IN THE DEEP

message from Andy Jehn

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 00:17:00 +0000

http://castilruiz.com/gyrsmbf/pvuaju.html

One last powderday to remember her by

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 02:52:00 +0000

What a delivery. Following what I heard was the "worst day of the season," Mother Nature delivers a 8-10" powderday under bluebird skies. What a way to end the season, totaling 338". Not bad.

It started snowing mid morning on Thursday, so we went up for afternoon turns. It snowed off and on through Friday morning (that day's highlights here), and then warmed up, brightened up, and clouded up again - in usual spring fashion. Saturday's continual cloud coverage eliminated the chance for soft spring snow, and high winds scraped whatever snow was left completely off. So sure enough, although we didn't venture up there yesterday, we heard from the majority that the conditions were abysmal. Glad we skipped. Instead we enjoyed the festivities - which are unparalleled in my opinion, although not that I've tested the rest (why leave?).

Steamboat throws a mean party. 11am Cardboard Classic. 2pm birthday party for Billy Kidd (70!). 3pm 3-7time Grammy Nominated (depending on who you ask around here) local favorite Missed the Boat bluegrass. And we ended it with dinner at Slopeside. Yum.

Then around 7:30 last night it came roaring back in with a vengeance - high winds blazing ahead of a dark, thick cloud front. (God, I love weather.) It began drizzling on our walk to the car, and by the time we got home it was a full blown rain/hail/slush storm, smacking the back door's glass with a wall of water first, then caking the door, deck, and dish (required scraping) with a heavy layer of slush. The forecast called for a foot... we went to bed anxious.

We woke up with a spring in our step, called the report, and jumped out of bed. 9 new inches and 8 degrees at the summit. Then we looked outside. Oh yeah! BLUE! As far as the eye could see. Frankly I can't remember a closing day like it. And the locals came out in force.

The Gondy line? Full. The SSRC VIPs reopened First Tracks to appease the masses, and there was happiness all around.

We started out with five, our favorite monoskier and a fourpack of snowboarders, much to his chagrin. We loaded at 8:20 and enjoyed fast, silky turns down Rudy's, as the sun crested over the summit.

We snagged 2nd and 3rd chair at Four Points, only behind Straight Talk Reporter David Wittlinger and his subject Pickle. From halfway up the lift we noticed Storm Peak wasn't running due to high winds up top... although Tornado Lane/Nelsons looked oh so untouched and smooth, the wind was whipping upward, creepily running like ghost waves over uneven surface.

So we headed over to Sunnyside right away - via Rainbow and Moonlight. From the top of Sundown we could see what the fuss was about. Howling with a knock-you-over kind of force. We beelined it down 3 to 1230 and ducked into the trees wherever we could.

Next we hit Sundial to Ramrod - best run of the day I think; although grabby it spots, the snow was heavy on the bottom but light on top, like Billy's 70th cake. Then to Westside/Wristband, yes, the trees were powder-icious.

3rd run up Sundown the boys decide - against my better judgment I'll add - that they should at least do ONE run over on the other side. So we traverse across the Land of Hoth Storm Face and meadow, and down to test out Hurricane. GONG. Back to Four Points (yes, Storm STILL closed), Sunset, Moonlight Trees. Ahhh, much better. Again, glorious in the trees.

We did Sundial again, and then to Rolex/Land of the Little People. Uh huh. Then Morningside opened and Craig ached to do Kodak one more time, one last powder run to remember her by.

On the way down we scored last goods in the trees off Vagabond left (surely they have a name), and the trees under Thunderhead lift. By then it was time to party again, and down at the base the weather was downright springtime, with a nip in the air.

Yes, another day of ridiculousness - 1pm Pondskim, 2:30 Head forthe Hills (bluegrass) and 4:00 Leftover Salmon! Lots of costumes, tutus, fagbags, wigs, and locals with kids, dogs, and beers in hand. Good times.

See you next year snow-covered heaven, until then, we'll put up the boots and boards and explore your lush hills on foot or on wheels. Gotta love it -

The end is so bittersweet

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 20:02:00 +0000

We both skied yesterday, but we pressed glass this morning at the Gondola. It was "like" a powderday, there were 5-8" (scoped yesterday), and with no one around, it would be intact. In fact, there were 6 people in line behind us at the Gondola, that's how deserted it is around here.

We headed right for Four Points, down a buttery, gorgeous Rudy's, and eyeballed Tornado the whole way up. What was groomed was grabby underneath with 3-6" of heavier but still fluffy April snow on top. What wasn't groomed was deeper, up to 8" on top and of the bumps or in the trees, but unpredictable and lightly populated with "snow snakes."

From Tornado we hit Four Points again, and headed down Sunset to Moonlight trees - I found two snow snakes, but the trees were otherwise surprisingly soft and generous. Up Sundown through a thick thick fog, and over to Sundial to Ramrod, our boards gliding through the creamy top layer with no other tracks in sight - yesterdays tracks mostly covered.

Up Southpeak and down Westside, the right side of which (dubbed Craig's Ridge) was just the same, graceful and predictable. The view from Westside (left) was of the sky breaking apart finally to reveal what would become a bluebird afternoon... perfect the STARS employee ski day (2-4pm) and party.

Up Sundown again and down to One OClock and into 12:30, then over to Daybreak and ducking left into the trees (dubbed Andy's trees); a little less snow down in this section, but 12:30 takes the cake as usual.

From Sundown we took the Face's mustache - sketchy in the fog but if you could find the line it was lovely - to Rainbow and BC. I took Valley View down while the boys did another to-to-bottom. VV wasn't great, but it wasn't terrible - the snow losing its fluff the lower I got, until finally it was like spring skiing again.

The end is in sight, and yet the powderdays loom - the forecast is snow right on through Tuesday so you know there will be some hikers getting their turns in after the lifts stop churning. It's bittersweet, but we're all ready to break out the bikes and bag some raise...

Hopefully there will be one more In The Deep before then though -

YVSC trees need your clicks! Take 2 seconds for 2 clicks, and we receive $5000 for 2000 trees... THANKS!!

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 14:48:00 +0000

Good Morning,

Looking for a little help to spread the love! YVSC is up for a $5K grant to help with ReTree Steamboat 2013. Many of you are already familiar with ReTree, but for those of you who aren't - it is an effort YVSC and CSFS have partnered on for four years to plant seedlings in our community to replace trees killed by pine beetles and to increase the diversity of our local forests. More information can be found at our website http://www.yvsc.org/calendar/upcoming-events/retree-steamboat/.

Anyway, there are 5 communities competing for funding and the top 3 will get the $5,000. We need you help by voting for our project and letting all your friends know that they should vote for our project. Here is the link. http://bit.ly/AIGrGs.

Please vote and spread the tree love!

Thank you!!

Andy Kennedy
Program Director
Yampa Valley Sustainability Council

Inspiring our community for future generations!
970.846.9256
andy@yvsc.org
http://www.yvsc.org

Facebook | Twitter | Blog

Upcoming Events:
March 23 Youth Green Team Eco Summit
March 23 Earth Hour
March 26 Talking Green: Local Foods

VOTED: Creamiest Day of the Year

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 20:15:00 +0000

If the mountain was a butter factory, today's snow would be the homemade creamy kind that spreads easy even on cold toast. You'd think the warmer temps would have made for heavier stuff, and the lower layer may have been so, but it was coming down so hard and fast that we didn't notice, today was voted creamiest day of the year by our bunch.

Winter Storm Warning came in around 10pm last night, although it started snowing around suppertime. By morning, the 5am report said 9 inches up top, but - see Craig's last post to understand this word - it was NUKING all morning, so by the time we'd gotten to our second run, the previous tracks had been covered, and well over 9 inches.

We loaded the Gondy just early enough to beat the Thunderhead crew to Four Points yet again, and our pack of hounds started with a Cyclone-Vortex run into the clouds. Or was it fog? Or nuclear aftershock? Either way, the visibility was zilch, and we were all talking about the vertigo effects on the ride back up Storm. I had to hug the left hand trees of Cyclone to keep my bearings, and yet still found myself on DropOut instead of Vortex since I couldn't see my hand in front of my face, and rolled over the lip before the fall line because I couldn't tell the ground from the sky. But who's complaining? It's deeper now that it was then.

Next we did Storm Face-Sunset-Lights Out, still blinded and asking "Where am I?" about every 5th turn, and still cackling at the shin deep butter. The turns were silent, but to quote Dylan, "the wind was a-howlin' and the snow was outrageous!"

Next run Craig and I ducked into 12:30 while the rest of the crew did 1:30, and everyone bragged about knee deep first tracks when we met back up at Sundown. "Amazing," "unbelievable," and "gorgeous" type adjectives were thrown around like confetti.

Following that up with a Sundial trees to Ramrod, fast and furious. Then captured this on Westside to prove that despite the 9am report saying only 1 additional inch, we were choking down face shots like we were boxing The Hurricane.

1 inch my ass. And sometimes a run is so nice you do it twice. Sure enough, Sundial/Ramrod/Westside was a two-fer for us today.

By then it was 10:30am and I had to part ways with the crew to get some work done. They went for a 1:30 lap, then a Morningside lap, and a top-to-bottom from there. I went straight for Storm Face nose trees again, and caught the deepest butter of the day on lower Concentration. Good gawd, untracked and knee deep all along the left side... glorious.

I sure hope if you're reading this and can make a few pm turns you do, because it's still coming down like a frozen monsoon out there. Get some.

See you in the deep!

Another Champagne Powderday in the Boat!

noreply@blogger.com (Craig Kennedy) — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 18:42:00 +0000

Well for the third time in a month we were blessed with a powderday of life changing proportions. With less than 10 inches on the report I pulled back the curtains this morning to find it puking snow outside. For those of you wondering how hard it was actually snowing let me put "puking" into context for you. According the legendary Dougie Fresh, a long time Steamboat local and powder connoisseur, there are three levels of snow intensity. Dumping, puking, and nuking. Any day that is is "dumping" is a great day and we are getting anywhere from 1/2 inch to 1 inch per hour. If it is "puking" we are getting between 1-2 inches per hour, and if it is "nuking" it could be snowing anywhere from 2-4 inches an hour.

So knowing that is was puking out and the daily snow report always leaves you wondering what has happened between 5am, when the report is recorded, and 9am when skiers actually reach the top of the mountain, I ventured out early to get some fresh tracks. By the time I reached the ski area it was snowing even harder (not quite nuking though) and I loaded the gondola just after the first tracks crowd. What a pleasant surprise when I exited the gondola building at the top to find lots of snow and a ski patroller that said there was 14 inches at PHQ (Patrol Headquarters) at the top of Sunshine Peak at 8am. 5 new inches in 3 hours = its officially puking!

After a beautiful run down Rudi's Run and Lightning on 8 inches of fresh groomer I parked myself at the Four Points Lift to wait for an 8:45am opening and just happened to be first chair. By the time I reached the top of Four Points I had decided that Four Points Lift Line was my obvious choice for a first run and some amazing first tracks. I flew through the champagne powder that Steamboat is famous for at an amazing rate of speed. When its that light it is also really fast. The whoops and hollers of friends and locals from above me on the chair kept me going the whole run. With one of my favorites under my belt I headed back up Storm Peak to start my favorite string of powder runs.

Storm Peak face (the middle, center field, mustache, whatever you want to call it) to Sunset to Moonlight trees never lets me down and did not disappoint this time either. Then it was off to Keith's Ridge and 12:30 trees. Next run took me down upper 3 O'Clock and 1:30 trees. Then it was off to Black Powder, Tomahawk, and Ramrod. From there, South Peak Lift delivered me to Craig's Ridge and West Side. And then it was time to head down which always means a top to bottom run. Top to bottom this day took me to Sideburn, Rainbow, Rudi's Run, Vagabond, Lower Concentration and then back into Rough Rider to access the lower part of the Thunderhead Lift Line. With my day at and end and some time in the office starting me in the face, I raced to the bottom and hung up the monoski for the day...With a HUGE smile on my face and one last look to the sky to thank the snow gods for blessing Steamboat once again.

Help Craig Win!

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 17:08:00 +0000

Hey y'all! Vote for Craig's proposal!!
Scroll to the bottom and click VOTE :) THANKS!

http://steamboatmagazine.com/2013/01/25/a-unique-proposal-steamboatmagazine-com-s-valentine-s-day-story-contest

You can sign in with FB, google, etc.

YAY!

:)

--

Andrea Jehn Kennedy
AJDesign & Photography
http://www.andreajehnkennedy.com
970-846-9256
Creative Adventures
Artist Designer Photographer Writer

Fast turns with Amanda

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 03:23:00 +0000

"It's just easier on me if we go fast, I can let the ski do what it wants to do," adaptive instructor Derrick Charpentier tells me after we've caught up with him, in the STARS office that is. Because keeping up with him and Amanda on the mountain, was, well virtually impossible. And I don't ride slow myself.

We rolled out this afternoon for a few runs after a morning of work for me and a morning off (IE on the couch) for Craig - much deserved of course. We met up with Keith, who I am very excited to see back - after a hip replacement at a too-young-43 - on his 195 Doughboy (things like a freaking Liquid Shredder, I don't remember it being that long), and we had to stop into the STARS HQ to pick up Craig's rig. It's never just a brief stop into the office - of course that applies to everyone - but especially for Craig. Questions, scheduling, chatting, clients, ski donations, you name it, even at 1pm, when all the lessons are out on the slopes on a slow day, that office is a beehive.

But luckily we did stop in, because Amanda and Derrick were just coming back from lunch; it was her first day on the hill. Amanda, in for the umpteenth year with her family from Florida, is someone we always look forward to skiing with. Her ear-to-ear grin is contagious, and she has one mission when she hits the slopes: GO FAST. So she requests Derrick, and that's what he gives her. Amanda skis on a bi-ski because she has CP, but her disability sure doesn't limit the way she enjoys the hill, and this, my friends, is exactly why Craig and I got into this business ten years ago. What a blast!

Straight out haulin' down Rainbow

And then down into the mini pipe.

YEAH! I hear more snow is on the way... do your dance, we can always use more.

Attitude adjusted and some shadow love

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 18:45:00 +0000

Mt Werner crested over the 200" mark today with the new fallen snow, and after a week of straight stormin', the sunshine came out for a Groundhog Day visit.

The mountain's enormous terrain is in impeccable shape; from buttery smooth groomers to powder stashes in the trees, it's all guaranteed to give a serious attitude adjustment. Not that we need one, living in winter wonderland and gifted a week like this last one, but the smile coming down the hill is always larger than the one going up.

I got a bit of a late start and rode the Gondola with visitors from all over today - Cayman Islands, Cleveland (shout out to our ATAB homies!), Jackson Mississippi and even Rangely, and it always reminds me how grateful I am for living here. I headed straight for the Sunnyside stashes and hit Sundial first... knee deep and glorious!

"The Captain was here!" Look at that blue sky!

Then down to Ramrod, Southpeak, and Westside. I love the days when we get it all - beaming sunshine, surfy groomers, and powdery gifts in the trees. Another Sundown lap took me to 12:30, where the stash is always, ALWAYS, predictable:

Wanting to get a bite in before my noon Imbolc ceremony with the Goddesses, and seeing the Sundown line was already like Macy's on Black Friday, up Elkhead I went, straight for Valley View. And good what a good call it was. O. M. G.

There's nothing quite like 30 miles an hour down this one. If my attitude wasn't already adjusted, I was ear to ear by the time I got to Lower VV. Both upper and lower Valley View were g-love-carvin' magic, gifted with left side corduroy just for me:

The continual hammering snow this week has been straight from heaven, and I hear there's more on the way. Phil saw his shadow in Steamboat today, so whether it's sooner or later, those storms are now sealed with the Groundhog Day guarantee. I got three words for that: BRING IT ON.

See you In the Deep -

Read this: Demo from Red Cross on heart machine

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 17:54:00 +0000

If you only read one thing this month, this might be the most important by far!

We have all walked by the Red Cross sign in airports indicating where a heart machine is located. Do you know what is in them and how to use it?

Try this video and see what you think. http://www.heartrescuenow.com/

If you pick the wrong choice----the man dies----choose wisely. You may save a life.

We're sharing it with all our outlets with the hope that it'll save lives (maybe mine, yours or someone you love)!

--More snow is on its way!--

Another foot of fresh and then some...

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 05:42:00 +0000

The morning report announced another foot of freshies, and had it been 15 degrees still, it would have been two feet... But the much warmer temps made for heavier snow and slower going but it was still fresh, something we hadn't seen in 3 weeks, and it was a gloriously stormy powderday out there on Mt Werner.

The boys loaded the Gondola early, and hit Cyclone-DropOut while Georgie and I made our way up to Pony in a line of a thousand powderhounds. One run down that usually untouched part of the mountain made me realize this wasn't the normal powder day for playing the flatter trees. I got sucked into the gully next to Bar-U-E, and climbed 50 yards up and out. Breathless, not laughing, and ready for a real run, we headed right over to Dropout again on a mission for steeper terrain.

Words are lost on days and weeks like this one - 40-plus inches in 3 days so far and more is still coming down. So here's the video from today... as I'm too weary to keep writing! We sure are loving the GoPro, it's saving my hands, and making for some great faceshot capturing!

See you In the Deep people! What a FUN week!! Snow Gods, send more anytime!

24" in 24...

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 22:26:00 +0000

... they made a Pirate Theater about this day a decade ago... and we haven't heard those exact words since. We've gotten a 28" day, some 18" days, and a lot of days in between, but either my memory fails me, or those exact words haven't made the morning report more than a few times in Steamboat history, and what music to our ears it was.

We had all been waiting, patiently, for weeks, and today was the pot at the end of the frozen rainbow. These are the days we live for - the Phat Tuesdays, the 2 foot dumps, the bluebird powder days - especially after a three week hiatus.

The odd thing was, the 24" were at midmountain. The mountain's top side report was only 9". So with debating ideas of where to head first, we headed to the Gondola at 8:10. Low and behold, the troops loaded us early, and we didn't have a choice - head with the First Trackers on Sundown or wait 20 minutes at any of the other lifts. And what a choice it was.

First run down Keith's Ridge to One O'clock to untouched 1:30 trees had us "oh my god"ing by the time we got back to Sundown. Knee and thigh deep champagne billowing over Craig's head made for some amazing video, that is when the snow didn't completely block the entire lens. The conditions were perfect: blue sky, late rising sun glittering through the trees,

Second run (above) we tried Three O'clock to One to 12:30 and same again; breaking trail into 1230 was worth it. And the "oh my god"s, "unbelievable"s, and more must have had the lift operators just jonesing for a breaking. Thank you lifties, thank you snow gods, thank you Steamboat!

Third run we had first tracks again down Sundial, breaking trail out to Tomahawk, over to Ramrod, and up the SouthPeak lift to the deepest spot we found on the mountain: Westside. Alicia said it was her best run down Westside ever (and she grew up here), and by far the deepest run of the day. We did Craig's Ridge down the right side, in and out of Wristband in snow up to my waist.

By then it was 9:15, and the Sundown line was growing, so we headed over to Storm Face and Mustache, down Hurricane and headed for a couple lower mountain laps up Thunderhead, and found some of the deep on Mother Nature, Oops, and hero bumps with 2+ feet on them on Vertigo.

All in all, best day on the mountain yet. And there's still snow on the horizon. We are blessed up here, no questions about it.

See you In the Deep!

11 feet and it's not even 2013 yet

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 00:13:00 +0000

Another glorious day with the powderhounds in search of the mid-mountain 14 that fell since yesterday. The morning report clued us in to stay low, reporting only 7" up top, so we did mostly that...

Starting with a lap down Norther to Four Points, somewhat bumped out but still good. Next we hit Nelson's to Twister to BC, where the powder was knee deep and not as tracked. From BC we did the liftline back down, arguably the best run of the day with wide open glades of powder and empty at that, so we stopped for a few photo shots. Go Alicia!

Then we got the text I was waiting for, Craig was headed up the hill! So we hit Oops to Vertigo, also among the best of the day, lower thigh deep, glorious light powder. We ducked under the lower T-Head lift line and found the untouched stash hiding there!

Riding Thunderhead up, we were tempted by what was below us, and hoping we were timing it right, (frankly we couldn't help ourselves) so we hit Concentration and the top was the deepest stuff we found all morning - upper thigh deep and then knee deep to Mother Nature. Wow. Back into the liftline, and back up to the saddle where Mr. Powderhound was waiting.

We took a rare trip down Vag to Surprise to get to Storm Peak so we could hit 3O'Clock and 1:30, otherwise known as ... errr, ask me in person next time you see me. Very nice in here, all the way down the right side of High Noon even.

From the top of Sundown we did the Face Mustache to Hurricane, freshies in both! At this point it was 10:45 and Alicia and I were hitting our limit, and apparently so was Craig's rig, which blew a bearing on the way down just before we got a chance to hit Vertigo again unfortunately. Anyone got a new sit-ski they want to get rid of? ... yeah. Any kind will do, Craig's Revolution Pro Comp is a whopping 17 years old with 1300-1500 days on it! A new one is $5000...

Well, we've been chewing up this mountain since before Christmas, and it looks like we will all finally get a bit of a respite to rest the old knees, backs, necks, ankles, and sit skis... a week of sunshine on the forecast should make a few people (non locals) happy for the New Year.

And when the snow returns... you'll see us In The Deep!

It's STILL snowing!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 23:00:00 +0000

Wow, the flakes just keeps coming down in the Boat this December with almost 10 feet of snow so far!! TEN! And we skied another 18” of the light and fluffy stuff this morning as it just seemed to keep getting better and better. (Sorry, those of you who have to work mornings!)

Instead of our staple beeline to Four Points we ducked off the front side to Teds Ridge - hero bumps at the top and thigh-high depth the whole way down - and headed right over to Pioneer Ridge for some solitude from the masses - 15,000 of them to be exact. . .

And it was simply pow-gasmic today, over, and over again. From Longhorn to Middle Rib we hit Pony lift six times in all, in and out of the trees, giggling and bouncing over powdery bumps like Tiggers, not caring if we got buried, covered, tumbled, and tossed, if the goggles failed a little or if the visibility was like ocean fog – today was the best day of the season so far!

We marveled at the fact that we were actually out enjoying the elements – what many visitors curse – blowing sideways, 50-ft visibility (at best), and 10 degrees. Not exactly ideal for outdoor fun... unless you're in Steamboat that is.

I gave the new GoPro my first test run with the chest harness, so bear with the learning curve… practice makes perfect.

And guess what, it’s still snowing!!! So we'll see you In The Deep sooner than later!

Santa delivers!

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 20:33:00 +0000

There's nothing better than waking up to a foot of fresh on Christmas! The presents can wait (unless you're us, and have to work on Christmas, so you opened your presents on Christmas Eve!), the powder is calling!

Craig had to work, so I was solo today, and other than having to ride the Gondola with grouchy, loud, hungover 20-something locals, it's often nice to have a day of silence in the snow. From then on, every lift ride was pleasant, talking to folks from Orlando, San Antonio, Cody, and even Australia, wishing everyone a Merry Christmas with a smile.

I had one mission today and one mission only, enjoy, and find some new openings, and I got buried several times on the Sunnyside in the 14" inches since yesterday!

In spots, it wasn't that deep for sure, but if you know where to look, it was above the knees. Being Christmas, it was empty; the locals seemed to head right for Pony, so I was virtually all alone on the other side.

I started with a gloriously deep run down a bumpy Norther, laughing at my solitude and headed right for Four Points. Sunset had been groomed, so next I headed there, also up to my knees, and then into the Moonlight Trees - very fluffy, very deep (the rope had been dropped today I think), and so I took my first video.

From the top of Sundown I did Keith's ridge - deep, untracked - to Flintlock - ditto, to Southpeak and straight to Westside, groomed with about 6" plus, riding the left treeline, which had about 10". Snapped another video of the lone pair of skiers gliding beside me. Not another soul in sight!

Back up, I beelined it for Sundial, oops, a little deep and untracked, couldn't kick out of there! One track before me, every time I stepped off I sunk to my knee. Laughing and out of breath, I popped out on Tomahawk and headed straight for Buckshot-Ramrod trees, and was breaking trail the whole way down. Southpeak again, this time to Rolex. Hero bumps up at the top turned into powder loveliness on the right side about half way down, and completely untracked on the bottom glade.

Losing steam I headed to Sundown and traversed to the Mustache Meadow, always untracked at 10am, and headed on down. They opened up the alternate routes down, so I had a first run down Concentration (powdery goodness) and into Giggle Gulch. Good times.

The storm has broken up for now, but it looks like we'll be hit again for two more days of goodness, so we'll see you In the Deep all week!

Merry Powder Christmas! Hope you have a good one!

Piling it on!

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 20:12:00 +0000

The snow Gods are smiling down on northern Colorado this week, making up for lost time, filling in the holes, and bringing joy to all the little powderhounds.

Our wee gaggle of single trackers honed in on first Gondy and first chair at Four Points today, (a-thankyou Craig!) and we were chomping at the bit after hearing a patroller say we got 18" in the last 24 hours. It's the never-ending storm, so much so that I honestly can't - no really - remember when it started. We are skiing ourselves into shape quickly on Mt. Werner, and no one's complaining. In fact, we're downright bragging. Everytime I look at my Ski Report app (get it, awesome), Steamboat still has the highest dropcount. 10" on this morning's report, but it's so much deeper than that. We're inching our base above 40 now... soon the trees will be safe again!

Rudy's and Blizzard were magic velvet, and it just kept getting better from there. From 4P we did a Nelson's - Hurricane, hooting and hollering and OMG-ing the whole way down. I was watching Craig get face shot after face shot on every turn, with snow billowing over his head (nearing goggle failure) , and up above my own knees in spots. It felt like a backcountry day, weaving the outside of the track before me to assure freshies the whole way down. Glorious. Hurricane was so nice, we had to hit it twice, taking Storm up to do a "Nose" run down the center of the face and then over to Hurricane's creamy left side. There was nothing to do but smile, shit-eating-grin style. It was perfect, every last bit of it.

More terrain and lifts are opening every day- and today it was Sundown, so from there we headed over to do a Clock lap, from 3 to 2 to Daybreak, all good, all deep, all the time. Then another Nose lap to get us down before we headed into work.

It's still coming down out there, check the grooming report for openings, stay safe, and see you In the Deep! (Which looks like it'll be tomorrow once again!)

Powder to the People!

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 00:32:00 +0000

Still snowing....
In lieu of a verbose description of today's 6" we got to chew up, here's a video to wet your whistle...

It was great to get up with my powderhound today, and it looks like more snow's on the way, so stay tuned to this channel!

Let the games begin!

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 21:00:00 +0000

Powder daaaaayyy! Celebraaaate!

Yeah that was good. We needed that. Big time.

Of course there were 300 locals chomping at the bit, and there still isn't much open, but compared to brown everywhere the white is a winter welcome for sure. It's been snowing since... I forget, Saturday? Literally. Some have told me Sunday was pretty good, but all I know is today - and it was brilliant! They've reported a foot or so in 48 hours, and so I say, Let the Games Begin!

I'll be the first to admit, prior to today, I wasn't into it. I had no qualms about hiding out, not tuning boards, not embracing the hill until - gasp - January if I had to. But when this storm hit - and stuck to Storm Peak like glue - and piled up snow like icing on my deck railing - I shifted. Finally! It's winter the in 'Boat! Big fat flakes comin' down!

I repeat, not much is open - so we got a safety announcement in line today from Ski Patrol: "We're blasting the top today, so for your safety, obey the closure lines," and get ready, 'cuz the rest will open later this week!

So I rallied with a boarding bunch today, 8:15 at the Gondy, the line not filling the maze, everyone hooting when we got to the top. It was Alicia's 10th day (homegrown Steamboat girl is all about it! Best facials in town for those of you who come visit!), George's second (and his excitement was barely containable because he's had to take the last two years off!) and my first- and no matter what day it was, we were all ready to rip up some of the good stuff.

We headed to White Out first, but the cat track was too deep - Alicia and I made it as far as Norther, and bombed down the first pitch with a vengeance! I was in shock by the 2nd turn, it was deeper than I expected, fresh tracks, powder puffs, it was glorious. Again, since none of the top is open, BC lift was all we got.

We laugh at our spoiled-ness here, not waiting in lines, ever... but the massive line (for the Boat) at BC today didn't matter. We charged it thrice, and it was quick, social, and full of smiles.

After Norther, we were temped by BC liftline but passed it up for White Out and while it wasn't quite as good - with 300 locals, 5 runs get tracked up in a heartbeat - it was still very nice. See?

By the time we took our last mid mountain run - Velvet to Rainbow - I was realizing I have thought I was in shape, but "powder-shape" I'm not, and I was ready to call it quits.

The Dayz and Vogue did not fare so well with the new snow... the "machine" snow is what I've been avoiding since opening day - it's not predictable, it ices up quick, and it's just simply not Godly. Like Steamboat's famous Champagne is. But those first three were worth the last one. Unquestionable.

The skies look like they're quitting for now, so it may be a while before you see me again... but when they unload upon us, you can guarantee we'll see you In the Deep! Hopefully next time with my trusty PowderHound.

Wishing everyone a happy holiday season!~

Let the fun begin!

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 16:27:00 +0000

I'll admit, it's been hard to get excited about snow when it still seems like September outside, when the east coast is getting so pummeled that talk of weather seems insensitive, and when there's so much else to think about - events, growth, progress, change; yet when the forecast barrels down on us with something this big, the buzz finally spreads.

It was just 12 short months ago when I posted It's comin' right for us! (11/14/2011), excited for a new year, that was more of a bust than a boast like the years prior (some seasons we were posting as early as October 4th!). And here we are again, like Groundhog Day, with Craig's monoski loaded into his car for an adaptive training weekend in Breckenridge, telling me, "It's coming right for us!" Just in the nick of time.

The system looks like the 1500-mile stretch of Armageddon-like weather that's been hitting the east coast. Spreading from north of Calgary to the New Mexico border, this storm is so impressive the Weather Channel named it Brutus. And yea, it's comin' right for us with a Winter Weather Advisory from 6pm tonight to 6am Sunday, bringing 4 to 8 inches, 50mph wind gusts, and starting with snow above 9000ft tonight, then down to the valley floor after midnight. It may even be early, the headwinds just arrived.

So enjoy today's sunshine, it's hopefully the end of it. We say let the fun begin, it's time to praying for a deeper winter than last year, safe months on the slopes, and lots of smiles.

See you In the Deep! Bring it on!

Two-Pack o' Monos

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 01:53:00 +0000

A great Bluebird day in the 'Boat and we got to share a few hours on the slopes with Butch, our southern buddy who just plain rips... and for us to say that, you know he's fast!

It was a spring day out there, and it's although a nice change from the cold we've had, the Almanac says nothing major until the 3rd week of March. 2 weeks of warm weather is going to wreck that good February snow. Snow Dance time!

So the three of us spanked it down Rolex, Flintlock, 2O'clock, Face and Rainbow, as well as making some fast and wide GS turns on Sunshine Liftline and Tomahawk. It sure was fun skiing with two monos again!

Here's praying for snow so we can see you In The Deep! Just five more weeks of ski season, and it feels like it just began...

A "sleeper" report makes the snow last longer!

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 00:22:00 +0000

Today's 6am report said 4" and snowing. That's what we call a "sleeper" report.... that's a good thing.

sleep·er
noun /ˈslēpər/
9. A movie, book, play, etc., that achieves sudden unexpected success after initially attracting little attention, typically one that proves popular without much promotion or expenditure.

In addition to that, it keeps those lazy sleepers in bed, and leaves the rest of us with all their leftovers. Needless to say, I took 5 runs down Pony before Craig caught up with me (delayed due to work) and there was still plenty of snow to be had at 10am. I have officially skied myself into shape when I can ski 3 hours of - yes, A FOOT - of powder and not complain to my dance instructor that afternoon. Booya! You can't build that shit in the gym.

So you heard me right, it was a foot of fresh today. And it was GLORIOUS. 4 inches my ass.

I was about 20th car on the Gondola and 15th chair on Four Points, with unbelievably tasty lines down Twister - imagine about 10" over a fresh groomer and then go change your knickers.

My five runs in the 'Ridge were solitary, and I had a fresh-Zamboni feeling the first run down Longhorn- not a single track in front of me, and light, knee-deep powder over soft cord. Seriously priceless. I managed to stop myself and get a clip of those who trailed me; Jonathan, "this buds for you." Great turns.

Following that I chewed that land up and spat it out - bombing down Middle Rib, Diamond Hitch, Nash Junction, Cabin Fever, Perry Park, and WJW, coming out with a stellar run down Vortex and hitting the bottom of the Storm Peak Lift Line with hollers from above as I bounced over the powder pillows. Thanks Pony lifties, I'm sure you got sick of seeing my backside this morning.

Craig caught up with me at Storm and we headed east, finding the deep stuff on Sunset, in Moonlight Trees (video), Sundial and Ramrod as usual. But for the first time - in perhaps ever - we meandered off Sideburn into Closets - for Craig, those tight trees and unfamiliar lines aren't good, but that part of the Closet is pretty wide open. We came back out onto Sunset again so we took the Moonlight Trees twice. Yum.

And it's not snowing now, but that storm is a big'un, and dropped a foot in Park City last night so we're hoping there's some left in those clouds for us. Timing is everything, and we sure love those Sleeper Days when the best snow falls after that 5am report.

-See you In The Deep!

A little love on Leap Day

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 04:20:00 +0000

It's one of those days that locals call "weird." That can mean a million different things, but today it meant unpredictable, uneven, ravined, and flatly lit. There were many different reports from the locals I talked to today, from "great groomers" to "chunked up," but either way I had a great morning hunting for the good stuff.

There was no doubt, while the high wind caked the trees beautifully, it turned yesterday's 7" into 5 of crème brûlée. Some call that "set up." But if you stayed in the trees, it was buttery without that burnt-cream top layer; more like behind the trees actually- in the trees didn't quite cut it. If the wind could whip through it, it had been crèmed. Even the big aspen groves, such as our favorite 1230 was a perfect example, "set up." From there I high tailed it for Sundial and found the love. Still not quite 7" but surfy just the same- the kind your boards can glide over like water just off the beach.

The tricky stuff was the 1-2' ravines- not quite a chasm, but maybe a coulee? Those wind drifts that catch you off guard because you simply can't see them in the flat light. The staggered 3 rollers I found in Mustache tossed me, and the one that's always there in front of the 1230 secret entrance was like a canyon.

All in all, I found that good buttery stuff on Ramrod and in the Broadway trees, but the best run of the day was my first run of the year down Mother Nature and it was like velvet covered tiny hills.

And the good news is that snow is on the forecast for the next 2 days. Bring it!

See you In the Deep!

FAT Tuesday Strikes! Another foot and still dumping!

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:19:00 +0000

There are obvious rewards for patience. For those who have said all year, "it will come, it always does," with that deep inner peace of knowing that winter was just around the corner; for those who read the Farmer's Almanac and said, "it's always right, just believe;" for those who enjoyed every blue bird groomer day anyway thankfully, this week is your week. Your patience has paid off.

Twenty seven whopping inches yesterday broke the Steamboat record for deepest day. And it was probably 35" by the time I came down after 10, perhaps 38 or 40 by the end of the day? Yeah, that's three feet!

Today the ski area reported another 9" at 6am, definitely more like 12-15" in Pioneer Ridge by 9am, and it's snowing sideways with those big fat pancake flakes that stick to your jacket and goggles and pile up fast and furious. We're looking at another two feet today...

But it doesn't stop there. Tonight we're in the middle of a Winter Storm Warning (I love these, but it seems redundant to warn people of an eminent danger when we can look outside our window and see it's already here). They're calling for another two feet. I can add, that's 5-6 feet in 3 days. Has there been a week like this since the epic 1996 January that held the record of 26" in 24 hours that we broke yesterday?

I saw this in a Pirate Theater once... I think it's time to bring "24 in 24" back this year boys!

Today I did laps down Pony with the girls, Cabin Fever, Diamond Hitch, Royal Flush, Ambush, Longhorn, Flying Z, Drop Out, and every where we went it was the same story- bottomless leftovers from yesterday with a fresh coat of Champagne frosting. Especially in the trees. Can't beat that.

My last thoughts: Thank you Mardi Gras Gods. It always dumps the motherload on Fat Tuesday!

I didn't take out the camera today because it was intensely blowing, and my sit-skiing powderhound was at work... so today's video is brought to you by the best at Steamboat:

TWENTY SEVEN INCHES???

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 23:54:00 +0000

We called the snow report this morning twice at 5:30am. Then again at 6:30. It was so funny, we recorded it.

"Did she say twenty seven inches?" And she did say it was still snowing.

Around 7 I checked my snow report app on the Droid to be sure ~ Vail: 0". Winter Park: 4". Steamboat: 27". Holy shit. Patience pays off.

I've lived here since' 98, and I don't remember a day like this. Craig's lived here since '94 and said "that Fat Friday in January of 1996 is the only thing comparable to this." Today may very well go down as the deepest powder day on record. Watch for the press release, powder fans.

When we rolled into Gondola Square at 7:40am, there were hundreds, perhaps a thousand, people in line for First Tracks. It was laughable, they had to cut the line off at 8:20 to get ready to load the regular paying customers. We hopped in before they did, and from the top, beelined it to Four Points and made 10th chair, never once thinking to go over to Sunny Side today. Can you imagine? 800 people on 3 O'clock. Right.

From 4P, we took the first turns down Tornado and Oh-My-God. Words barely describe, Champagne was up to my ribs and Craig literally couldn't see. He looked like a mole, and had to stop every 2-3 turns to get his bearings. To do it right, there was no turning... it was straight ahead or get buried, with all of Storm Peak Lift riders hooting down at you.

Our second run was no different... from Storm Peak North we tried to get to Cyclone, to no avail- it was just too deep. We wound up on Rainbow and took Hurricane down, laughing hysterically the entire way.

Next run, we were damned if we were getting to Cyclone, so we hit Buddy's, which was not so deep unless you hit the trees, and on the left it was about thigh deep (no one here is complaining). Cyclone was where we caught our videos... and Drop Out was ridiculous: bombing bottomless bumps like a porpoise, I should have gotten some images of Craig here, but I was too busy trying to stay afloat!

I have only one word for today. EPIC.

What a day for surfing In The Deep!

Forecast is sweet!

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 03:26:00 +0000

Jesus its coming down and no signs of stopping!