December 25, 2007 - Can you say 2 FEET?
Yes, we got 2 feet today, really more like 3 feet in places.
December 25 was one of the best ski days ever here in the Boat.
Nuff said. These are all INBOUNDS shots.
December 23, 2007 - Powder Days for Christmas! Thanks Santa!
Our out the window forecast says snow. We woke to yet another powder day, surprise surprise. We are up to 18 out of 23 days of snow in December. November was a bit dry, but December has more than made up for it. As I write this, we are sitting with our guests enjoying a hot breakfast next to the wood burning stove.
We took the camera up on the mountain with us and here is proof that we all got the powder goods on the hill.
Steamboat is rockin! We’ve gotten snow almost every day this month! And there are 5 more days of solid snow in the forecast! We skied yesterday with our guests, Matt and Lindsey. It was a great powder day! I rode my snowboard for the first time in 3 years. I had forgotten how fun snowboarding can be!
Here’s the proof of these outrageous claims:
December 23 and no lift lines at Sunshine? Sweet!
Matt tearing it up on Ramrod
Matt 10 seconds later, buried
Lindsay declares sweet victory
Me enjoying some champagne powder
Emily, smooth sailing as always
December 20, 2007 - Out the Window Forecast Says: SNOW
I worked all day today, but I could see all day over my shoulder that it was snowing pretty good. The snowfall tapered off here in Steamboat around 3PM. I went outside to blow the driveway and around the hot tub and found about 6 inches of snow! Yes! More winter!
After the initial celebration dance, I went about snow removal duties. This is always a great chance to evaluate the type and weight of snow that has fallen. The snow quality was not as good as it was last weekend when I barely had to push the broom over the hot tub lid to remove it, but it was not as wet and heavy as some of the dumps we had up here a few weeks ago. I’m going to call it a B- snow, whatever that means.
The good news is that we have more snow in the forecast for tomorrow, and since it is supposed to be colder, it should be much lighter and fluffier. Throw some champagne on top of the nice new somewhat wetter snow we got today, and you have the makings for a very, very good couple of days of skiing here in Steamboat.
To the guests we have arriving tomorrow, all I can say is that you have excellent timing. Could this be one of the best ski days of the year? It might easily be in the top 10. I guess we will just have to wait and see!
December 15, 2007 - Ski Season in Steamboat Springs Has Officially Arrived
P-O-W-D-E-R
That was the big surprise this weekend. We had two storms at the end of the week that dumped about 15 inches of snow. Given the lackluster snow conditions we have had so far this season, we didn’t expect a whole lot. Boy were we wrong!
Saturday was the first genuine powder day of the season. Emily and I took three guests from the house up for a tour of the mountain. We started on the frontside, riding the new Christy lift up a few times, then on to the Gondola where the ladies stopped to get warm.
It was really, really cold, like freeze the front flap of your jacket solid cold. Mike an I went ahead and skiied down into the Sundown area and did a lap on High Noon and 1 o’clock. This area of the mountain has only just recently been opened, so the snow was in incredible shape
After a lap, we returned to the Gondola, met up with the ladies, and scooted over to Sunshine. Although the Sunshine lift was not open, it was possible to ski down into Sunshine Bowl and then take South Peak lift out of the basin, back over to Sundown, and then back up for another lap. It took a long time to do a lap, so most people didn’t bother. As you can see from this photo, which was taken a 3PM, the goods remained there for the taking all day long!
So, after a shaky start to the season, it looks like winter is finally here! The quality of the snow that we had on Saturday was about the best we ever get here in Steamboat, light, fluffy, airy, dry powder that makes it feel like you are flying with nothing beneath your feet. According to the forecast, we’ve got more coming this week!
Also this week, we are supposed to see Sunshine lift open, as well as Morningside basin, which will improve access and add acreage to what is already opened.
Why are you not here RIGHT NOW?
December 5, 2007 - It’s snowing!
After almost of month of wondering and worrying, it has finally started snowing for real here in Steamboat. We are a still a little behind, but another storm is coming tomorrow.