Hike from Steamboat Gondola to Base Area

My parents are currently visiting from Australia. On Saturday, we (including my dog, Matilda) went up the Steamboat Ski Area gondola and hiked down to the base area. The hike took everyone about 2-2.5 hours (with lots of photo pauses on the way down). It's a great hike for people coming from lower elevations that may find any significant uphill challenging. The trails are predominantly single-track and weave in and out of the Aspen and pine forests. Steamboat Springs is so incredibly green and bursting with wildflowers right now - and I loved every minute. This is one of my favorite Steamboat hiking trails! Here is my slideshow of photos:



And here are some featured photographs:

Maribou Mountain Bike Trails Grand Tour - Steamboat Town Challenge Tonight!

Steamboat Town Challenge Mountain Bike Race #1 at Maribou Ranch tonight! We took the Grand Tour last week on the trails and had a blast. The trails cover a variety of excellent xc terrain with phenomenal views. Whether you like pushing the envelope around tight switchbacks and blind corners or just taking a stroll in the country this place has it all.

For information on other Steamboat Springs activities visit: http://www.resortqueststeamboat.com/SummerActivitiesSteamboatSpringsColorado.htm

Check-out this Steamboat Skiing video (provided by Steamboat.com)

The snow just keeps on piling up at the Steamboat Ski Area. Snow has fallen lightly all day today, representing a break in the epic snow storms. Another powerful Pacific storm is expected to affect the region beginning Friday. Snow is likely Friday night and Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. Pack your powder skis and head to Steamboat Springs!

The numbers speak for themselves!

No Fooling!!!!!
Steamboat Snow Report: 4/1/09 14" in 24 hrs, 21" in 48 hrs and 36" in 72 hrs!

Current Steamboat Weather: Snowing!
Steamboat Weather Forecast: Snow!

Need I say anything more!
I would show you a picture but all you would see is snow.
Stop fooling around, make up any excuse and get to Steamboat to enjoy an epic Spring! Need a place to stay - Check out the great spring lodging deals at ResortQuest Steamboat Vacation Rentals.

Winter storm warning for Steamboat until 6pm Wed. 33" & counting!

Forget about putting spring wax on your skis because the Steamboat Ski Area is boasting over 33 inches of fresh powder snow in 48 hours. In the past 7 days we have received over 63 inches of new snow. So far this year we have received 368", exceeding our annual snowfall average of around 335".

I can always tell a good powder day by the snow on my car. If I can open my car door slightly and slam it to release ALL the snow on my car, I know it is going to be a very special champagney snow day! And that's just how my day powder started...

With more than 30 feet of snow this winter, Steamboat has reached another snow milestone, recording a four-wire winter, when the snow stacks up past the fourth row of fence wires. Yampa Valley ranchers have traditionally measured the severity of a Routt County winter by how high the snow stacks up against their four fence wires.

Snow is expected through Wednesday afternoon!

(Photo provided by Larry Pierce of the Steamboat Ski Area)

Get your snorkels out! Epic powder skiing in Steamboat Springs

Powderhounds: rejoice! Golfers: put away your clubs. Mountain bikers: put away your wheels. Winter has returned to Steamboat Springs with a vengeance to deliver one of the best powder days of the season. Personally, today would officially fit snugly in my top 10 ski days ever!

15 inches of text book Champagne Powder® snow fell on the Steamboat Ski Resort overnight, after a warm bluebird day in Steamboat. That's right - the snow all fell after the last chair came to rest yesterday. Better yet, Spring Break for the majority of the country has ended and Steamboat is blissfully quiet. That means there's plenty of freshies to go around!

The 'groomed' runs had well over a foot of light n' fluffy snow ensuring the smoothest skiing imaginable. And the tree skiing... A few turns in Steamboat's tree runs today prove why we are officially renowned for having the best tree skiing. Period.

Can you remember a time when you had a really delicious meal with friends and family? A meal so delicious that everyone is very quite, albeit the occasional "mmm"and expressions of gratitude to the chef? That's what skiing in Steamboat was like today. It was so peaceful and quiet as everyone floated through the powder, with only the occasional "Yeeeee Haaaaaw" to break you away from your mesmerizing turns.

...and it's still snowing!

There's still time to book a Steamboat ski vacation. Take advantage of some of the best lodging and lift deals ever!

Steamboat Springs Back to Winter - 19" in 48 hours

SNOW REPORT: 9"(24hrs); 19.5"(48hrs); Base:70; Total: 346.25"
CONDITIONS: Powder! Powder! (& some gorgeous groomers)
LIFTS: 15/18
TRAILS: 165/165
TEMP: 25/7

After a few weeks of the most glorious sunshine and spring skiing, the Steamboat Ski Resort has returned to peak winter conditions. Steamboat Springs has been blessed with 9 inches of Champagne Powder snow overnight, 19 inches in the past 48 hours, and even more in the days before that. To top it off, it's Friday and the sun is shining again. A powder day and a bluebird day in one? What more can you wish for in life? Cold temperatures? Well, we have that too and that means the snow is perrrrfect!

Want more good news? There is a break in the storm cycles for the weekend, so be sure to soak up some rays. I recommend hangin' out at the beach at Slopeside, alongside the Torian Plum. And then gear up for more snow to come throughout next week. See our Weather and Snow report. Put your mountain bikes away again and bring out the powder skis once more!The Team at ResortQuest Steamboat would also like to welcome all competitors to Steamboat for the NASTAR National Championships. Good luck! Check-out this great video about NASTAR in the Steamboat Pilot:

• Video: Nastar National Championships, Steamboat 2009

Free Refills in Steamboat!

Restaurants and fast food chains may be getting rid of free refills due to the current economic situation but here in Steamboat Springs if you went down anyone of the 165 trails at the Steamboat Ski Resort this morning you can be assured of getting a FREE refill this afternoon. It has been dumping snow all day long!

Looks like there will be a break in the weather tomorrow. Can you say Blue Bird Powder Day?

On that note I want to go ahead and dedicate tomorrow to all the locals that have survived Spring Break and ask all Steamboat employers to reward the hard working people with a mental health ski day. Who's with me?

If you are not a Steamboat Springs resident get your butt here ASAP to enjoy the awesome ski conditions and the great last minute lodging specials that ResortQuest Steamboat Vacation Rentals has to offer!

(Photo by Larry Pierce of the Steamboat Ski Resort)

Winter back in Steamboat Springs. Snow in the forecast.

After a few weeks of the most incredible bluebird days at the Steamboat Ski Resort, Old Man Winter has returned with his full force. I just love seeing all those animated snow clouds on our weather reports!

The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for Steamboat Springs and surrounding areas until 6 a.m. Tuesday. Between 5 and 10 inches are expected by Tuesday morning. The Ski Area reported 2 inches on Sunday night and it has been snowing consistantly all morning.

A chance of snow will remain in the local forecast through Thursday night. Daytime highs this week will be in the mid- to upper 30s, with overnight lows in the 20s and teens.

The Steamboat ski resort will be closed before you know it and you'll have to pack away those skis until next year. So, what are you waiting for. Booking your Steamboat vacation today!

Springing Back to Blogging about Steamboat!

SNOW: 0"(24hrs); 0"(48hrs); Base:63; Total: 296"
CONDITIONS: Packed Powder
LIFTS: 18/18
TRAILS: 165/165
TEMP: 51/26
Steamboat Weather & Snow Report

A whole month has slipped past without a word from out team here at ResortQuest about the ski conditions in Steamboat. There are several reasons I could speculate the lapse in posts: it's partly because we have been too busy carving up the powder, the groomers, Shadows, Closets and everything in between at the Steamboat Ski Area...

It's partly because we have been too busy accommodating guests at vacation rentals. Yes! Despite what everyone says, Steamboat Springs is still attracting skiers and riders from all around the country. Seriously, how could you pass up a ski vacation here - the Steamboat flight deals are unbelievable! And you won't come by lodging deals like these again, such as our "Every 3rd Night FREE + a FREE upgrade!"

It's partly because our security settings were recently changed and I have not been able to access my blog for a few weeks... hmm.

Excuses aside, we are back in blogging business and ready to report every snow flake, storm and epic dump on the Steamboat Ski Resort.

Steamboat has had some deliciously warm weather the past week. Fortunately we had great snow in December and January, and a good start to February. We have a solid, deep base. As I leisurely skied the groomers yesterday, I kept thinking about how days like this are some of my favorite days. I will never pass up a powder day. However, sometimes the freedom from extra layers, neck warmers, and the biting cold is blissful. On the chairlift, soak up the sun on your face, and on your back while your fly down the corduroy.

Steamboat Straightalker, Riley Polumbus, puts it nicely today: "The grooming crews did another stellar job last night they rolled both Rolex and Westside! Depending on elevation, the snow is either a carvy packed powder (top of Buddy's) or a soft and malleable spring snow (Eagle's Nest). I'm going to give the bumps a couple more hours to soften up and take a few more cruisers, I heard Valley View was fun and it too was rolled so I better get on it!"

By the way, now you can also follow-us on Twitter - Steamboat Condos.

A Flufftastic 13" in the past 24 hours!

SNOW: 13"(24hrs); 15"(48hrs); Base:75"-86"; Total: 244"
CONDITIONS: Champagne Powder® Snow!
LIFTS: 16/18
TRAILS: 165/165
TEMP: 24/4

How often do you get to ski up to the lift at 9:30 am on a powder day? Just one of many reasons why I love skiing the boat.
Not to rub it in but we are winning in total snow for Colorado and about 6" short of hitting the 100" mark for January.

Steamboat Ski Resort receives 25 inches in 48 hours!

SNOW: 16" (24 hrs); 25"(48 hrs); Base: 61"; Total: 175"
CONDITIONS: Champagne Powder® Snow!
LIFTS: 16/18
TRAILS: 165/165
TEMP: 17/14

Yesterday may have been another epic Tuesday in Steamboat Springs, but today is undeniably EPIC Wednesday. 25" in two days! That's a LOT of snow! There's fresh tracks to be found all over the Steamboat Ski Resort. With 16" since yesterday and most of that falling after the mountain closed, there is a lot of snowy territory to cover for even the most ambitious skier or rider. The smooth, buttery snow was absolutely bottomless - just lean back and dig those tails in!

The latest storm pushed the cumulative total for the 2008-09 season to within 6 inches of last year’s record-breaking pace.

Steamboat counted a record 489 inches of snow at mid-mountain last winter and by Jan. 7, 2008, the ski area had seen 181 inches fall at Thunderhead Peak. This year’s cumulative total now stands at 175 inches, ski area spokesman Mike Lane said.

January 2009 is actually ahead of January 2008 as of this morning, according to Lane. The ski area has already seen 35 inches of snow this month compared to 15 inches by Jan. 7, 2008.

This year’s monthly totals include 4.75 inches in October, 35.25 inches in November and an even 100 inches in December. The pattern last winter saw 17 inches fall in October 2007, followed by 23 inches in November and 126 inches in December.

Both years were similar in that the weather was unseasonably mild and dry right up to the hour that snowfall began in earnest in late November.