Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Moving Mountains on TV-18

Christmas Eve entertainment in Steamboat included a live interview with Robin & Heather Craigen, founders of Moving Mountains, and a live cooking demo by Executive Chef, Anthony Kresge.

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Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Santa's Powder Clause - Ho Ho Ho!


Santa delivered some of his presents early this year when a 24 inch supply of Champagne Powder layered the Steamboat ski mountain in the last 24 hrs.

The early morning snow report which touted 16 inches at mid mountain triggered a "powder clause" for many lucky Steamboat residents and they swarmed to the mountain for early morning freshies. The powder clause is the ultimate employee bonus - unofficially it reads ".....if there are 6 inches of fresh snow on the mountain you can start work three hours late...".

A powder day in the 'boat is an experience to be savored. As the lifts rolled into action at 8:30 am whoops echoed all around and the first chair riders took a hail of snowballs from the onlooking crowds. The anticipation of the first run is fueled by the sight of the first skiers and riders tunneling through a sea of powder below you with only shoulders and heads visible. The trail of cold smoke as they passed gave the impression that they were under turbo-charged power as they barreled down the mountain.

The conversation begins. Where to go for the best first tracks? Head for 4-Points and catch a fresh line down Twister or go straight to Storm Peak or Sundown Express early and wait till they open up at 9:00 am for an early top to bottom powder-fest? Everyone has their own strategy and on a day like yesterday all strategies are the best ones if you are there early.

A three hour reprieve from work doesn't sound like long enough on an epic day. Truly it could never be long enough - ever. You just can't get enough of it. Except that after 2 hours of floating and ripping through tree glades and open runs, barely touching the bottom as you float on a cushion of snow and air, your legs start to tell you that it's time to go home.

With a smile on your face you rip the last fresh line of the morning and head for work ready for anything. The powder clause made everything worthwhile - early starts, long days, digging out your car and shoveling your decks.

The only thing you have to remember as you come off the mountain is to temper your enthusiasm for the not so fortunate (non-powder claused ) friends. They will not want to hear how you cried out for a snorkel as face shots choked you in Shadows. Don't tell them that the powder was so light that it rippled out in front of you as you cruised down Buddy's Run. Try to hold yourself back from recounting the experience of floating and bouncing through the trees in total silence punctuated only by the occasional whoop from a fellow rider.

If you can't hold yourself back - that's OK. As you will find out if you turn up late for a powder day rendezvous and find that your ski buddies left already, there are no friends on a powder day.

MORE COMING:
A winter storm watch is expected to be in effect beginning at 6 a.m. Christmas Day through the end of the day Friday, A storm system will begin moving into the area from the southwest tonight, but the Flat Tops probably will protect Steamboat Springs and the surrounding areas from anything but flurries until Christmas night. Once the snow picks up, the slopes at the Steamboat Ski Area and higher elevations expect 1 to 2 feet of snow

The Steamboat Ski Area is reporting a 52-inch base at mid-mountain and season-to-date snowfall of 125 inches.

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Friday, December 19, 2008

Steamboat Winter Weather Alert!

Issued by The National Weather Service
Grand Junction, CO
12:55 pm MST, Fri., Dec. 19, 2008

... WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 PM MST SATURDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND JUNCTION HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW... WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 PM MST SATURDAY.

SNOW WILL DEVELOP BY EARLY THIS EVENING. IN ADDITION TO THE SNOW... SOUTHWEST WINDS AT 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 30 MPH WILL PRODUCE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. WINDS WILL SWITCH AROUND TO WESTERLY LATE THIS EVENING AND DIMINISH. HOWEVER GUSTS TO 30 MPH WILL CONTINUE THROUGH SATURDAY. BY LATE SATURDAY EVENING... 5 TO 9 INCHES OF NEW SNOW IS EXPECTED WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS.

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW... SLEET... OR FREEZING RAIN WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES... AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.

More Information

... NEXT ROUND OF WINTRY WEATHER ALONG WITH VERY COLD TEMPERATURES TO IMPACT NORTHWEST COLORADO...

.THE NEXT WINTER STORM WILL BRING SNOW... WIND... AND MUCH COLDER TEMPERATURES BEGINNING THIS EVENING. SNOW WILL INCREASE OVER THE NORTHWESTERN COLORADO MOUNTAINS THIS EVENING AND PERSIST THROUGH SATURDAY. ONE SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE THAT THIS STORM BRINGS THAT THE PREVIOUS STORMS DID NOT... VERY COLD TEMPERATURES. TEMPERATURES WILL PLUMMET THIS EVENING AND DAYTIME TEMPERATURES ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON WILL RANGE FROM 5 BELOW ZERO TO 5 ABOVE ZERO ON MOUNTAIN RIDGES AND EXPOSED AREAS ABOVE 10000 FEET. COMBINED WITH FREQUENT WIND GUSTS TO 30 MPH... THE WIND CHILL WILL RANGE FROM 20 BELOW TO 35 BELOW ZERO.

SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL OCCUR WITH AMOUNTS RANGING FROM 8 TO 14 INCHES ON WEST FACING MOUNTAIN SLOPES ABOVE 9000 FEET... WITH 10 TO 19 INCHES IN THE FLATTOPS RANGE. AT TIMES... BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW WILL CAUSE WHITEOUT CONDITIONS. PEOPLE TRAVELING OR WINTER RECREATIONISTS SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR FRIGID AND HAZARDOUS WINTER WEATHER FROM FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING.

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Wednesday, December 17, 2008

5 Feet of Powder in Steamboat Extends Open Terrain to Almost 100%

From Steamboat Ski Corp:

Steamboat Records Snow 12 Out Of First 17 Days In December
2,863 Acres, 154 Trails & 12 Lifts Offering Terrain For All Ability Levels By Weekend


STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO-December 17, 2008-With more than 5 feet of Champagne Powder snow since Opening Day, November 26th, Steamboat will provide the ideal holiday gift for powderhounds as it inches closer to opening 100 percent of its available terrain.

“December has come in like a lion and Steamboat continues to enjoy the bounty of being in a very snowy weather pattern, which shows no signs of stopping anytime soon,” said Chris Diamond, president and chief operating officer for the Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation. “Champagne Powder snow is always the number one item on the Steamboat powderhound’s holiday wish list and both Mother Nature and Kris Kringle are delivering it in abundance this month.”

Since November 26th, Steamboat has received more than 5 feet of Champagne Powder snow at mid-mountain and is currently reporting a 36-inch mid-mountain base and 40-inch summit base. During December alone, snow has fallen 12 out of the 17 days with 8 of those days recording 4 inches or more of new snow.

By Saturday, December 20th, Steamboat expects to offer 2,863 acres of deliciously deep terrain (nearly 96% of available terrain), 12 lifts, 154 trails and 3,668 vertical feet of skiing and riding on powder/pack powder conditions. In addition, several trails will open before Saturday including lower Vagabond, Moonlight and the NASTAR Race area.

Morningside Park, the popular children’s area, Rough Rider Basin, and the gladed terrain of Pioneer Ridge will highlight some of the new terrain expected to open this weekend. Morningside chairlift will also usher in the 2008/09 season on Saturday; with Pony Express swinging into action a week later. The upper reaches of Pioneer Ridge will be accessible on a hike-to basis until the lift’s scheduled opening date. The resort will open the Rabbit Ears Terrain Park on Saturday and expects to have the Maverick’s Superpipe and Terrain Park available between Christmas Day and December 27th if current snowmaking conditions persist.

The National Weather Service is forecasting snow to continue through the week with several Pacific storms rolling through the region Wednesday through Monday, bringing continued snowfall across the mountain. The highest chance of snow will be Thursday, then again Saturday through Sunday.

Over the past three years, nearly $30 million has been invested in on-mountain enhancements that will greet Steamboat guests. Getting to Steamboat has never been easier. The resort’s nonstop flight program offers unprecedented access to Ski Town, U.S.A.® via nonstop air service on American, Continental, Delta, Frontier, Northwest and United from nine major U.S. cities, in addition to one-stop connecting service from more than 200 other domestic and international cities.

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Saturday, December 13, 2008

"We're Gonna Get Buried!"...


At this time of year we pay more attention than ever to the weather forecast. The perfect alignment of several reliable sources suggest something ominous is about to occur...

CAIC (Colorado Avalanche Information Center)


"Storm systems are going to race across the state until maybe next weekend. Here's the shorter term look.
Currently a 90 to 100 knot jet has nosed over the San Juans where it has been fairly windy today. A bit of a dry slot moved over during the Saturday morning hours, but satellite images show things filling in nicely. Near sunset Saturday we are looking at blizzard conditions favoring the San Juan, West Elks & Elks, Vail Pass to Beaver Creek area (not quite as much for Summit County), plus the Steamboat and Grand Mesa zones.
Onset of snowfall looks to be very rapid and powerful from around 4-7 tonight in favored areas. The jet stream will shift from a westerly flow to a stronger southwest flow, in the 150 knot range for Saturday night. Very strong winds are anticipated Saturday night across the state. With the progressive nature of the pattern look for some drying to begin in the San Juan mid-day Sunday, and this spreading north by mid-to-late-afternoon across the central and northern zones.
It's going to get cold too. Look for high temperatures Sunday to come early in the morning. The jet sags a little ways into NM Sunday and this will help us see an easing in windspeeds, at least temporarily. Next system is progged to move in Monday evening & exit Tuesday mid-day. Another on Wednesday, & another for next weekend."

Forecast: Sat Night 19" - 21", Sun 5" - 7"

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Issued by The National Weather Service
Grand Junction, CO

3:27 pm MST, Sat., Dec. 13, 2008

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM MST SUNDAY.

PERIODS OF SNOW... HEAVY AT TIMES... WILL CONTINUE THROUGH SUNDAY. TOTAL SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS WILL VARY FROM 6 TO 12 INCHES NEAR CRAIG... TO OVER A FOOT NEAR STEAMBOAT SPRINGS AND OAK CREEK. IN ADDITION TO THE HEAVY SNOW... SOUTHWEST WINDS FROM 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH WILL CREATE AREAS OF BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. THE WINDS WILL SWITCH AROUND TO THE NORTHWEST THIS EVENING... AND DECREASE AFTER MIDNIGHT.

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. STRONG WINDS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.

More Information

... MAJOR WINTER STORM IMPACTS THE REGION THROUGH SUNDAY... ... ANOTHER STORM MOVES IN MONDAY AFTERNOON...

.A STRONG AND COLD PACIFIC STORM WILL MOVE ACROSS THE GREAT BASIN TONIGHT AND INTO WESTERN COLORADO. VERY MOIST AND COLD CONDITIONS WILL SPREAD ACROSS WESTERN COLORADO... WITH WIDESPREAD SNOW EXPECTED OVER THE REGION. IN ADDITION... STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS OUT AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT WILL CREATE AREAS OF BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW... ESPECIALLY OVER THE HIGHER MOUNTAIN PASSES.

ANOTHER STRONG PACIFIC STORM MOVES INTO THE REGION MONDAY AFTERNOON... BRINGING ANOTHER ROUND OF HEAVY SNOW... WITH THE SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS OF WESTERN COLORADO AND EASTERN UTAH FAVORED.

MOUNTAIN TRAVEL WILL BECOME DANGEROUS OR IMPOSSIBLE STARTING THIS AFTERNOON.

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Friday, December 12, 2008

WINTER STORM WATCH

Issued by The National Weather Service
Grand Junction, CO 
3:46 am MST, Fri., Dec. 12, 2008

...IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND JUNCTION HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WATCH... WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

A STRONG PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM WILL APPROACH WESTERN COLORADO ON SATURDAY AND MOVE OVER THE AREA THROUGH SUNDAY. AS THE ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT APPROACHES SATURDAY AFTERNOON... SNOWFALL WILL SPREAD INTO THE VALLEYS OF NORTHWEST COLORADO. THE FRONT WILL BRING AREAS OF BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW LATE SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT REDUCING VISIBILITIES. SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH SUNDAY WITH 6 TO 12 INCHES POSSIBLE IN THE CRAIG AREA... AND OVER A FOOT POSSIBLE IN CLARK... STEAMBOAT SPRINGS... AND OAK CREEK BY EARLY SUNDAY EVENING.

A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW... SLEET... OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.

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Thursday, December 11, 2008

Latest Conditions in Steamboat....

Tuesday only netted 3.5" but more snow is forecast in the days ahead so in the meantime we are enjoying a little winter sunshine before the next round of winter arrives.

Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) Reports the following:
"Colorado is under northwest flow today. There is limited moisture in the flow, just enough for some clouds and light, scattered snow the high mountain ranges. Cloud cover will thicken overnight ahead of a little shortwave. By mid-day Friday skies will be mostly cloudy, with light snow spreading to most mountain locations by Friday evening. The shortwave is a gentle lead-in to the weekend’s fury. Saturday is the start of an interesting and intense change in the weather pattern. As of now, the models have a closed low developing over northern British Columbia. The low spends the next week working south along the Pacific coast. That puts Colorado under west and southwest flow with a wave after wave of strong storms."

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Saturday, December 6, 2008

Expanded openings on tap for today

From the Steamboat Today Newspaper

New terrain, deep snow greet skiers and riders Friday

Steamboat Springs — Almost one-third of the Steamboat Ski Area will be open to skiers and riders by the time the gondola begins ferrying passengers to Thunderhead this morning.

Ski area officials announced Friday additional terrain openings that will bring the skiable acreage to 972. Storm Peak Express will be among the five chairlifts servicing 67 trails, including many of the runs off Sunshine Peak.

The list of trails:

# Green: Arc, Big Foot, Boulevard, Duster, Feather, Flat Out, Giggle Gulch, Main Drag, Park Lane, Preview, Short Cut, So What, Stampede, Right-O-Way, Yoo Hoo and Why Not

# Blue: Blizzard, Buddy's Run, Calf Roper, Chisolm Trail, Dusk, Eagles Nest, Ego, Heavenly Daze, High Noon, Highline, Jess' Cut Off, Lightning, Meadow Lane, One O?Clock, Rainbow, Rudi's Run, Sitz, Skyline, Tower, Tornado Lane, Traverse, Vagabond and Vogue

# Blue/Black: Norther, Sunset, Surprise, Two O?Clock

# Black: Burgess Creek Lift Line, Closet, Cyclone, Dawn, Hurricane, Kuus' Cruise, Nelson?s Run, Oops, See Ya, Shadows, Storm Peak Catwalk, Storm Peak North, Storm Peak South, Sundown Lift Line, Three O'Clock, Tornado, Triangle 3, Twilight, Twister, Typhoon, Vertigo and White Out

# Terrain Parks: Lil' Rodeo

# Chairlifts: Burgess Creek, Christie Express, Gondola, Preview, Storm Peak Express

The ski area opened last week, but there was no doubt Friday represented the first real day of the 2008-09 season for many local skiers and riders.

The ski area opened the gondola, as well as 27 additional trails Friday. The resort reported 11 inches of new snow Friday morning, but on some of the previously unopened terrain, the powder was significantly deeper.

"It was great. We had a blast up there today. I actually got stuck up there a couple of times," said Toscha Velasquez, who joined coworkers on the slopes before heading into work at about 11 a.m. "I didn't expect it to be that good. I think everybody's pretty thrilled that it's better than they expected."

Long lines greeted skiers and snowboarders at the Burgess Creek chairlift, which also opened for the first time Friday and was the only lift open outside the base area. Between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m., the wait at the three-pack lift was about 20 minutes.

Shortly after 10 a.m., the top of Heavenly Daze looked like the starting line at the annual Cowboy Downhill, as anxious skiers and riders lined up for a mass stampede as resort employees dropped the ropes on the popular trail. Snowmaking and grooming requirements delayed the trail's opening until later in the morning.

Skiers and riders may want to wake up early this morning to take advantage of the conditions. The National Weather Service forecasts partly sunny skies through the weekend, with a chance of snow returning to the area Monday. High temperatures during the weekend will be in the mid-30s.


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