The final countdown to the Steamboat Ski Resort opening day is on! 8 days to go until the unofficial opening day - Winter Sports Club Scholarship Day, Wednesday November 26; and 9 days until the official opening day on Thanksgiving, Thursday November 27. The town of Steamboat Springs emerged this weekend from a week of drizzle and snow. Although has not stuck to the ground in the valley, people venturing above 9,000 feet are encountering winter-like conditions.
The November snow is in contrast to November 2007, when the Yampa Valley and surrounding mountains remained mild and dry right up to an early Thanksgiving. Of course, Steamboat powderhounds know what happened last winter, when the ski area recorded a record 489 inches of snow.
As of November 20 last year, Steamboat Springs had only recorded a trace of snow. Last week, on Thursday November 13, 2008, U.S. Forest Service personnel had observed an accumulated snow depth of 23 inches on Buffalo Pass, above the town of Steamboat.
The Steamboat Ski Area is reporting a 14-inch base on 27 inches of seasonal snowfall as of last Friday morning. The trend suggests the ski area won’t have to postpone its opening as it did last year.
Nordic skiers have been kicking and gliding for a week on the groomed trails maintained by the Steamboat Springs Nordic Council at Bruce’s Trail on Rabbit Ears Pass. The trails are maintained for early-season skiing only in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service and Birgitta Lindgren, of the Steamboat Ski Touring Center.
PHOTO CREDIT: The Steamboat Ski Area reported a 14-inch base and 27 inches of total snowfall as of Friday morning. The winter conditions are in stark contrast to the dry, mild November of 2007. Enlarge photo Larry Pierce/Courtesy
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