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 Few resorts can boast of the name recognition that Steamboat enjoys. The name conjures up images of "Champagne Powder" (a phrase the resort has actually registered), skiing in the aspens, cowboy hats, Billy Kidd, and a strong tradition of sending athletes to the Olympics. The town of Steamboat Springs has produced 54 Olympians as of this writing, with more sure to follow. The town itself, although it has now grown to some 10,000 souls, is still a real ranching town, despite a number of upscale additions over the years. While not all of the cowboys in town are real, there are real cowboys. The skiing and riding is spread over four peaks and a prominent ridge, which form a range or massif. Draped over this varied landscape is nearly 3000 acres of terrain with a vertical rise of 3668 feet. The glades of Pioneer Ridge and Sunshine and Storm Peaks catch and hold much of the 337" of light, dry powder that fall in an average season, and are perhaps Steamboat's signature territory. The terrain adjacent to the Gondola base and lower mountain condos is devoted to learning. Good beginner terrain extends to the top of the Burgess Creek and Elkhead chairs where you can pick up Why Not, green circle and the longest run at just over three miles. Intermediates will also find many choices throughout this central section of the mountain, but should definitely go higher. Most of the stuff off the Sunshine lift is blue and long; access it via the Sundown Express or Priest Creek chair. Over on Mt. Werner there are a handful of trails that are blue-almost-black, good practice for the mostly black diamond terrain that surrounds the Pony Express. Between Sunshine Peak and Mt. Werner is Storm Peak, with some of the best glades on the mountain. The most difficult stuff will be found off the summit of Mt. Werner. It's not directly accessible by lift, but well worth the easy hike from the top of the Morningside lift, which can be reached from the summits of Storm and Sunshine Peaks. The Chute 3 Gate is practically at the top of the lift; hike along the ridge to access Christmas Tree Bowl at several points or continue further to North St. Pat's and East Face. Morningside Park itself is a fine collection of blue and black trails that are perfect for shaking out the early morning cobwebs. For freeriders and boarders the Mavericks Superpipe has 15-foot walls, a 17-foot radius, and is 650 feet long-long enough for perspective to come into play. Adjacent to it is the Sobe Terrain Park. Take care of your appetite at several places around the mountain. Thunderhead at the top of the Gondola serves breakfast and lunch, lunch is available at Rendezvous Saddle, and Four Points Hut on Storm Peak is perfect for a quick bite or hot soup. There are several choices at the Gondola Base. In the evening, sit down to a family-style Western barbecue at the top of the Gondola. Or enjoy an elegant and romantic evening at Hazie's or Ragnar's, both with gourmet food and prix fixe menus. In addition to mountainside dining you'll find plenty of choices down in town, ranging from the traditional burgers and beer to great steaks and fine wines. There are an abundance of retail shops, boutiques, and galleries to browse. Soak in a hot spring, take a snowshoe tour complete with a gourmet lunch at Ragnar's, do some winter fly fishing, or book a snowmobile tour. Horseback riding is just as much fun in the winter as the summer, or head out on a maintained Nordic network of trail. Look down on it all from a hot air balloon or a helicopter. In short, there's no end of things to do once you click out of your bindings.
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Ski Report
Colorado
