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Steamboat Magazine

Steamboat Ski Area Opens New Terrain

12/02/2015 03:22PM ● By Deb Olsen

NEW TERRAIN FOR WEEKEND SURPASSES
700 ACRES AT STEAMBOAT SKI RESORT

 

Nearly 1.5 Feet of Champagne Powder® Snow in Past Week

Nearly 6 Feet of Snow Has Blanketed The Mountain Since October 1

 

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO-December 2, 2015-As the Champagne Powder® snow continues to pile up so will the expected open trails and acres at Steamboat Ski Resort starting Friday, December 4, as the resort expects to surpass 700 acres of terrain with a fourth of the mountain open to skiers and riders.

 

“We are preparing for a wonderful holiday season in Steamboat-Ski Town, U.S.A.®, and one of the first steps in that direction is opening more terrain,” said Rob Perlman, president and chief operating officer for the Steamboat Ski & Resort Corp. “Our mountain teams have done a tremendous job over the past few weeks to open new terrain, and we will continue to focus on providing more lifts and trails as we fast approach the holidays.”

 


Starting Friday, December 4, the open terrain at the resort will expand to 702 acres (23.7% of the mountain) across 66 trails, 3,600 vertical feet, serviced by 6 lifts including the high-speed, lower-mountain chairlift Thunderhead Express.  Terrain for all ability levels grows with 11% - green trails, 16% - blue trails, 12% - blue/black trails and 20% - black/expert trails open for skiing and riding. While early in the season, access to the backcountry is available via a corridor up Over Easy. Respect all closures and safety signage and ski and ride within ability levels.

 

New trails for the upcoming weekend include High Noon, One O’Clock, Two O’Clock and Twilight down to Duster along with Sideburn, Ted’s Ridge, See Me and one of the earliest openings for Upper Vagabond to name a few. This is on top of 150 acres which opened earlier in the week and covered popular areas such as Big Meadow, Flying Z, Crowtrack, Storm Peak, Triangle 3 and newly named trails-Bugs’ Run and Skeeter’s Run.  Loris ‘Bugs’ Werner and Gladys ‘Skeeter’ Werner join their brother, Wallace ‘Buddy’ Werner, with trails named after their famous skiing Werner family at Steamboat Ski Resort.

 


Snowmaking crews recently surpassed the 65 million gallons mark, far ahead of what is typical for this time of year and will continue to take advantage of weather patterns that are favorable to snowmaking.  The resort will open additional terrain across the mountain as snow and weather conditions allow. Trails and lifts are subject to change without notice.

 

“With nearly 5 feet of snow this month, mountain crews are working around the clock to prepare more terrain and lifts for powderhounds, and we will turn our attention over the coming week toward the Priest Creek and Sunshine Bowl areas,” said Doug Allen, vice president of mountain operations. “The home of Champagne Powder has received a lot of snow recently providing a fantastic foundation for the season ahead.”

 

A series of storms blanketed the mountain with more than 58.5 inches/4.8 feet of powder in November including nearly a foot and a half of snow in the past week. Steamboat is currently reporting a 27-inch base at both mid-mountain and the summit on powder conditions.

 

Getting to Steamboat this winter has never been easier. Steamboat’s nonstop flight program will offer convenient access via nonstop air service from 11 major airports on Alaska, American, Delta and United Airlines. The snow has been falling and a number of specials are currently available. Contact Steamboat Central Reservations® for airfare details or for winter vacation packages including Spur on Winter at 800-922-2722.