Steamboat, CO 11/26/03 - Opening Day

M

Matt Duffy

New member
Champagne was serverd at the base area before the lifts opened. Some radio station was there raffling away season passes on air. Got in line next to the Billy Kidd statue 30 minutes before the lifts opened. <BR> <BR>Unloaded from the gondola and rushed past hordes of people down the groomed Vagabond and such before waiting in line for Storm Peak Express to start loading. <BR> <BR>Beelined into the Shadows, got first tracks all the way down that beautiful run. Amazing Champagne Powder® billowed into smoke. I inhaled. <BR> <BR>Skied in the Shadows / Closet area several more runs all the way each time on completely untouched lines, weaving and swerving in the snow through vast aspen groves making choices fast in a maze of trees as if being on a run for our lives. <BR> <BR>Many other runs were not over easy, fried, scrambled, or hard boiled. The powder was reserved for face shots all day long. Got into something special as an exhilirating surprise around the corner... Virgin, with a thick blanket of sparkling white and the most intense turns of the day. Wavering whiteouts. Racing against the slough. High fiving each other. Skiing. More skiing. More powder. Untouched powder lines that go on and on so long your thighs burn up on re-entry to the groomed. <BR> <BR>And it all came at a cost of $15. Fundraiser ticket prices on opening day at Steamboat with deep powder. Quite memorable.
 
Welcome back, Matt !! <BR> <BR>Nice to see that you got some powder, cuz here, it's more rain over r@!n over <FONT COLOR="ff0000">•••••</FONT>... (especially in New England)
 
I get some flak for criticizing Steamboat's sunny exposure and thus questionable credentials in late season. The early season is another story, as illustrated by the above report. <BR> <BR>My numbers show similar historical snow measurements from Steamboat, Vail and Winter Park. However Steamboat measures mid-mountain while the others measure near their highest elevations. <BR> <BR>Steamboat also consistently has a higher percent of terrain open in early season than the other two. So I have little doubt that considering the entire ski area it gets the most snow. <BR> <BR>Note to Matt: Don't forget to check out Blue Sky West on one of your trips. Buffalo Pass gets even more snow, and Marc gave his endorsement to the current snowcat operation.
 
IIRC, Matt did ski Blue Sky West last year didn't he? I seem to remember a report to skivt-l about it. <BR> <BR>I remember snowmobiling in that area on a trip out to the Boat a few years back...there really was about twice as much snow up there which was A LOT considering how much the ski area had. It was most evident at lower elevations for some reason. <BR> <BR>-Scott
 
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