NW Colorado

[yetipolice]

17" reported in Buffalo Pass... and still dumping... some friends actually snowmobiled in there yesterday.

[xboat]

we're you previously "'boat skier" on this board?

[yetipolice]

nope, just joined about a month ago

[xboat]

cool. you're only the second person that has posted here that lives in steamboat. i lived there '92 thru '96 and sure miss it, still have quite a few friends there and usually show up a couple times a year. this will be my first winter off skis as far as i can remember (ACL surgery in january) so i hope you will post some pics and trip reports from that area this season.

what do you do there? you can PM me if you want.

have a safe season!

[yetipolice]

How's tomorrow sound for a TR? Skinning up the mountain, possibly Buff or Rabbit Ears... yep, it's more than skiable.

[Aldo]

Sigh.
Champagne pow + trees = bliss.
Left my heart in the Yampa valley many moons ago.

[gravitylover]

Left my heart in the Yampa valley many moons ago.

Me too. I was there from '87-'92 then again '95-96.

[AntiSoCalSkier]

What's the deal with Steamboat anyway? I always thought it was full of Texans and low-angle groomers, but every so often I run into someone who really loves Steamboat. Is the mountain really worth skiing? Or is it all BC? Or is it just that the town is a cool place to live?

It's currently on my list of places I might like to visit sometime, but it's not on the "must visit" list. Should I upgrade it?

[glademaster]

I've only spent 9 days in Steamboat on vacation, but I can answer some of your questions about it. The mountain doesn't have that much steep in bounds terrain, but the quality and quantity of snow coupled with what is arguably the best tree skiing in the U.S. more than makes up for it.

The backcountry is supposed to be amazing, with some areas getting close to 600 inches/year, and is generally less avy-prone than the rest of Colorado. Mainly because the lines are a bit shorter, less wide open, and the Steamboat area generally doesn't get the prolonged dry spells that often cause depth hoar and other stability issues accross the intermountain west.

As for the town, it is truly an amazing place. The people are friendly, the town itself is very welcoming, has killer views of the Storm Mountain and Mount Werner and it is one of the few true mountain towns with a ski resort nearby. It doesn't seem hokey, fake, overdeveloped, or any of the other stigmas that many associate with resort towns. If someone offered me a way to move out there, I'd leave today. The mountain isn't utterly awe-inspiring, but the combo of the mountain, the town, the people and the whole area/vibe just makes it a place that feels like home to a lot of people, me included.

Edit: Sorry if I sound like a Steamboat PR person, but it's how I feel about the area and my take on it, and I'm sure there are many here who would/will echo my sentiments towards the town.

[72Twenty]

How's tomorrow sound for a TR? Skinning up the mountain, possibly Buff or Rabbit Ears... yep, it's more than skiable.

REALLY?!?!??!

Say, if one were to head down to the 'ol Rabbit this season for some skinnin', could you post some inside info? I've only driven over it a couple times. Where would I park, and what direction would I head?

Thanks!

[Aldo]

Me too. I was there from '87-'92 then again '95-96.

Perhaps we've crossed paths?

Hmmn, 88-89 me- Bear Claw bus driver, constant haggler of the Holiday Inn happy hour, BW-3 addict.

You?

[iskibc]

REALLY?!?!??!

Say, if one were to head down to the 'ol Rabbit this season for some skinnin', could you post some inside info? I've only driven over it a couple times. Where would I park, and what direction would I head?

Thanks!

Park on the right side of the road where you can see the "rabbit ears" and walk/skin in that direction until you get to the top. Ski down. Repeat.



Steamboat/surrounding BC is where my heart is at. Best and most snow in CO by far. Please check in with a report yeti.

[glademaster]

Please check in with a report yeti.

I strongly second that

[yetipolice]

iskibc... if I don't ditch to Fruita this weekend, I may be hitting up that "near Hahn's peak" area you were at last season (read that TR and realized that you actually skied with my brother that day, so that's how I know where it is, small world)... my friend lives at the base of that mountain and she said it looks pretty skiable right now, so we'll see how the snow holds up.

As for what everyone said about Steamboat... ditto... great town, great snow, amaaaazing BC... who cares if inbounds is generally flat, there's much more to explore beyond the trails.

[gravitylover]

It's currently on my list of places I might like to visit sometime, but it's not on the "must visit" list. Should I upgrade it?[/QUOTE]

Yes.

I've always felt that it doesn't have to be the steepest or deepest or sunniest or whatever to be on the must do list. Steamboat is just an all around nice place to ski.

[iskibc]

iskibc... if I don't ditch to Fruita this weekend, I may be hitting up that "near Hahn's peak" area you were at last season (read that TR and realized that you actually skied with my brother that day, so that's how I know where it is, small world)... my friend lives at the base of that mountain and she said it looks pretty skiable right now, so we'll see how the snow holds up.

As for what everyone said about Steamboat... ditto... great town, great snow, amaaaazing BC... who cares if inbounds is generally flat, there's much more to explore beyond the trails.

wow, small world indeed. I think I've met you once or twice before. Berthoud garage sale last year with Matt and Mir? Is Jeremy coming back out this way?

We'll definitely have to hook up for some turns in that area this coming season. Some of my deepest days came from that area last year. Wish I could skip work tomorrow to check things out up there. Have fun and let me know how it works out for ya.

[xboat]

Perhaps we've crossed paths?

constant haggler of the Holiday Inn happy hour.

You?

mmmmmm....meatballs.

[board]

The Boat is a blast, no it's not extremo but it definitely will leave a small on your face. The BC as stated is great and even better if you have a sled.

[gravitylover]

Aldo
Yeah I basically lived at B-dubs for a few years. I even worked there for a while in between beers. We've got to know each other. Me: still short, a lot less hair and married with 5 year old twins.

[72Twenty]

Thanks, BC. will do. Maybe we'll see you up there this season.

When my dad was in college (U of Wyo), he used to ski the Boat for (student ticket) $3!!!! That was in like '68 & '69. Then he told me the horror story of when a student ticket went up to $5. He used to head down there witha buddy (who is now an engineer at Cesna) who used to race his car. It was a rear wheel drive Duster all tuned out and hot rodded. I guess he used to spin 360's goin' up the Rabbit in traffic (prolly on purpose some of the time just to freak people out). I guess he has some kind of winter speed record for Laramie to Steamboat. Heh heh. I finally gradjoowaited from U-Dub, but I always went down to WP/MJ (pass was alot cheaper - FREE) for about the same drive time. I only went over to the Boat a couple of times - $$$. It's a sweet hill to bike, but I didn't ever go on a good snow day - wasn't too impressed considering how much I paid for a ticket. I'll have to hit it this year on a good day.

Cheers!

[Aldo]

mmmmmm....meatballs.

Hah, my least favorite of the rotation.
All I can say is it got ugly on Shrimp cocktail night in there.

Okay Gravity Lover. Name game. Winchester.

[xboat]

Winchester.

disabled ripper on a sit ski. way cool guy.

[72Twenty]

Any of you 'Boaters ever go over and ski Cameron Pass area?

[xboat]

Aldo - name game. since you were a BW's regular, do you know...

Bill Kipper

[Ireallyliketoski2]

The Steamboat area is very nice, I always recommend it to people who are looking for a nice laid back ski vacation. Of course there are some nice 40 footers on the mountain, but after that it's an hour pole/walk out. The whole vibe of the place is very nice and the ample snow adds to one's overall level of enjoyment. It's nice there in the summer as well, above average quality of drugs too.