2009 December | Need To Ski

Archive for December, 2009

OVER A FOOT OF CHAMPAGNE POWDER SNOW RINGS OUT 2009 IN SKI TOWN U.S.A.®

Filed Under: 2010 Winter Ski Season, Steamboat Springs, Weather by wallacewilcox — 5 Comments

December 31, 2009

Thursday, December 31, 2009

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO-December 31, 2009-Mother Nature’s gaze is squarely focused on Steamboat-Ski Town, U.S.A. as 2009 goes out like a lion with more than a foot of fresh Champagne Powder™ snow blanketing the slopes overnight.

Champagne Powder at Steamboat Springs Ski Resort

“The new snow is the perfect way to celebrate the last day of 2009 for powderhounds in Ski Town, USA,” said Chris Diamond, president and chief operating officer for the Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation. “Steamboat is known for having some of the best snow in the Rocky Mountains and we are excited to ring in the New Year with a heaping helping of the resort’s signature Champagne Powder snow.”

The resort is currently in a storm cycle that as of 5am this morning has yielded 11” at mid and 15” at the summit overnight; 14” and 18” in past 48-hours and 32” and 35” in the past eight days at mid-mountain and the summit respectively. Steamboat has received 96.25 inches of snow this winter, with snow falling 17 out of 31 days in December. The resort is reporting a 38-inch base at mid-mountain and 44-inch base at the summit with powder conditions.

Currently offering the most skiable terrain open in Colorado, Steamboat will usher in 2010 with powder conditions on 156 out of 165 trails; 2692 out of 2965 acres and 16 of 18 lifts. Snow continues to fall Thursday morning and forecasts are calling for additional snow throughout the weekend. The next Pacific storm will bring a good chance of significant snow accumulations Friday night and Saturday, mainly along and north of Interstate-70. Snowfall chances return to the region next week on Tuesday and Wednesday as Pacific moisture again sweeps over the Colorado mountains.

Steamboat is serving up Champagne Powder and a package value almost as great as the new snow! With the Champagne Powder package, powderhounds receive 20% off lodging, lifts, rentals and receive a $25 American Express gift card between now and April 11, 2010*. With the snow piling up, you have to act just as fast! Don’t miss out; reserve your stay in Ski Town, U.S.A by January 29th to enjoy this incredible package.

To stay up to date on Steamboat’s snow conditions visit www.steamboat.com, view the Mountain Cam, photo-of-the-day, image & movie galleries and register to receive the Straight Talk Mountain Report. Snow conditions will be updated as conditions change and can be accessed by calling 970.879.7300 or online at steamboat.com.

-www.steamboat.com-

* Champagne Powder package price is per adult, based on double occupancy in a motel. Valid for stays through April 11, 2010. Save up to 15% December 19-January 3, and February 12-17. Minimum 3 nights lodging and 3 days of lifts. Rates do not include applicable taxes and fees or travel insurance and are subject to availability. Champagne Powder package is not valid with any other offer or discount. Other restrictions may apply. This offer is only valid through Steamboat Central Reservations at this time.

Tags: Champagne Powder, Ski Town USA, Steamboat Springs, Weather, Winter Ski Season 2010

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Winter Ski Report Dec 30, 2009 for Steamboat Springs, CO

Filed Under: 2010 Winter Ski Season, Steamboat Springs, Weather by glennwilcox — Leave a comment

December 30, 2009

Weather Conditions for Champagne Powder for Steamboat Springs Ski Resort Winter Ski Season 2010

TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT...

THE WEAKER OF TWO TROUGHS PASSED LAST EVENING. THIS STORM PRIMED THEATMOSPHERE FOR SNOWFALL PRODUCTION...WITH THE NEAR-SURFACE LAYERSATURATED AND MTN TOP TEMPERATURES NEAR DENDRITE GROWTHTEMPERATURES (SINGLE DIGIT F). THEREFORE LIGHT SNOWFALL HASCONTINUED THIS MORNING IN MANY LOCATIONS. THE SECOND STRONGER TROUGHWILL SWEEP OVER THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. ONLY NE UTAHAND EXTREME NW CO ARE PROGGED TO MISS A SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL EVENT.

00Z AND 06Z MODELS REMAIN QUITE CONSISTENT WITH DETAILS. NW-SEORIENTED JET NOSE DIVES INTO SOUTH-CENTRAL UTAH LATE THIS AFTERNOONAND EVENING. THIS PRODUCES UPPER DIVERGENCE OVER THE FOUR-CORNERSREGION WITH A Q-CONVERGENCE BULLS-EYE PASSING OVER THE CORTEZ AREATHIS EVENING. BEST DYNAMICAL FORCING JUST NORTH OF THE FOUR-CORNERSWILL PRODUCE IMPRESSIVE SNOWFALL INTENSITIES. COORDINATED WITH SLC...AND ABQ OFFICES TO RAISE HIGHLIGHTS IN THESE AREAS. THIS DYNAMICALSNOWFALL BURST WILL LIKELY EXTEND AS FAR NORTH AS THE I-70 CORRIDORWHERE THE VALLEYS COULD GET A QUICK 2-4 INCH BURST OF SNOW MAINLYTHIS EVENING. NAM12 SEEMS TO BE PRODUCING LESS SNOW OVER MONTROSEBUT CERRO SUMMIT WILL LIKELY GET BIG ACCUMULATIONS. FLOW ALOFT VEERSFROM W TO NW THIS AFTERNOON AS -31C COLD CORE DIGS ACROSS THENORTHERN CWA. WITH THE NORTHERN CO MTN TOP TEMPS REMAININGSATURATED IN THE SNOW EFFICIENT ZONE OVERNIGHT...EXPECT LOW DENSITYSIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATIONS. THEREFORE COORDINATED WITH CYS AND BOUTO RAISE CRAIG AND STEAMBOAT ZONES TO ADVISORIES.

A QUICK DRYING FROM W-E OCCURS ON THURSDAY...BUT SNOWFALL REMAINSPOSSIBLE ACROSS THE NORTH IN A MOIST W-NW FLOW. FOG IS POSSIBLETHURSDAY NIGHT WHERE SNOW ACCUMULATION IS SIGNIFICANT...BUT IS NOTYET ADDED TO THE FORECAST GRIDS. TEMPERATURES LIKELY TO STAY BELOWGUIDANCE AND BELOW NORMAL.

Tags: Champagne Powder, Steamboat Springs, Weather, Winter Ski Season 2010

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Weather Report for Dec 16, 2009

Filed Under: 2010 Winter Ski Season, Steamboat Springs by glennwilcox — Leave a comment

December 16, 2009

TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT...

A ZONAL FLOW WILL PERSIST OVER THE FORECAST AREA TODAY AND TONIGHT
BEFORE THE PATTERN BECOMES MORE AMPLIFIED ON THU. A COUPLE OF WEAK
WAVES EMBEDDED IN THE WESTERLY FLOW WILL BRUSH THE AREA THROUGH
TONIGHT BRINGING CLOUDS BUT LITTLE ELSE. BY LATE TONIGHT...MOISTURE
INCREASES IN THE LOWER LAYERS SO A FEW SHOWERS MAY DEVELOP ON THE
NORTHERN SLOPES NEAR THE DIVIDE NORTH OF I-70.

ON THURSDAY...A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE MOVES OVER THE FAR WESTERN
CONUS...EXTENDING NORTH INTO BRITISH COLUMBIA AS ENERGY DROPS
SOUTHEAST INTO MONTANA. THE PATTERN CONTINUES TO SHIFT EAST AND
AMPLIFY AS THE HIGH BUILDS OVER THE GREAT BASIN...AND THE TROUGH DIGS
INTO THE PLAINS STATES OVERNIGHT. THE PLAINS SHORTWAVE WILL BRUSH OUR
NORTHERN AND EASTERN ZONES RESULTING IN A CHANCE OF SNOW MAINLY OVER
THE NORTHERN CONTINENTAL DIVIDE AREA.

HOWEVER...AFTER BETTER CONFIDENCE WAS NOTED BY THE DAY SHIFT...THE
00Z RUNS HAVE BACKED OFF THEIR SOLUTIONS. AND NOW THEY PAINT VERY
LITTLE QPF/SNOW OVER OUR FORECAST AREA THROUGH THE SHORT TERM PERIOD.
FOR NOW I DID NOT MAKE BIG CHANGES TO THE FORECAST...JUST DELAYED THE
ISOLATED POPS UP NORTH UNTIL LATE TONIGHT...AND TRENDED DOWNWARDS A
JUST TAD ON THU.

INVERSIONS WILL REMAIN IN PLACE OVER MANY OF THE LOWER VALLEYS.
HOWEVER THEY WILL SLOWLY WEAKEN. THE INCREASED CLOUD COVER WILL LIMIT
RADIATIONAL COOLING AT NIGHT...AND TEMPS ALOFT WILL COOL A LITTLE ON
THU AS THE STRONGER SHORTWAVE BRUSHES THE AREA. THE INCREASED CLOUDS
TONIGHT AND THU NIGHT WILL ALSO INHIBIT FOG FORMATION SO WILL LEAVE
IT OUT OF THE FORECAST FOR THOSE PERIODS. BUT SINCE SOME FOG HAS
ALREADY FORMED EARLY THIS MORNING...WILL CONTINUE TO CARRY IT THROUGH
MID-MORNING. THE COVERAGE IS NOT AS EXTENSIVE AS YESTEDAY`S...BUT THE
DEW POINT DEPRESSION AT GRAND JUNCTION HAS DROPPED TO 1 DEGREE C AT 3
AM MST.

Tags: Weather

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STORM PEAK EXPRESS & TOP-TO-BOTTOM TERRAIN OPENS TOMORROW

Filed Under: 2010 Winter Ski Season, Steamboat Springs by wallacewilcox — Leave a comment

December 8, 2009

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO, December 8, 2009-The Steamboat Ski Resort will open top-to-bottom terrain tomorrow, December 9th, with the addition of the Storm Peak Express chairlift providing skiing and riding on the popular intermediate trail Buddy’s Run and Tornado Lane along with a number of trails in the Burgess Creek area. In addition, Thunderhead Express chairlift and Upper Vagabond will join tomorrow’s opening mix.

“
Resort crews have done a tremendous job working with the conditions presented and turned out very favorable early season skiing and riding conditions,” said Doug Allen, vice president-mountain operations of the Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation. “As this storm system turns more northwesterly and the resort receives more natural snow, we’ll look to open additional terrain and lifts over coming week.”

Steamboat is under a winter storm warning until 6pm this evening and forecasts are calling for additional snow and colder temperatures through the next few days. The resort is currently reporting an 18-inch base at mid-mountain and 19-inch base at the summit on packed powder conditions. With the additional terrain by Wednesday, the resort expects to offer 408 acres, 35 trails, 6 lifts and nearly 3,500 vertical feet of skiing and riding.

On Wednesday, Dec. 9th, the resort will open Storm Peak Express chairlift, which joins Steamboat Gondola, Preview, Burgess Creek and Christie Peak Express. Later on Wednesday, Thunderhead Express will also open to skiers and riders with the opening of Upper Vagabond as soon as snowmaking operations are complete. In addition to the new lifts, several of the popular mountain trails off Burgess Creek including Lower Rainbow, White Out, Blizzard, Norther, BC Liftline and Surprise will open for the season.

Rabbit Ears Terrain Park will open this weekend with snow features. However, it will close on Monday in order to install intermediate features and reopen for the season on Tuesday, Dec. 15th. Snowmaking will move to Upper Rainbow and Storm Peak Face with continued operations on Eagles’ Nest, Betwixt, the Park Smalley Freestyle Complex and Mavericks Terrain Park.

New operating hours will go into effect for Thunderhead lift this winter due to operational issues experienced last winter. The express chairlift will now open at 8:35am instead of 8:30am and will close at its normal 3:45pm time. This change is being made to ensure that skiers and riders are not accessing the slopes ahead of patrol and mountain crews and in order to avoid conflicts with grooming machines and snowmobiles.

There is no backcountry access available at this time from the ski area. As a reminder, State law prohibits an individual from crossing any rope on the Steamboat Ski Area. Violation carries a $1,000 fine. Hiking up the mountain outside of open areas is also prohibited. The US Forest Service and Routt County Sheriff’s office support the ski area’s enforcement of trail closures as provided under the Skier Safety Act.

“Everyone needs to ski and ride with care, within their ability levels, and remember, unmarked obstacles and other natural terrain features may be encountered at any time,” stated John Kohnke, patrol director. “I can’t stress this point enough. Do not violate closures on the ski area. At this time of year, prior to opening tree skiing and the backcountry access, skiers and riders must stay on open trails. Several individuals have chosen to ignore closures and, as a result, will be without privileges for two-weeks. Remember, it’s going to be along season, so make sure you make smart choices and are here to enjoy all of it.”

Experience Steamboat this season with a variety of winter vacation packages like Ski Free at Steamboat, which offers free skiing from Opening Day to Dec. 18th when powderhounds book a minimum 3 nights lodging through Steamboat Central Reservations®. Steamboat Central Reservations offers a variety of packages and specials throughout the season. Call toll-free 800-922-2722 or visit steamboat.com for more information.

To stay up to date on Steamboat’s snow conditions visit www.steamboat.com, view the Mountain Cam, photo-of-the-day, movie archives and register to receive the Straight Talk Mountain Report. Snow conditions will be updated as conditions change and can be accessed by calling 970.879.7300 or steamboat.com.

-www.steamboat.com-

Tags: Champagne Powder, Ski Town USA, Steamboat Springs, Winter Ski Season 2010

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