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...

Cowboys & Powder!

SNOW: 0" (24 hrs); 10"(48 hrs); Base: 63"; Total: 272"
CONDITIONS: Powder/Packed Powder
LIFTS: 16/18
TRAILS: 163/163
TEMP: 24/5 F.

The snow just keeps on comin'! Yesterday was another epic powder day in Steamboat Springs with 10 inches falling overnight, 9 of which fell after the ski resort closed. We have had a mixture of snow and sunshine for days. Another perfect week in paridise.

Unfortuntely, I was not out in the sunshine and on the Steamboat Ski Resort this morning, so I turn to Steamboat's straighttalker, Andy for feedback: "...the cord this morning was like butter, two inches deep and as carvy as carvy can be. The snow in the trees off of the left side of Fawn was still up to our knees and clean in spots, so we got the best of both worlds on that one."

Just in case you missed it, you should check-out the photos from our infamous Cowboy Downhill on Tuesday. The Steamboat Pilot has a fantastic movie of this year's stampede. Check-out the Cowboy Stampede... People travel the world for this event: "Tim Kitching and Bruce Hill were so taken by the Cowboy Downhill last year that they went out of their way to see it again.

“We’re in Breckenridge (on vacation) this year, so we hired a car and came up for the 34th Cowboy Downhill,” said Kitching, of London. “Seven thousand miles for the Champagne Powder and the Cowboy Downhill — and the Fat Tire.” ...Read complete Steamboat Pilot News Article
Need more cowboy action? Check-out the photos at: Steamboat Cowboy Downhill photo gallery...

Is it sunny? Is it snowing?

SNOW: 2" (24 hrs); 7(48 hrs); Base: 60"; Total: 255"
CONDITIONS: Powder/Packed Powder
LIFTS: 16/18
TRAILS: 163/163 TEMP: 22/-7 F.

It feels like it has been snowing forever in Steamboat Springs. Yesterday, the sun peaked through for a few hours in the morning and it was glorious skiing. Today, the sun is trying so hard to shine through the clouds. Could you belive it could be snowing and sunny at the same time? Well it is!

A series of winter storms in December and January have propelled Steamboat to an amazing 20 foot total of snow at mid-mountain! With more snow predicted through the weekend, there are no signs of letting up any time soon. Steamboat is enjoying some of the best snow in the Rocky Mountains and one of the largest mid-mountain bases of the major Colorado destination resorts. Check-out some of the epic skiing photos from this season...

And for a little adrenalin rush, have fun watching the Steamboat Ski Resort Ski Patrollers doing some avalanche control last week during after the epic 25" storm. Steamboat Ski Resort Video...

I love Sunny Days!

SNOW: 3" (24 hrs); 11(48 hrs); Base: 65"; Total: 3"
CONDITIONS: Powder! Packed Powder
LIFTS: 17/17
TRAILS: 163/163
TEMP: 28/4 F.

Today is the day for all those fair-weather skiers to get out and carve up the Steamboat Ski Resort. After last weeks epic snow storms, the resort is is idyllic for skiing and riding, and we are basking in the sunshine. The groomers are "carvy" and there are still powder snow stashes throughout our infamous trees. See you at Slopeside for an apres ski beer!

Are you tired of the powder yet? NOT ME!

SNOW: 8" (24 hrs); 18(48 hrs); Base: 68"; Total: 230"
CONDITIONS: Powder! Powder! Powder!
LIFTS: 17/17
TRAILS: 163/163
TEMP: 23/4 F.

This is my 8th winter in Steamboat Springs, and I have NEVER EVER skied this much snow. Sure, every season we have our famous 14 inch, 16 inch, 12 inch powder days. But never have I skied on days when we receive 20+ inches of snow in 24-hours --- THREE DAYS IN A ROW.

Everyone you speak to in Steamboat right now is exhausted. We have skied until our legs are wobbly for over a week. All this powder is taking its toll. Our bodies ache, and so do our cheek muscles. Your can't wipe the grin off our faces!

I might guess that the hot springs might be pretty popular for the next few days. That is, if we can tear ourselves away from the epic conditions for just a few hours.

It's Deep! Really, really deep!

SNOW: 7" (24 hrs); 22(48 hrs); Base: 62"; Total: 212"
CONDITIONS: Powder! Powder! Powder!
LIFTS: 16/18
TRAILS: 163/163
TEMP: 24/6degrees F.

The snow just keeps on coming. My legs are tired from skiing, and my arms are tired from scraping snow off my car every morning.

A winter storm dropped a whopping 25 inches of new snow in 24 hours yesterday, and today it has been topped up with another 7 inches overnight. For the past 10 days, more than three feet of snow has fallen mid-mountain at the resort and there are no signs of letting up any time soon. Steamboat is enjoying some of the best snow in the Rocky Mountains and one of the largest mid-mountain bases of the major Colorado destination resorts.

The resort is currently in a storm cycle that has yielded:
• 15 inches at mid-mountain and 25 inches at the summit overnight
• 21 inches at mid-mountain and 31 inches at the summit in past 48-hours
• 24 inches at mid-mountain and 39 inches at the summit in the past three days
• 29 inches at mid and 46 inches at the summit in the past four days
• 38 inches at mid and 53 inches at the summit in the past five days.

The resort is reporting a 62-inch base at mid-mountain and 76-inch base at the summit on powder conditions. Since the resort opened on November 30th, snow has fallen 32 out of 42days (76.2%) with 18 of those days recording four or more inches. So farthis season, Steamboat has been blanketed by 205 inches (17.08 feet) atmid-mountain and 192 inches (16 feet) at the summit.

See for yourself! Check-out the Steamboat Ski Resort's video of 10 feet of Snow at the Steamboat Ski Resort...

2 more feet of snow! 10 inches after the resort closed!

SNOW: 15" (24 hrs); 21 (48 hrs); Base: 62"; Total: 205"
CONDITIONS: Powder!Powder!Powder!
LIFTS: 16/18
TRAILS: 160/165
TEMP: 19/7 degrees F.

Yesterday we were hyping 15 feet of snow this season. Today, we are celebrating 2 feet of new snow in 24 hours. This is what Steamboat is famous for. These are the days that will be etched into Steamboatians collective memories forever. If you are not skiing in Steamboat today, you are missing out!

6 inches of new snow overnight, 15 feet this season!

SNOW: 6" (24 hrs); 9" (48 hrs); Base: 52"; Total: 190"
CONDITIONS: Powder!
LIFTS: 16/18
TRAILS: 160/165
TEMP: 30/7
More than 15 feet of new snow has fallen at Steamboat this season! In fact, it has snowed 36 out of 49 days since Nov. 21st. The forecast continues to call for snow this week with Steamboat in very active weather pattern.
I managed to sneak in three runs this morning on the Steamboat Ski Resort. The first run down Rudi's was not spectacular. It was a little hard and scaped away. I was a little dismayed... but the surprize awaited. I found untracked snow down Storm Peak Face; knee-deep powder in Triangle; and excellent conditions down one of my favorites, Cyclone.
Each year I seem to find a different favorite run. The first year it was West Side. I was not yet an advanced skier, and I loved the intimdating vertical on this run, as well as the incredible views of the Yampa Valley. During the epic 05/06 435-inch season, I had many memorable days on Rolex. Last year work commitments kept me in the office, so I was not skiing as often. Hence, I had to seek out the very last stashes in the trees alongside the Sunshine Lift Line trail. This year, without a doubt, I keep migrating to Sideburn. Sideburn is tucked on the edge of the infamous Shadows and Closets tree run, but is a little more open and spits you in and out of some meadows. Today, once again, Sideburn surprized me with some untracked snow.
I wish I had had all day to ski, to have time to stop for a Hot Chocolate, and end the day with Apres ski drinks at Slopeside Bar and Grill. I may not have been lucky enough to ski all day, but I was blessed to ski the few excellent runs that I could squeeze in.
The National Weather Service in Grand Junction has issued a snow advisory warning for Northwest Colorado and is forecasting up to 10 inches in Steamboat Springs. “A strong winter storm will continue to bring snow to the region through this evening,” reads the warning issued Wednesday. Read the full Steamboat Today Article...

9 inches of new snow and more on the way!

SNOW: 9" (24 hrs); 9" (48 hrs); Base: 47"; Total: 176"
CONDITIONS: Powder Powder
LIFTS: 16/18
TRAILS: 160/165
TEMP: 27/15
** Winter Storm Warning in affect until 6pm Monday **

Sadly, I am out of town this weekend, and looks like I am missing another powder day. Fortunately, December's epic skiing is as fresh in my mind as this fresh new snow. I can alomost imagine what it is like in Steamboat.

But for more honest insight, let's turn to the Steamboat Ski Resort's Straightalker, Amy Gregorich: "It’s here folks – and it’s not done yet! The most talked-about storm of the season is looming above us as I write this report for you. It started last night by dropping a buttery 9 inches, and is forecast to continue through today and into tomorrow, too. This storm can’t quite seem to make up it’s mind, either, as there are both clear blue areas of sky and dark, looming clouds."

There is a winter storm warning in Steamboat Springs until 6pm Monday. Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!