Skisteamboat's Blog (10)

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 certainly diffe… 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 to do before… 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 country, I too… 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 Temperature. After m… Continue

I know I said I would not be blogging frequently but this day deserves it. Woke to a temperature Inversion and some fog in the Valley, 4 at the House while it was 24 at Thunderhead. Burned off quickly and the high clouds vanished as well by 0930. This being MLK weekend, the Base was crowded for Steamboat, 10 minutes in the singles line and full mazes for both the Gondy and Christy Express. After exiting and heading to Rudy's, the bad juju hit me. I was making it easy down Rudy's because of the… Continue

Wonderful day for the first runs of the season. Sunny, not much of a breeze and lots of groomers to cruise. After navigating Rudi's without incident and determining the rust on my style was not too damaging, I headed down to Four Points Lift and happened to meet one of the many Over the Hill Gang groups. The National OTHG Organization is in town and the Guides had several groups exploring the Mountain. Since they had enough help for the day, I took my leave and cruised over to Cyclone, one of m… Continue

After a good nights rest at the Steamboat Grand, taking advantage of the Space Available bennie, It was time to get all the admin stuff taken care of, like lugging the two pairs of skis and other assorted gear to my locker and the ski storage area of the Grand. Only took one trip but I still have to get the poles over there. Next down to get my key cards updated and processed for access to the Grand Parking garage and the other facilities like the Gym and Pool. Quickly done and over to ticket o… Continue

Weather was great so I decide to press to complete the trip in two days instead of stopping in Denver. A few snow flurries and some wind but not as bad as some other trips. I did see a mobile home that was overturned and off its transport wheels and pretty much a total loss. Doubt it was the wind but it could have been. As anyone who has driven across Kansas and Eastern Colorado can attest, the hardest part of the drive is not falling asleep. Miles and miles and miles of open field interspersed… Continue

Left the house at 0800 for the 2-3 day drive. Weather was rain with some slush on the road. Snow flurries from the OH-IN line until the IN-IL line, then partly cloudy, and about 15 degrees colder. Simple drive with no unplanned stops, averaged around 70 MPH. I-70 did have a small hold up outside of Indianapolis for a pick up rolled over. No Emergency vehicles so I assume nothing serious happened to the occupants. Due the timing, I missed rush hour in both St Louis, Kansas City and Topeka so I j… Continue

Spent the day packing gear for the drive out to Steamboat today. After twelve seasons, I probably will only forget a few things this trip. I really should make a permanent list but it probably get lost over the Spring, Summer and Fall Light snow today and yesterday makes things look better around here. No big systems except an "Alberta Clipper" coming through across the Midwest. Usually means COLD and some snow but good visibility and sun afterward. So the ~1200+ mile drive via I-70 should be r… Continue