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:

©Steamboat2012

Keep it coming, Mama, thank you for this week's love In the Deep!

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!

Piling it on!

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 21:45:00 +0000

After five days of skiing and a stompin-fast African Dance class this week, I wasn't sure my body could handle the additional 9" on top of it all, man is Mother Nature piling it on! But between a morning and afternoon meeting today I managed to make it up for about 90 minutes of powder hunting.

As I love to challenge myself when riding alone, today I decided to avoid riding the same lift twice, and went from the Gondola to Pony to Storm Peak to Sundown to South Peak to Elkhead, and think it might be a fun day to try and ride every one them once, as I am pretty sure I've never done that in one day!

The powder wasn't as elusive as I thought it might be not arriving until about 10:15; thanks to a lull in visitor numbers right now the hill was deserted. (Although I did hear one tourist say from South Peak as we were looking up High Noon, "See honey, how crowded that is? We just need need avoid the busy runs." Lady, you have no idea what busy is apparently.)

I started out with a few Norther trees, knowing the shape it was in from yesterday, and from Pony I took Nash Junction to Chuckwagon to Drop Out. From the top I traversed to upper 3:00 and then on to 1:00 and into 12:30, back to about 1:30 into the grove below Daybreak. Then knowing that the Sundial grove doesn't ever seem to get eaten up, I headed there for the freshest powder of the day. Then on to Pup's right side trees and South Peak for a West Side bomber, no powder there but the soft groomer provided a nice a break, as did Vagabond down, as I had to take the fastest route, pushing my noon meeting time to the edge.

What a week it's been! 3+ feet of snow this week and counting!

Pony Express now open!

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:29:00 +0000

Happy Valentines Day! It's another powder day in the Boat amigos y amigas, and we've been awarded for our patience, Pony Express opened today and Pioneer Ridge was amazing. I only had about 90 minutes this morning, but enough for 3 sweet luscious laps in the Ridge, unfortunately without my Valentine, who got up there about an hour after I did.

But I didn't ride alone and made some turns In the Deep with Alicia (today's photographer, Steamboat native) and Peter, who has lived here since 1974 and therefore native as well.

We started out with a lap up Four Points and down Cyclone and Drop Out, exploring the trees and about 10" of fresh, which has now pretty much covered up that ccrrrrrr sound beneath. From Drop Out we headed right over to a newly opened Pony, which hasn't been open all year due to abysmal conditions, leaving the 16 or so in the last few days wide open for us, glorious us. We went right to Fetcher's Glade and the bottom of Middle Rib, surfing and yipping like it was early season again. Another lap up left me with little time to make my 10am Zero Waste meeting, so I did Cabin Fever to Longhorn to WJW- which I have always thought should be called WOW instead, and was tearing up at the return of winter.

I must say, I'm glad I took yesterday off to work out and bulk up, because after 3 days of riding Friday-Sunday, my rudder leg was outright whining.

A last note, it was clouding up around run two, and started snowing upon my descent down Valley View... and suffice it to say, it hasn't stopped snowing since! BIG FAT FLAKES, tomorrow is going to be another beautiful powder day in the Boat. Winter, we love you, thanks for sticking around.

See you In the Deep!

Extremely Close and Incredibly Silent

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:49:00 +0000

Today was a strange ski day. Having worn myself out the last 2 days in dense powder, I was like cold molasses moving down the hill today. We didn't get up until around noon, as the sun was trying to poke its orb through the clouds, unsuccessfully... those clouds were extremely close all day, lightly snowing midmountain, densely foggy at the top, and by our last run, they'd broken open and begun to dump large silent snowflakes that stuck to my goggles like glue.

We stayed up until about 2:30, mostly saving ourselves for the rest of the week, as the snow was soft on the groomers, hugely bumped up on the rest, and caked over in the trees, and snow is on the forecast for the next 3 days!

Thank God for the farmer's almanac, Winter has finally arrived.

-See you In The Deep

Powderday, [Take 2]

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 18:42:00 +0000

Just because we've had so few, because it was a gorgeous blue day, and because its Saturday, I decided I had no choice but to "Take 2!" on the powpow. I made it to the Gondy at 8:10 and was in the same spot of the singles line I was yesterday, about 25 people back: so far so good. But I heard from the gate keepers that it was a record First Tracks (locals get 1 free Feb FT with their season pass) so I knew immediately I wasn't headed for the usual routine on Sunnyside... chomp chomp little Pacmen have already been tasting for an hour.

With that I decided I'd take a different approach and ski nothing that I had done yesterday to make my day more fun. And away I went...

Up FourPoints and down a groomed Cyclone, catching powder in the leftside trees, lovely, soft, untracked, and vacant. Down to Dropout, also groomed but just as soft, surfing in and out of powdermounds on the left.

The Storm line was long, even on the backside, and I'd had it in mind that Morningside was likely still very nice and very untouched, so away I went, and it was so nice, and vacant, that I stuck around until 945 when the line grew too big for my liking. In and out of trees and the glades on skiers right, back up to where Keith's aptly named Kodak for its picture perfect shots, I coulda stayed there all day, but had a great three runs to some Dave Matthews, The Who, and Zeppelin.

From my last trip up MS lift I got a off the windblown top and down into Big Meadow, then taking CalfRoper all the way to Rainbow trees above Moonlight. Delightful in the trees, but still a little dangerous... I found a 2' wood ramrod in Wristband that would have gored me if I wasn't taking it slow in the tight grove. But it made me chuckle, as I'd just skied Sundial to Ramrod before that. Sundial won "nicest run of the day", and I'd have done it twice if Wristband hadn't taken my steam and dumped a foot of coldness down my pants... I was having trouble "committing" to my turns in there on the 162. Bugga, it was then quittin time. And I think these new pants need a belt on powderdays...

NO complaints, all in all a fabulous Round 2 to the storm that laid a foot in the Yampa Valley. Winter has arrived! And Craig's off work for the next 2 days so I'll be back at it tomorrow for some turns with the boys! I might just have to miss the Carnival festivities... nothin' we ain't seen before.

-See you In The Deep!

A Play List for Powda

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:03:00 +0000

A good powder day is like a good set list at a live show... you're constantly excited about what's coming next. Today was one of those days, a rare one this year, where the foot of fallen fresh was only made better by what was coming out of the Skull Candy as I took some turns solo.

So without further adieu... hum along if you so choose.

Sweet Emotion> Sweet Leaf (Sabbath v.)> Jealous Again> Isis> Feeling Alright> TNT> Sunshine of Your Love> List of Demands> I've Seen all Good People> Iron man> Higher Ground (Chili Peppers v.)> Smells Like Teen Spirit

So with that in your mind...
Rudy's> 4 Points> Dusk> Rainbow> Moonlight> Sundown> upper Priest Creek lift line> 3 o'clock> 12:30> lower 1:00> Andy's Stash> untracked left side High Noon> Sundown> Keith Ridge> Sunshine lift line> Pump House> South Peak> Westside> Wristband> Elkhead> Velvet trees> Sundown> Sideburn> Mustache Meadow> Rainbow> Park Lane> Concentration> Eagles Nest> Giggle Gulch lane and meadow> Short Cut.

My DoubleTwist app picks the songs at random but they're always perfect... EG Bob Dylan's Isis: "The wind was a-howling and the snow was outrageous!" Or the infamous T.N.T on Keith's Ridge, our longboarder'd be proud.

They're reporting 10" but there was a wind blown foot in spots, and I found untracked goodies in the trees (no I will not tell you where Andy's Stash is) and I'd say it's finally about that time that I'm not holding my breath over logs in the woods. Here's lower Pump House>South Peak for ya...

Oh thank God - it's finally In The Deep!

Westside turns from Goer89

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:30:00 +0000

Compliments of John Strongosky from Syracuse, following In The Deep's tracks since 2002, skiing with Craig today on Westside...

Farmers Al 

Farmer's Almanac is calling for snow starting Valentines Day... I'm not holding my breath, but I'm sure praying they're right. We're overdue.

-See you In The Deep one of these years...

Blue and True

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 22:51:00 +0000

It was a chilly 12° when I looked at the gauge this morning, but by the time we got to the mountain, the sun was warming things up nicely for a balmy Bluebird Sunday on the slopes with friends, both visiting and local.

We started out making a few long runs -sans turns- with the Krauthamers, from MD, who have been coming to Steamboat a couple times a winter for two decades and who expressed great appreciation for our local adaptive program STARS and how far it's come in just its two short official years on the slopes, and how different it is from 20 years ago... STARS put 60 clients on the snow yetserday, but today was a pretty quiet day around there so Jeffrey got the golden treatment with instructors and volunteers setting him up in a Bi-Unique sit-ski for the first time. His usual rig of choice was the Mountain Man sit-ski, but adaptive king George Hurley urged Jeff to test it out for its maneuverability and better size-fit for JK, and it sure seems they all made the right choice. Jeffrey's turns today were better than we'd ever seen.

We took the first big run down Tomahawk, and a second lap down Flintlock, both in grrrreat shape.

After it was time for JK to head down, Craig and I took a run down Buddys to Cyclone, found some ice on Tornado Lane, and headed back to the top where we ran into pals, all deciding to head back over to "Wally World" where the snow was just softer. Another lap down Flintlock, then Sunshine Liftline, then 1 O'Clock, and a top-to-bottom with "Candyland" Kim from Fuzziwigs (visitors if you haven't tasted their sweets, you're missing out! Corner of 9th and Lincoln!), another summer hiking buddy of mine "Pinky" Liz, and Craiger's old buddy "CoolBreeze" Matty - poor guy's a Patriots fan but we skied with him anyway.

There's nothing that makes Bluebird Steamboat days better than taking turns with friends. Love you guys!

-See you in the Deep (one of these days, in big years, this statue is usually buried!)

Snowy Bluebird with Dad

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:17:00 +0000

Steamboat's had a good dumping of snow in the past few days while we were in Denver and we came home yesterday with eyes on the prize for skiing this morning's leftovers - and glad we did. It was a beautifully warm midday under "Giants-Blue" skies (watch out Patriots!); we got up at about 10:40 and made turns for about 2 hours with Pops, aka Wild Bill, who was ashamed today was his first day of the season. (Some Local!)

We rode the lifts up and made our first mid-mountain turns down Rudys to Storm - soft groomer for carving! We got wind that Sundown Lift was closed, so we skirted from the top to Sunshine and down the lift line and what a glorious run that was - groovy-soft rollers, powder along the sides in the trees, and I punched a little into Pumphouse and was pleased I did, cotton-ball fresh. And then came the burn for Old Man Kennedy, this is why we call it "skiing into shape." That long run reminded Wild Bill he shoulda been riding his trusty treadmill more often!

We rode up Sunshine and took Flintlock this time, where I trailed our monoskier all decked out in his #10 Manning jersey. Why not, he'll be wearing that for 2 more weeks mind you. And hopefully more... but this isn't the place to talk football.

Watch and learn...

Good news, more snow is on the horizon - it seems Steamboat is finally out of its doughnut-hole! Time to build that base!

-See you In The Deep!

Bonified Powder Day #1 for 2011-2012 Season - Winter has arrived!

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:35:00 +0000

Unquestionably, undeniably, our first full-on powder day of the year, today's foot of fresh brought the hoots, hollers, and yip-yips from locals that Winter's smile is all about. But don't be fooled, it wore us out. And froze me out. It's a chilly-will up there today, with a -16 report on the 5am.

It snowed all day yesterday, starting while it was still warm, and bringing about 2-3" of heavy stuff, a perfect buffer layer over that unmentionable stuff beneath that we've been grimacingly skiing on for weeks now. Then came the buttery layer; I wouldn't call it the Steamboat Champagne™ - it was heavy enough made turning not an option. Today was brought to us by the letter P for point and go, and stick to the steeper stuff. Unless someone broke trail for you, but since we were first, there was none of that!

We rode first car on the Gondy, got to Four Points 2nd in line behind a die-hard skinner (where all those behind us were chompin' about how great Rudy's was!) and bombed our way (hooting) down the knee deep glory on Sunset to the western gully of Moonlight trees. A ride up Sundown gave the view of what First Tracks had chewed up, and we opted for Keith's Ridge to Sunshine LL's left side to 12:30, but never made it there. The cut through the trees from Sunshine to High Noon was formidable, and I had to opt for the connector lane (found a frozen mouse-icle on the cat track, indicating the sub-zero temps) while Craig burned his guns out on a High Noon traverse to 1:00. I found him at the bottom there - catching the lovely thigh-deep pow at the bottom of 12:30 mind you - and snapped this:

We did another run down 3:00 to 2:00 to Daybreak and were puffing for a top-to-bottom by then. It's time to ski yourselves in shape peeps. We took Elkhead to Norther (omg HERO soft bumps for some more hooting), to Storm Peak for a SP-Face to Mustache Meadow (BEST run of the day without fail) to Rainbow and out.

While the snow fell early enough yesterday to fall prey to the night crew grooming schedule, even those groomers were nice again - with the only-occasional growl underneath.

I told her yesterday, "Winter, please stick around," and it looks like she will; snow is yet again on the forecast. Check the Almanac, uncanny prediction for Winter's commencement on January 16 in the Western Rockies. HOW do they do that??

-See you in the Deep once again-

Day 3: Ski Camp - Fresh Snow!

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 05:11:00 +0000

We'll take what we can get this year, and the 2" last night turned into 5 or 6 on Morningside in the afternoon due to all the winds! I took some late-day turns with the monos down Kodak and had a blast! But brr, was it cold and windy!

Tomorrow is the last day of the camp, and the first time in 7 years that we've been unable to do Powdercats for lack of snow. While as sad as that seems, it'll be nice to spend one more day with these amazing athletes on the hill!

Day 2: Ski Camp - How you can help!

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:00:00 +0000

We're heading out for another great day on the slopes, and if you want to help by donating to these amazing partnering program that bring adaptive adventure to Steamboat, check out this movie tonight - call STARS to pick up the last tickets before it sells out!

Featuring many skiers and riders you might know, including Adaptive Adventure's own Matt "Hollywood" Feeney. :)

Day 1: 7th Annual All Mountain Ski Camp, Steamboat CO

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:53:00 +0000

STARS and Adaptive Adventures are back at it, teaming up to bring the 7th annual ski camp in Steamboat for wounded warriors and adult skiers with disabilities from all over the world, and as always, it was a glorious first day on the slopes. Despite not having near the norm in snowfall this year, the runs were in good shape, and the groups were bombing down the hill faster than you could keep up with them.

(Sometimes even the pros take a digger.)

Catch 'em on the hill - if you can - through Thursday. More shots and video to come!

First snow of 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 19:47:00 +0000

In a normal year, today would have been dust on crust, would have been a day for sleeping in, would have been skipped by those who called into the snow report and heard 0 at 5am, would have been, perhaps, even laughable. But it's not a normal year. With a 20" base, dustings on the report for all of December except two days, and no snow on the forecast for another week, today's 5 inches were a blessing.

Sadly, this was day two overall for me. And it's January 7th, I know. I'd normally be ashamed to say that, but with the lack of snow (grass and bushes still showing, no tree runs open, not enough base to groom the Clocks) the general dangers on the slopes, and the crowds from the last 2-3 weeks, I'm not ashamed. We were practically sunbathing.

So today was a day for motivation (thanks Craig for forgetting your phone at home)! I checked out the grooming report at the top of the Gondy, and having listened to the locals this past week, I knew where that new "renovator" had been as well and stuck to those....

First tracks down Buddy's was downright buttery, I'm not lying, as was Rainbow. I even did a second lap, Buddy's-Cyclone this time, but not as reliable underneath- mind you, it IS still dust on crust, after all, it's just sad that's what we're getting excited about. Because this was only my second day on the hill, I had a little Zero Waste work to do, popping in to Four Points and Rendezvous to take pictures of bins and signage, get ideas from the staff, and give props to the hard-working F&B crew who make the mountain's Zero Waste Initiative possible. So that said, I found more butter left side of High Noon (not bad towards the bottom for sure) and Fawn, glorious Fawn, which was actually quite nice at the bottom - nice of course meaning a reliable grabby base with about 5" of softer powder on top (not the champagne, which for today, was better for coverage). Even Lower High Noon's middle line was safe, with powder piles and that same reliable (not icy/slip-and-slidey) base. From what people have been saying - and that's all I have to go on - it's been east coast skiing, and I remember that ice not fondly. So to have some carve is nice. That stuff's gonna groom up nicely if I may say so.

From there I took Elkhead up and laughed (or cried) the whole way. I mean, there really isn't ANY snow under Elkhead. And when you see a few lines through that, you have to wonder, "who the hell ventured in there?" On the way down.... Although most of the top of the Daze was nice - even at 10:30am (found it as usual on the left side, in and out of those willow branches, and that's just laughable) - but since I can say it now, the death chunks at the bottom were ferocious. Duck-bowling sized. And although the top of Vogue was treacherous, the bottom might have had more snow than the top of Buddy's.

Pray for us - so we can see you In The Deep!! The 7th Annual All Mountain Adaptive Ski Camp starts tomorrow, and those boys and girls deserve some snow (not that we all don't)!

Opening day with sunshine, softness, and smiles

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 20:44:00 +0000

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! And Happy Opening Day! We've got a great base building up already, and a storm on the way!

Took some turns with Miss Jennie from 9-11 today to warm up the legs and check out the conditions.

Surprise! Four Points lift was open! A patch of barely tracked soft snow beneath the top lift shack, soft groomer turns on Rainbow, and on the second lap, we wore ourselves out on Hurricane- mounded up piles of pow already. A lap up BC took us to the Daze, minimal glazed patched there shoulda softened up for the pm crew who were loading their turkeys in the oven.

Its a glorious thing when the season opens- 20 more weeks of love from ol' Steamboat! Here's to a DEEP one!

It's comin' right for us!

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 15:11:00 +0000

While yesterday's northern section of the double-whammy winter storm system split and shafted Steamboat, the southern system has laid her snowy eggs over Mt Werner all night long... and its still dumping. We've had snow on our playhill for weeks, but it's finally piling on in the 'Boat!

Ten days until the mountain opens, and the natives are getting restless!

It's going to be another La Nina year people; wax your boards, book your tickets now, and see you In The Deep!

Wrapping up 2010-11

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 18:08:00 +0000

Craig and Keith at the top of Buddy's the sign was buried!

Steamboat closed its doors for winter business this past Sunday with a rockin' powder morning, totaling 433 inches for the year and peaking out at a 137" summit base, nearing some best-ever records.

The last is always a bittersweet day full of on-hill shenanigans, base-area parties, live music and games, and Mother Nature held off her fury just long enough for a comfortable day at the base with the icy blue pond skim with Katchafire and the Whalers blaring the tunes shortly after. Smartwool gave out some free prizes for a little work with their 'perfect match' game (ironically appropriate for sock winning), and the Bear River set up 3 extra base area jockey-bars with shots and brews to fill the crowds with fizz.

But the most impressive part of closing day for us were the numbers... and we'll probably get a few more inches that won't even count. We'll miss you for a few months Mr. Werner, but we'll be back!

Bust of Buddy Werner nearly buried as well!

Snow totals

2010-11 season mid-mountain snow totals (inches):
October (pre-season): 21
November: 90*
December: 73
January: 68
February: 84
March: 79
April (through Sunday): 18
Total: 433
*61 inches fell in November before the ski area opened for Scholarship Day on Nov. 24

400-inch seasons - we've been blessed to rack in our vertical during six of these record years!

2007-08: 489
1996-97: 448
1983-84: 448
1995-96: 441
2010-11: 433
2005-06: 432
1992-93: 416
2008-09: 405

The calving glacier off our neighbor's house in mid March

More Winter with 16" new

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 22:28:00 +0000

If we thought yesterday was good, today was phenomenal. Best day I've had on the mountain perhaps all year- the temp was frigid, the snow was light, and it was up above my knees in spots. The fog was dense, and the place was deserted once again. Man, were we in for a treat.

We started out on the sunnyside, blindly finding our way through the fog by the trees from KeithsRidge to 1230 to AndysRidge- which has been newly named after only one day to AndysWetDream, then BlackPowder (holy crap we were buried!) to Ramrod (this is where we became verbal in excitement) and finished up that side with CraigsRidge to Wristband before taking Elkhead up to explore the middle peak terrain.

Over here we bombed through soft bumps on Norther, found untracked lines under the Four Points lift line, and continued to dip in and out of the nearly two feet in the trees. Then back up Storm again to explore Morningside starting with Frying Pan which was the deepest snow of the day, and back up MS for one more down Kodak, which is where we got some footage, finally. Some days it's just too mint to make movies! It was super windy over here, but well worth it.

We closed it out with a stellar run through the Crowtrack trees, just as the fog began to lift, and a top-to-bottom that included the left trees off Rainbow, some deep trees off Vag, a small deep section of Concentration, and some sneaky new stashes in Rough Rider.

One word: Glorious.

The storms continue through the end of the week, so we'll hopefully post a few more before the season wraps.

-See you in the Deep!

Spring powder, delish!

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 22:14:00 +0000

Patiently waiting for it to pile up today, we didn't load the Gondy until about noon - the report posted 0" at 5am, 4" at 9:30am, and 6" by 11, it was going to be a gorgeous powderday in the 'Boat!

Blindly making our way through dense fog and styrofoam flakes, we headed over to Sunnyside first, hitting Storm Face - Meadow - Sunset - Moonlight Trees and down to Sundown through half a foot of surprisingly light piles. The temp didn't drop until this morning, from 25 down to 14 by 1pm, making for winter conditions in April.

We explored untracked trees while it piled on, checking out Pumphouse, 12:30, a newly named Andy's Ridge (I discovered a little known stash below Daybreak at about 2:30's line), the aspen grove below Westside's left ridge, and then Hurricane before heading over to Pony for the lift's last day of service for the 2010-11 season.

In Pioneer Ridge we kept in the trees off the left side of Longhorn, and then did Flying Z to Vortex-Dropout Trees. While it was about an inch or two shallower over on that side, we still found fresh lines everywhere we went. With the spring break crowds vacating today, the afternoon skiing was a peaceful, quiet change on the hill.

Depending on which report you check, it's supposed to keep snowing throughout the last week here, and probably beyond, for some last, lovely, powder days of the season!

Thank you Steamboat, as usual, it's been a good one!

-See you in the Deep!

Snow arrives before the ski camp...

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 18:01:00 +0000

Tomorrow starts the 6th annual all mountain ski camp with STARS and Adaptive Adventures, and the snow has welcomed everyone in!

The morning report said 6" but its been snowing since sometime after midnight, and it was up over my knees in the 130, 1230, and Sundown trees! The latter being the best of the morning by far!

We're in a Winter Storm Warning until 6pm tonight, so if you missed today, tomorrow should be divine as well...

See you In The Deep, all week with the adaptive skiers- check http://accessanything.blogspot.com for more from the camp!

Sunny, soft and fast

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 23:16:00 +0000

Todays conditions were a welcoming blend of soft and fast for the influx of visitors who are arriving this weekeend, including Craig's sister and beau.

Only on Sunnyside ironically did we find hard crumbs of days past, the rest of the groomers we cruised today were plush with soft, fast, packed powder (video).

We were up from about 10am to 130, and at 24degrees and sunny, layers were shed and cheeks got red!

Hopefully we'll see some more of the white gold before sis' leaves on the 1st.

-See you in the deep!

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Not super deep (yet), but surfy

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 19:15:00 +0000

Today did not disappoint! The 5am report stated that only one inch fell since the mountain closed, but Rudy's had at least three over the groom, it's been snowing since sunrise, and as I stated yesterday, it shows no signs of stopping. The skies were throwing snowballs down on us all morning, as we found the stashes in the trees, where the thick clouds weren't as blinding. It's a white out out there! Not many braved the morning runs; the Gondy line was minimal, and we rode the Christy to Thunderhead, my first of that route for the season.

After a ride up Storm, wind picking up, we made for the open, untracked, vanilla icing-coated groomer of Storm Face down to Sunset, the fresh getting slightly deeper over a lightening-fast groom as well. Craig and the boys bombed through the bumps on Lights Out and the boarder here went and found completely untracked goods in the Moonlight trees below Duster. Not super deep (yet), but surfy. And it just got better from there.

Fritz called for Rolex, named for its mint quality, while on the Sundown lift, so our route there was down Black Powder-Sundial Trees to Buckshot trees, the latter of which is still pretty rolly, with deep pockets of snow to suck you in. After this storm, those last holes around the undergrowth will be totally filled in.

Rolex, (videos) was the best run of the day. Although the Daze was a close second. But Rolex, ungroomed, and relatively untracked, delivered high quality product as usual:

Craig gets some o' Rolex...

and Fritz freeheelin' his pick.

After the Daze we hit T-head one last time for a run down Vertigo; medium sized bumps, and easily 10" of untracked on the lower half! The last hidden stash!

What a great opening to a powder week! We're in a winter storm warning until Tuesday...

- See you in the deep!

No signs of stopping...

noreply@blogger.com (Andy J. Kennedy) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 19:11:00 +0000

www.wunderground.com

Here it comes!

The winter storm we've all been waiting for, and just in time for the holiday visitors, don't we aim to please?

This morning's 4" report kept me off the slopes with day packed full of errands and no powderhound to ski with... Craig and Matt are on day2 of a 2-day monoski workshop, training nearly 50 instructors total for the STARS program. But he's free to ski tomorrow through Tuesday in this tasty-cake powder that on its way in!

The 11am snow report added 6" to the 4" at 5am, and it shows no signs of stopping, with a report of heavy snow through Friday. Yeah, that's until Christmas Eve. Santa always brings the good stuff.

With a base of 62" already and a forecast like that, I'd be surprised if Steamboat isn't at 100% capacity through New Years. 20,000 pillows, for your taking.

-See You in the Deep!