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.