Skisteamboat (aka X3 Skier)

As I type this, it is still snowing at my house in Ohio, good vibes for the trip out west. Nothing like the dumps the 'boat has been getting but 6" isn't bad for a good remender to wax the skis.

 

I will be leaving tomorrow for the drive along I-70 for the next 2-3 days, depending on the weather en route. This will make my 14th season in Steamboat. Season Pass is in the ski bag, all , well almost all, the clothes are packed and just had the car serviced and inspected so all is…

Continue

Unfortunately, I had to cut this season short due to some issues back in our Ohio home so I left Sunday before the snow came back to town. Still, 50+ days this year, while a little short to the normal 50-75 days on the hill should last me until next January.



While this year was not as epic as last year, Jan and Feb had plenty of good days before the erratic weather patterns arrived. The swings between winter and spring skiing all the way up to the day I left Sunday, 22 March was… Continue

Today as on many others, I skied with the Over The Hill Gang, a free service offered Sunday to Friday for skiers 50+ . This service offers a guided ski along program from 0900 until your legs give out.



As the regular plan, the OTHG met near the Covered Wagon at the Gondola Base @ 0900 and then boarded the Gondola. Those who have not skied with the Gang before need to sign a wavier of responsibility at the ski school desk at the top of the Gondy and attend to whatever else one needs… Continue

After a couple of days with heavy water content snow and some cloudy days, January returned with a few inches of fresh dry powder and temperatures of below zero, both top and bottom. No inversion today as the clouds hung around overnight so it was definitely colder up top than at the base. I was beginning to think I had been transported to the Sierras and Lake Tahoe with the previous recent snow conditions but today was more Steamboat like. :-)



After riding the Gondola up to -3 F… Continue

Another Blue Bird day accompanied by another pretty good temperature inversion. -2 at the Condo and +24 at Thunderhead. Makes for some interesting planning for gear. I usually plan for the top conditions and just hurry from the car to the Gondy. Saw lots of folks that were wondering what to do with all the heavy jackets, etc after reaching the unload station. Just a tip, check the Pressing Glass report for the Mountain temp before gearing up. It always shows the Thunderhead… Continue