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Green Slops/Blue Slopes Lifts
The Christie Peak express runs us up to most the green trails and some blue. However, my wife has the digs for the Gondola. Are the green and blue runs down from the gondola easy for level 4's? Any particular route to take? Is the Why Not run good, bad or ugly? Thank you.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by skisteamboat on -
Why Not is a long meandering Green from the Gondola Station back to the base. It cuts across Blue runs like Rudi's, and Vagabond in a few places so you can try a Blue and then get back on Why Not. Spur Run from the top of the Gondy, a green with again a couple of Blue crossings, takes you Sundown Express which opens up lots of easy Blues like Tomahawk.
Both Spur and Why Not are straight ahead as you exit the Gondy, Spur to the right and Why Not straight ahead.
I suggest you try Vagabond from the top of the Thunderhead Chair (left as you exit the Gondola) and if it gets too much, you can take Why Not the rest of the way.
Alternatively, you can do Why Not as a warm up until it crosses Rudi's and intercepts Vagabond.
If all goes well on Vagabond and/or Rudi's, take the Gondola back up and head over Spur to Sundown Express.
Cheers
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Permalink Reply by Rick on -
There are only two green runs from the gondola, and they are both roads (built to provide a means for building lifts and structures). They are both about 15 feet wide and fairly flat; easy for almost anyone.
Why Not takes you back to the Thunderhead chair, from which you can get back to the top of the gondola again, and the runs served from there. It winds back and forth, and will give you the opportunity to change onto Vagabond several times. The only places that require any real caution are the two places where it crosses Norther and the first place it puts you on Vagabond (look uphill and be prepared to stop in all three of these places).
Spur Run takes you over to the Sundown Express and Elkhead lifts. There is one moderately steep pitch on it, but there is a road around that if she doesn't feel up to the pitch.
The Elkhead lift takes you up slightly above the gondola, and has only blule runs away from it. The one going toward the gondola (Tower) is moderately steep, but you can traverse it to avoid some steepness. Doing so, however, will leave you with a flat walk back to Why Not, or an uphill walk to Thunderhead building. (Gondola, restaurants, rest rooms).
The Sundown Express lift takes you to the top of Sunshine Peak. There is one officially green trail from there, Sundial, which takes you around the fairly steep pitch at the top of Tomahawk. From where this green brings you back to Tomahawk, Tomahawk should really be shown as green. It is a wide, rolling at first, great cruising run. A wonderful run on which to practice your turns. The same is true of Quickdraw from where Rendezvous Way crosses it (Rendezvous Way is reached by continuing across Tomahawk from Sundial (look uphill). These runs are great ego boosters.
As for the blues from the gondola, at that level, probably skip the first pitch or two on Vagabond (there is a road just a few feet down Rudi's Run around the first pitch; if you want to ski the first two, take Why Not until it dumps you on to Vagabond. Rudi's Run/Blizzard themselves, you can see the whole thing before you start down and make your own decision. Heavenly Daze is best taken early in the morning; it tends to ice up a little as the day goes on, but is groomed every night and is good in the morning. If you ride the gondola, it is right under you, so you can judge if she is up to it.
Buddy's Run (off Storm Peak Express) is generally nice, but does have two pitches that tend to glaze up as the day goes on. If Bar-U-E chair is running, take it back up and avoid Tornado Lane;
If you do try the Sunshine area or Buddy's Run, end the day by taking South Peak chair then Broadway; avoid Lower High Noon. It gets quite busy in the afternoon, and can be narrow and slick. This brings you back to Elkhead lift (see above).
When will you be in Steamboat? If times overlap I can be more specific in person :-)
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Permalink Reply by Mike on
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Coming in Saturday the 24th, picking up ski's, etc. 25th-28 on the slopes. I've also got to figure out this ski rental question as last year I felt like I had canoes on my feet. I'm 6'3" and 220lbs.
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Permalink Reply by skisteamboat on
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6", 220, ski on 170's. If you want performance skis or others, try the Yurt at the top of the gondola or any ski shop. My favorites are the Yurt and Steamboat Ski and Bike Kare downtown. Sports Stalker at the base is also good. Just tell then your ability and they can set you up with appropriate equipment. One advantage of the Yurt, is you can swap out easily if you don't like the ones you start with.
Cheers
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Permalink Reply by Rick on
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OK, guess we'll miss each other. I don't arrive until Saturday, the 31st. Lift ticket good for 5 days within 1-7 Feb.
Have fun.
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Permalink Reply by skisteamboat on
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If you want a guided tour of some Greens and Blues, drop me a line and I would be glad to show you spots.
Live here from 15 Jan to end of season, so be glad to assist you in learning runs from the Gondy.
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Permalink Reply by skibaby on -
I'm an okay skier but cautious as well and really enjoy Tomahawk. I also enjoy the shorter greens from the top of the christy lift but not sure if those are still running since they added the new Christy chair. Those greens from mid mountain always made nice "Get my ski legs back" runs. We'll be back in Steamboat on Sunday after a year off and I can't wait!
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Permalink Reply by skisteamboat on
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The Runs are the same except where they regraded the bottom of the mountain around the Mid Station on Christy Express and Preview. You can get off halfway up the express or go to the top where Christy II and III unloaded.
Cheers
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Permalink Reply by Adam Breeze on -
We had great fun on Why Not. My wife returned to skiing after about 8 years of snowboarding, and after a couple of laps on the Preview chair we decided to go up the gondola and come down Why Not. My wife found it perfect for someone returning to skiing and by the end she had managed to get back to doing some fairly reasonable paralell turns. Next time round we cut down some sort sections of Vagabond which were great as her confidence grew.
The main reason for my wife returning to skiing was so she/we could teach our 3 year old son how to ski. Again after a number of laps on the Preview chair, with my wife restraining my son with one of those training harnesses you see, we all went up the gondola and came down Why Not, stopping at the Tee Pee to take a break.
Other than Why Not we also had fun on Boulevard, Main Drag and Yoo Hoo off the Christie Peak Express - all good fun for someone returning to, new to skiing.
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