Record Snow at the Steamboat Ski Area

SNOW: 0" (24 hrs); 9"(48 hrs); Base: 73"; Total: 399"

CONDITIONS: Packed Powder

LIFTS: 16/18

TRAILS: 165/165

TEMP: 38/20

Today, front page of the Steamboat Pilot & Today Newspaper has the headline "Snow By The Hundreds" blazened across the front. It is official! The Steamboat Ski Resort is reporting record snowfall for three straight months.

"For the first time on record, the Steamboat Ski Area has seen three straight months — December, January and February — with at least 100 inches of snow. Ski Corp. spokeswoman Heidi Thomsen said the resort’s current records go back to the winter of 1979-80. The resort’s current total snowfall is 399 inches at mid-mountain."

"...With 40 days left before the resort’s April 6 closing, this season already is Steamboat’s sixth-snowiest. The resort needs just less than 50 inches of snow for the snowiest winter on record at Mount Werner."
...Read the entire "Snow by the Hundreds" article.

The Steamboat Ski Area on Tuesday was about 48 inches away from breaking the 1996-97 snowfall record.
...Watch Steamboat Pilot & Today Video.

13 inches in 48 hours; 9 inches of snow overnight

SNOW: 9" (24 hrs); 13"(48 hrs); Base: 76"; Total: 399"
CONDITIONS: Powder/Packed Powder
LIFTS: 16/18TRAILS: 165/165
TEMP: 33/10

Yesterday I escaped work at ResortQuest a little early and went for a snowshoe up on Emerald Mountain at the Howelsen Hill Ski Area in downtown Steamboat Springs. To start, the clouds were moody but not threatening; by the time we trudged down the mountain we were caked in big fat fluffy flakes of snow. It was dumping.

Looks like the storm continued through the night and buried the Steamboat Ski Resort in another 9 inches at mid-mountain, and 13" of snow at the summit. This morning, the mountain was socked in, but this afternoon, the clouds have sailed on and the sky is so blue it hurts to look at it.

Sounds like Steamboat's Straightalker, Kat Murphy, experienced the best of the powder day today, and enthusiastically explained: "Yet another powder day in Steamboat! Yesterday and last night more snow fell on the mountain, filling in yesterdays ski tracks and leaving a fresh canvas for powder hounds to carve and design. We have a phrase for it..." Total Reclaim " or just TR . All you need to do is go back to the place you last skied and see if you can still see your tracks. If not, then you are lucky enough to experience TR."

"...The snow this week has a bit more moisture in it. A sign of Spring and slightly more moderate temperatures. Your skis really float on top of it. It is consistent and creamy and makes for really enjoyable carving."

It is snowing again! 6 inches overnight

SNOW: 6" (24 hrs); 8"(48 hrs); Base: 69"; Total: 92"
CONDITIONS: Powder/Packed Powder
LIFTS: 16/18
TRAILS: 165/165
TEMP: 34/12F.

It has been a very long time since I contributed to this blog. The honest truth is that I had been away for two weeks to celebrate my wedding in Steamboat, at Catamount Golf Club House.

In that two weeks, Steamboat had epic skiing and riding conditions, and tons and tons of snow. So much snow in fact that several people attending my wedding almost didn't make it (although their flights were affected by the weather in Chicago, not at the Steamboat/Hayden Airport). Choosing to have a Steamboat winter wedding is not without complications, but everything and everyone came together perfectly!

Tons and tons of snow (nearly 100 inches!) ensured that my friends and family from all over the US and all the way from Australia experienced the best skiing days of their life. Believe me, many of these people are extremely well traveled and have skied all over the world. But Steamboat served up it's finest powder snow in the first two- to three- weeks of February. Best of all, I wasn't here in my office typing about the conditions, instead, I was out and about on the Steamboat Ski Resort, carving up the trails.

Now, after a week of mixed sunshine and warmer conditions, the clouds have rolled in again and the latest storm system has dropped 8 inches of snow so far. Looks like this weather will stick around for a few days, followed by sunshine later in the week, and then more snow to come on the weekend. Spring Break is just around the corner and it doesn't get any better than Steamboat right now!

Here are a few photos from the past few weeks...

Chris and I on our Steamboat Winter Wedding day, Feb 8.

Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival, Feb 9.

Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival, Feb 9.

Steamboat's Valentines Day Torchlight and Fireworks Display, Feb 14

Steamboat's Valentines Day Torchlight and Fireworks Display, Feb 14Steamboat's Valentines Day Torchlight and Fireworks Display, Feb 14

Steamboat Strawberry Park Hot Springs

Steamboat Strawberry Park Hot Springs

...another note: I just love Riley's comments on her Steamboat Straighttalker Snow Report today: "While Hollywood rolled out the red carpet for the 80th Annual Academy Awards last night, we've rolled out the white carpet for yet another powder day in Ski Town, USA® a creamy-dreamy 6-8" at 5 a.m. with more falling from the sky. As Hollywood reached their milestone of 80 years, we are nearing our milestone of 400" just having surpassed the 32 foot mark. Keep it coming! "

Steamboat Powder Alert! 13" Overnight, 14"+ Expected Today/Tonight!

SNOW: 13" (24 hrs); 21"(48 hrs); Base: 75"; Total: 308"
CONDITIONS: Powder! Powder! Powder!
LIFTS: 16/18
TRAILS: 163/163
TEMP: 24/-1 F.

For those of us lucky enough to call Steamboat home, this morning was definitely the day to use (or abuse!) the powder clause! We awoke to quite a surprise - a winter storm blew in overnight, blanketing Steamboat with 13 inches of perfect powder, and better yet, 14+ inches on the way today and tonight. It's time to break out your fattest skis & hit the slopes! Check out our latest specials & join us for what continues to be an epic ski season...