Happy Powder Days - Buffalo Pass above Steamboat Springs 12-8-10

All I can say is wow! It was an ubelieveably gorgeous day up on Buff Pass today.

For more info call Jon at 970-819-6930 or send me an email. I respect your time and will answer your questions without a sales pitch. You can also click back to the Steamboat Springs blog main page or go to my Steamboat, CO Real Estate page if you want to search for property in Steamboat.

Frontier Flights are returning to Steamboat this winter

It's great to see Frontier come back to Steamboat this winter with 2 daily flights to Denver connecting to their national network. It should help keep pricing more reasonable and provide both new connections for people to get here and locals to travel out. They plan to fly Dec 16 until April 10th for now but hopefully they can build that into a year round connection over time.

From the Steamboat Pilot:"Steamboat Ski and Resort Corp. announced Thursday that the airline, through owner Republic Airways Holdings, will offer a daily flight to and from Denver International Airport starting Dec. 16 and ending April 10. The flights go on sale Sun­­day.

Andy Wirth, Ski Corp.’s senior vice president of sales and marketing, said Frontier would fly a 99-passenger Embraer 190 aircraft in and out of YVRA.

For more info call Jon at 970-819-6930 or send me an email. I respect your time and will answer your questions without a sales pitch. You can also click back to the Steamboat Springs blog main page or go to my Steamboat, CO Real Estate page if you want to search for property in Steamboat.

Steamboat: Weather Channel Epic Conditions

Here is a great video from the Weather Channel Epic Conditions series that explains part of why Steamboat gets such great snow. It combines some nice ski video and is a must see for nearly anyone that loves Steamboat. I think that you will enjoy it and may learn a few things in the process. It is a little dramatic saying things like "It Strikes Fear in nearly anyone that comes here. Click here to see the Steamboat Epic Conditions Video

For more click back to the Steamboat Springs blog main page.

First night of Snowmaking in Steamboat!

I walked outside this morning and there was a fog over portions of the lower mountain along with the tell tale sound that snowmaking had begun for the 2009/2010 Ski Season here in Steamboat. Fall is incredible here in Steamboat and one of my favorite times of the year here so I never want it to end but at the same time I can't help myself and dream of skiing with any sign that it is coming soon. I hope that you can join us this year, it has been a cool snowy fall and if this keeps up it could be a great winter.

For more click back to the Steamboat Springs blog main page.

4 weeks until the 2009/2010 Ski Season Begins in Steamboat Springs

I don't know about you but my dreams and day dreams are now filled with powder days and fast cruisers on the mountain not to mention deep backcountry ski days up on Buffalo Pass. Some new gear has somehow found it's way into my collection and I am considering new skis for me and my wife. I will also take the kids in this week for their season rentals. They talk everyday about skiing with daddy on the big mountain and I can't wait to get out with them. Are you ready yet?

For more click back to the Steamboat Springs blog main page.

Farmers Almanac predicts a great snow year in the Rockies!

Farmers Almanac has come out with their predictions for this winter it is looks like Steamboat has a good shot at another great snow year, they call it phenomenal which is sure to have me dreaming of deep powder for the next few months. I would do that anyways but this will make them better. Its been snowing here since early evening so I will take that as a good sign.

Where to Hit the Slopes in 2009-10
The Farmers’ Almanac’s famous long-range weather forecast for the coming winter is calling for an ice cold sandwich,” but what does that mean for skiers?

This year’s forecast indicates that central parts of North America, including the Great Lakes, Plains, and Rocky Mountains, will be cold and snowy, while coastal regions will see milder weather. While that’s great news for skiers who enjoy the rugged, mile-high peaks of the Rocky Mountains, East Coast skiers may be in for a less than stellar year.

All signs indicate an early start to the season in the Rockies. As usual, Colorado will be king. With 54 peaks above 14,000 feet, and an annual average of about 300 inches of snow, resorts in this skier’s Mecca should get more than enough powder this winter for a phenomenal season.

Look for a thick blanket of snow, accompanied by bitterly cold temperatures, to fall throughout December, with frequent storms dropping more of the white stuff through early spring, in Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho, and Alberta, Canada."

The forecast isn't as good in the East so start making your plans to come out and help us stabilize the snow here in Steamboat. For more click back to the Steamboat Springs blog main page.

Snow predicted tonight in the Northern Mountains

I can't help but day dream a little myself, how about you? News 4 predicts 6 to 16 inches ... I say not this time but it could happen. This is the week we always get snow so it wouldn't be a surprise but don't worry we usually have at least another month of great weather before winter starts preparing for opening day here in Steamboat.

Update: the storm never materialized but winter will be here in about a month

Skiing ranks Steamboat #1 in Trees and #2 in Snow behind Alta!

No question there for me but the one key ranking they miss is an easy number 1 for the great people that live and visit here. Steamboat has easily the nicest people not to mention a genuine town that can't be copied from somewhere else like so many other ski towns have been. What do you think?

My advice? Get in a great fall, your gear in order, in shape to burn a lot of great tree runs and your friends in Steamboat will look forward to seeing you a few times this winter. For more click back to the Steamboat Springs blog main page.

Good Morning America comes to the Steamboat Winter Carnival

Steamboat's Winter Carnival drew national attention this year with the arrival of Good Morning America to cover the festivities. Their segment (Watch it HERE click on the plus at the bottom right to see it bigger) did a good job covering a few highlights but there is nothing like being here in person to feel the energy of the kids, spectators and the Steamboat down to earth authenticity that comes for the great people here and can't be duplicated anywhere else.

It warms my soul to be a part of it and seems to have the same effect on everyone there. My 5 yr old son did some of the skiing and night events, my 3 yr old Neve let us know she was ready to join in next year. It is worth a special trip to check it out for yourself so mark it on your calendar for February to join in on the fun yourself. Only in Steamboat...


For more click back to the Steamboat Springs blog main page.

Steamboat Champagne Powder Day

It was "almost" worth living here for today's skiing. Here is a short clip of my wife Wendy skiing 2 feet of fresh powder in the backcountry today. Its just one of the many reasons that we are fortunate to live here.

For more click back to the Steamboat Springs blog main page.

Steamboat is ready for your next visit

I just wanted you to know that we have been working hard here in Steamboat to prepare for your visit over the holidays. We are now open top to bottom but will benefit from the next couple of storms to fill things in and be fully ready. I personally spent some quality time making an intense effort to stabilize the snow pack using my experience to find that vulnerable untouched powder no matter where it may be. We have gotten about 2.5 ft since Thanksgiving day so the trend is going our way. It looks like they are starting to get resolution on this week’s weather and so far it looks good. The next storm is expected Monday through Thursday followed by one more Sunday according to the National Weather service. A Winter Weather Advisory has already been posted for Monday night so let's hope that gets upgraded :) For more click back to the Steamboat Springs blog main page.

Local's Opening Days

The Steamboat Ski Area "Offically opened on it's traditional day before Thanksgiving start date but it is never quite official for locals until the top of the mountain opens. This year it came on Friday for the Gondola and Saturday for the Storm Peak lift and Closets to Twilight. I was fortunate enough to be there for both an got some great powder as is almost always the case when they open the top. There was 11 inches on Thursday night along with the YTD snowfall especially on the runs with some shelter or northern aspects (those were SWEET).

The base up top in the trees was better than I expected at the small cost of not sinking in as much since it had consolidated before the last storm (but that makes for a better base). I don’t think I hit anything despite not really worrying about my skis and my overall where the powder leads me style of skiing. Storm Peak face was as nice as you ever see it and Heavenly Daze was great but some of the groomers could use more coverage. Most of that will be cured by some more snowmaking. Friday I was the 2^nd person down north facing Ted’s ridge on the lower mtn and got high calf to high thigh powder otherwise it was high calf to mid-thigh in the trees with a few upside surprises. Saturday I was able to outfox most of the other powder hounds to get 5 runs from Closets to Twilight where I crossed few tracks and found more than a few face shots.

For more click back to the Steamboat Springs blog main page.

The Winds of Change are blowing

In Steamboat ... and they have brought in 3-4 inches of snow at my house in the last 4 hours with more to come. We are under our first Winter Storm warning of the season at it looking like it was justified so far. I have a dream that this will be an epic winter with deep powder and many ski days for all. It is times of change like these that we all must reflect, think about what is important in our lives and make some plans to Ski Steamboat! The snowplows are already out tonight even with a tight city budget that is already drained by last season's record snow...

For more click back to the Steamboat Springs blog main page.

Winter makes it's third run on Steamboat

It snowed some this afternoon on top of a little that was left from this weekend. Afterward there was good coverage up top and snow most of the way down. It started snowing again around 1130pm tonight and there was about 1 inch on my deck. I hope that you are ready to ski because mother nature seems to be telling us it going to be another good winter and there are only 35 days left until ski season!!! For more click back to the Steamboat Springs blog main page.

Opening day for Ski Season in Colorado

My 5 yr old son Alden and I decided that we couldn't resist the chance to bag opening day at two resorts in one day today. A friend hooked us up with lift tickets to make it practical. My favorite ski shop in town Steamboat Ski and Bike Kare set Alden up with a great pair of skis and Mike Parra, one of the owners, did a fantastic hand tune for Alden to give him a fast start on the season. Mike recommend he go up to 100cm skis and they were perfect. Alden is skiing pretty fast for his first day out. I won’t be able to keep up with him for long. A few little tweaks and he will rip.

We skied A-Basin and then Loveland today for their opening day. The weather was absolutely gorgeous and the snow was very good with only a few hard spots.A-Basin was pretty crowded with long lift lines but Loveland was wide open with a perfect run that had a steeper pitch for Alden to find his carve on. Alden must have been the only little guy there because we got interviewed by the Rocky Mountain News soon after arriving and then the Denver Post a few minutes later. We had a great day and I couldn't help but picture many more with him and my 2 yr old daughter Neve on Mt Werner in Steamboat this season. We have already been in training for several week watching ski movies to inspire us for the coming season.

Here is a video of Alden skiing at Loveland - The wind noise is all our speed as it was calm today. Smooth sailing on opening day for Colorado skiing

Smooth sailing on opening day for Colorado skiing
The Rocky, Updated October 15, 2008 at 12:21 p.m. Lifts opened today at Arapahoe Basin and Loveland Ski Area. The Rocky's Julie Poppen blogged live.Alden Wade is only 5 but he's been skiing for four years. Yep, you got that right. But he's from Steamboat Springs, after all. And let's just say his dad, Realtor Jon Wade, wants to make sure he has a partner in crime. So, Alden got an unexpected day off from the ABCs and 1-2-3s of kindergarten. "I got to skip school," said Alden, as he munched pizza in anticipation of getting a few runs in at A-Basin before the two drove to Loveland. "You've got to teach kids right from the start," dad said. Steamboat, after all, doesn't open until around Thanksgiving. This was Alden's first opening day experience - outside of Steamboat. He started out skiing by hanging on to a bar and getting down the slopes with his dad.

The Denver Post used this picture and some text that shows if you mouse over the picture: Click here to see Alden. For more of my musings and adventures click back to the Steamboat Springs blog main page.

Abundant snow is forecast for the Northern Rockies this winter

Accuweather.com is predicting another great snow year for the coming winter, just not a big as last year. This is great news for us Powderhounds here in Steamboat. I have a policy of never complaining about snow since I wish so hard for a great ski season every year but I have to admit I need a few more weeks of the perfect fall weather we are having this year to be ready for the transition to winter. I has been gorgeous lately, sunny and 70's during the day showing off the fall colors with nights at or below freezing . Last night 2-3 inches of water in my boat cover froze solid. Is everyone ready for another great snow year?

Excerpts from Accuweather.com's winter 2008/2009 forecast: According to Bastardi, December could be the roughest month of a colder and snowier winter that could finish with another cold spell in late January and February. Temperatures in the West will be warmer than last winter, and could be warmer than normal. Ski resort operators in the northern Rockies and the Northwest will enjoy another season of abundant snow, although snow depths will not match last winter's record-setting snowpack.

The storms that have moved through the West over the past week have brought early snow to the high country. A new storm moving through the West this weekend will add more snow while pumping cold air as far south as Southern California. The storm will move into the Northwest on Thursday. At the same time, the jet stream will plunge to the south, bringing cold air into the Desert Southwest and Southern California.

While snow this weekend spreads from the Wasatch Range in Utah to southern Montana, strong winds wrapping around the bottom of the storm will blast across Southern California, Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico. Heavy snow is possible into the weekend in the higher terrain of the northern Rockies. For more click back to the Steamboat Springs blog main page.

Steamboat's First Snow on Mount Werner for 2008/2009 Season

The Steamboat Ski area received our first official snow of the season last night. We had a record winter of nearly 500 inches last season followed by about 170 inches after closing, a relatively short but amazing summer, a beautiful fall and now our first snow on Mount Werner. Before this we have had 2-3 snows in the area on the Zirkels and Flattops since August. The first snow on Mount Werner is our official wake-up call to get in our last month or so of summer / fall activities, start getting in shape, tuning up the snow blower and start more frequent day dreaming about the powder we will ski this winter.

There are now 51 days until opening day and while I want to enjoy every fall day I can't help but dream myself. I know I am not alone because I get several calls a week from friends and readers asking if it has snowed yet, telling me how psyched they are for ski season and planning everything from trips to new gear to make the most of the season. As you might imagine I don't mind getting those calls one bit and my voice perks up as soon as I know I have received one. Below is a video produced by the Steamboat Ski area summarizing our record breaking 2007/2008 ski season here in Steamboat that I thought might help you get in the mood for this season. Start planning your season now if you haven't already. Airfares on all of the airlines are great this season since Frontier has come to town so take advantage and plan an extra trip or two.

For more click back to the Steamboat Springs blog main page.

Vast New Ski area progressing (from 1958)

Here is an excerpt from 1958 that I wanted to share. I am lucky to know Jim Temple and John Fetcher two of the key group that founded what is now the Steamboat Ski area. The more I learn the more impressed I have become with the vision and persistence it took to make their dreams a reality. Here we are looking forward to ski season and 50 years ago they were looking forward to the first ski season on Storm Mountain.

Steamboat Springs Oct 1958— After three months of carefully supervised work, 4 miles of ski runs have been cleared for the first portion of the mighty Storm Mountain ski development, which is expected to become the top ski area in the nation. Officials of Storm Mountain expect to start construction of their first modern double chairlift in May, opening the 1,100 vertical feet of the initial ski area to visiting tourists who want a breathtaking view of the Yampa Valley by July 1959. Jim Temple, Storm Mountain president, said the area will be open to the public this winter for test runs down the many ski trails. Buddy Werner, one of the world’s greatest skiers, has been here through the summer to give his advice and suggestions gathered from his wide experience as an Olympic skier. For the full article in the Steamboat Pilot click here For more click back to the Steamboat Springs blog main page.

Steamboat Legend and 2008/2009 Snow Forecasts

It has been a wet fall with a lot of rain and very cold nights so far. Even though I treasure every day of fall as a skier my thoughts inevitably turn to pondering what kind of winter is approaching for Steamboat. Everyone in town has their favorite method but I tend to defer to those that have ranched the land since Steamboat's earliest days, lived intimately in those winters and have a real connection with the climate here in Steamboat. John Fetcher fits that description and he is also one of the five partners that Jim Temple led in founding the Steamboat Ski area. I have had the good fortune to see John a lot recently at dinner with a mutual friend and a couple of parties. Getting to know him better has not only increased my respect for him immensely but given me a greater understanding of our history in Steamboat Springs.

It is a pleasure to have a conversation with a man that has shaped the Yampa Valley in more ways than I could possibly mention here, hear about how many things came to be, and smile as he relates things he was a part of in a very understated humble way. He is a true Steamboat icon and a great example for us as we look forward to remember the qualities that got us here. Things we must maintain if we hope to keep this valley as special as it has been given to us by our founding fathers and mothers. BTW I have seen tons of Beaver sign every time I have fly-fished in the Elk River Valley this year, just like last summer and fall which preceded our record snow year last fall. Let's hope John is right but either way it is always fun to dream.

Excerpts from the Steamboat Pilot: "...if you’re like John Fetcher, who has lived in the Yampa Valley since 1949, you can talk with the beavers.

Local legends and old wives’ tales abound in regional weather predictions, but Fetcher said his commune with nature gives him an idea of what to expect. “I get my winter forecast from discussing the matter with the beavers that infest our ranch,” Fetcher said. “We have lot of beavers, and if they build lots of dams, we figure it’s going to be a hard winter.” So far, Fetcher’s furry forecasters predict a heavy snowfall, he said, although he admitted he doesn’t put much stock in the data.

For December to February, Larson said there is a 42 percent chance of above-normal temperatures, with a 33 percent chance it will be near normal and 25 percent chance of below-normal temperatures. The climate prediction center of the Weather Service also predicts there will be near-average snow for the year. Despite the discrepancies, there was one thing that all forecast methods agreed on: snow is coming.

For more click back to the Steamboat Springs blog main page.

Steamboat Springs Insider's Guide - Skiing basics

I have been thinking about doing a series with some insider's tips to Steamboat so here is a start. As you can see I am already thinking winter and many of the people visiting my blog lately seem to be thinking the same thing. If you want to know something in particular feel free to get in touch, you will get an answer and I may get an idea for another Insider's Guide topic. I’ll provide a top level overview for a start but there is much much more to learn and the best way to learn is to ski Steamboat with a local :) I am often available on powder days.

Groomed runs: Steamboat has excellent groomed terrain. If you want raw speed go for Heavenly Daze right under the Gondola to See-Me towards the bottom. I love ending the day on these runs or catching the fresh cord in the morning to get my heart rate up a little. On the upper mountain I like Storm Peak Face to Cyclone for speed if Cyclone is groomed. It pays to grab the grooming report, they don’t groom Cyclone often but when they do it is sweeet and un-crowded early. If you are smarter and prefer a more measured pace I love High Noon off of the Sundown Express lift to one of the groomed O’clock runs. High Noon is wide and you can go as fast or slow as you like with plenty of room to carve big arcs. If Rolex is rolled (groomed) below Rendevous it is always worth cutting over to that side but it is very fast. The rest of the runs over there are great for a less gripping pace. The Sunshine side around to the right from Sundown is sweet for hero carves right under the Sunshine lift. It would be absolutely perfect with a little faster lift but it is sweet as is. I go there when I need to dial things in.

Bumps: Go for Rolex if it is open or most any run under the Storm Peak or Four Points lift. There are tons of other good runs on the upper mountain. Sneak into Nelson’s Run on the lower mountain if no one is training.

Trees: Steamboat has fantastic tree skiing. I can stay happy in one section of Closets or Shadows all day on a powder day. Snow accumulation tends to multiply in there and it is not uncommon to see 2-5 times the reported totals in the trees. If it has been snowing recently a 5-10 inch day can be knee to thigh deep. It tends to snow hardest after the 5 am report here so don’t be discouraged by a 3-6 inch in snow report (even 1 inch can be good) if it is still snowing and there is a bit of a breeze up top. If I tell you much more they will run me out of town but I would check out Morningside, Tomahawk and someone who rode west in wagons. If you have a nose for powder you can find it for days after a storm.

Steeps: Steamboat is not known for steep skiing but if you ride the Morningside lift to the weather station. You find plenty of goodness. It’s not Utah but it takes 2 lifts to get to and much of it is North facing so it holds good snow longer. Let me know if you have more specific questions.

For more click back to the Steamboat Springs blog main page.