Steamboat

Steamboat beyond our expections even without snow!

We chose Steamboat because of its diversity of terrain. We took with us a family who had limited to no skiing experience. This resort proved to be the best training mountain we have come across in our five years of skking and we have skiied Europe, Japan and prevously in the US. It took all of us to a new level of skiing ability. What the mountain lacked in snow this year the people of Steamboat made up for in assistance, expertise and quality of service.

The accomodation though having some cleaning issues at the time was convenient clean and practical and we would stay there again. Steamboat lacked the village atmosphere of Europe but then you cant have everything. We would really recommend having a stop over in Denver on the way just to get used to the altitude.

Its got it all!

There are few resorts that have it all and Steamboat is one of them. It''s accessible by plane, has great cruising runs and Powdered glades of Aspen and Fir. A real town with real people who live and work the area all year long. A country town where service and friendly demeanour are natural.

Dining can range from a simple Pizza to Restaurants whose quisine would satisfy even the most demanding connisseur.

It has all this but the biggest secret is that it gets year in year out the most snow of Colorado - its world famous "Champagne Powder"- Knee to chest deep cloudlike exilleration .

It sits 3 hours drive from Denver so there are few if any day-trippers so it''s not unusual for the world class slopes to be devoid of crowds.

Yep for my money (and its CHEEP!) "The Boat" has it all!

Jenny's Steamboat Snow Update for January 27th, 2010

Today I was riding on the edge!  That would be on the edge of some otherwise lovely groomed runs that my companion was enjoying, but I was in the mood for some deeper, fluffier messier snow.  And fortunately for both of us and all of you, too, in Steamboat there's no need to compromise!

The noontime view from my south-facing office window showed colorless sky with just a bit of sun brightening the horizon, but when we got out to the Gondola, we found a bluebird day over our mountain.  We started out down Rudi's to Blizzard to the Storm Peak Express, and just as I suspected from my two driveway shovels in the last 24 hours, the snow was just right.  It's soft and loose, but it has just enough weight to it to offer some resistance to my sharp snowboard, and it's a really fun ride.  Once up at 3000m on Storm Peak, I bounced my way over the loving and giving bumps in the steep Triangle 3 Trees and down through the meadow above Cyclone, and finally down skier's right on Cyclone itself to catch some more of those overgrown push piles.  We then rode up Bar UE and crossed over to Sunshine Peak to cut down through the top of Three O'clock and then sneak over High Noon through the trees to Sunshine Lift Line and down through the Wally World trees just off Flintlock.  Just gorgeous!  Then it was back up Southpeak and down precipitous Rolex, and although it was rolled last night, the generous groomers left me a roller coaster ride line down my favorite side of the run. 

Finally, we rode Elkhead back out of Sunshine and then found our way down Valley View from top to bottom, with me carving up the messy edge and my friend making rhythmic telemark turns down the smoothly groomed piste. 

I could have done this all day, but duty called, and there's more snow in the forecast for the coming days. 

Come and see for yourself - you'll like it! Very best regards - Jenny  

Toby's Choice, Steamboat

The great thing about Steamboat is it is easy for families. The Village of Steamboat is a purpose built village designed for ease of getting around. Affordable properties that are ski in ski out or ski in walk out, make it easy for families with young children getting from condo to the mountain.