Best Weekend of the Season!

SNOW: 6" (24 hrs); 15"(48 hrs); Base: 76"; Total: 414"
CONDITIONS: Powder/Packed Powder
LIFTS: 16/18
TRAILS: 165/165
TEMP: 32/11
This weekend was my best weekend of the year so far. Sure, I have had several epic powder skiing days this year, days which definitely go down in my top 10 ever. But this weekend was the perfect combination of weather ...
Saturday was a perrrrrfect blue-bird day. Being warm and sunny, there was no need to rush up to the ski resort before a lazy sleep-in and a big breakfast. Chris and I cruised around the mountain, enjoying fast groomers and soft moguls. For the first time this year, we made it to Slopeside Bar to enjoy Sunshine and Sunshine Wheat Beer with friends. Sunny days and extended apres skiing are definitely some of my favorite winter days.
Then, on Sunday we woke up to 9 inches of new snow!!! Alas, no sleep-in. But it was worth it! The conditions were unexpected, and brilliant. Definitely one of my best days ever. First, we dropped into the trees to the left of Heavenly Daze and around Teds Ridge. The powder was untracked and sailing over my knees... and this was only the beginning. Every run we took on Sunday was hypnotic. Every run we found was untracked. I couldn't believe our luck!
The Steamboat Ski Resort continues to report new records for this season. These stats translate to personal stats for all of our resident ski bums. 414 inches of snow means that we can expore deeper and deeper into Steamboat's infamous trees. Ski terrain for the very first time, terrain that can only be dreamed of when there is enough snow to cover the natural hazards. No matter how long any of us have been here, and now matter how many days we have each skied, I challenge anyone who believes they have skied every possible run on the mountain.This is the beauty of the Steamboat Ski Resort.
So, what are the latest stats?
Steamboat Ski Resort Press Release, March 3, 2008: "Steamboat recorded another snow milestone this morning, recording a 400-inch Champagne Powder snow season for just the 6th time since 1979/80. This is the fastest the resort has reached the 400-inch level and is just three inches ahead at this date of the record holding 1995/1996 season when it finished the season with 460.25 inches."
"Since November 21st, snow has fallen 78 out of 103 days (75.7%) with 45 of those days recording four or more inches. This season at mid-mountain, the resort has seen 17 inches in October; 23 inches in November; 126 inches in December (3rd snowiest); 129 inches in January (2nd snowiest) and 104 inches in February (2nd snowiest); and 9 inches in March for a combined total of 408 inches (34 feet).
In addition to registering another four-wire winter, the resort hit three key milestones within just a month of each other: surpassed 300-inch mark on 2/1/08; six days later surpassed 350-inch mark on 2/7/08; and today surpassed the 400-inch mark. Furthermore, Steamboat-Ski Town, U.S.A.® received more than 100 inches of snow for three consecutive months (December, January & February) for the first time in resort history."
Spring skiing in Steamboat Springs is undoubtedly going to be excellent. Unfortunately, there's only 5 more weeks to enjoy this memorable season. Epic snow won't keep the steamboat ski resort open after April 6, but by then, I am itching to get on my mountain bike anyway.