Steamboat Powder Day! 2/27/2013

Today was a rare early rising for me. but with a two-hour drive in-store it had to be done.
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So there is this thing about Steamboat Springs just getting stellar powder.  I’ve seen travel shows that highlight Steamboat and Powder was a theme.  I’ve been here for a week, during a decent storm cycle, and Steamboat has been getting 50-100% more snow than the Summit County Resorts (Vail/Breck/Copper.)  The morning report, today, was 10 inches….(Breckenridge reported 4)…so it seemed like a good idea to make the drive.
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I haven’t seen a highway snowblower in Summit County.

The drive from Breckenridge to Steamboat Springs is a solid 90 miles through a beautiful mountain-hugged valley, over the Continental Divide at Rabbit Ears Pass,
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and down to the northern foothills of the rockies.  Did I happen to use the word beautiful?!?  My god, this snow-covered drive was amazing.  It totally made me forget that I originally missed an exit, 20 minutes into the drive, that took me 40 minutes out of my way.  No Worries, off to Steamboat.
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I arrived at Steamboat Springs well after first chair.
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During my first gondola ride up I started chatting up a couple of locals and asked if I could tag-along.  One asked if I would be able to keep-up.  I suggested that if they lost me, they wouldn’t have to worry about waiting-up.  Having already told them my story of where I’m going over the next 2 months, they considered me legit and adopted me for a few hours.
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PERFECT!  From 10:00- 1:00 we took every possible tree run we could find.
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Though there were a few tracks in the trees, there was POWDER EVERYWHERE.  I’m not talking nice carving 6 inches of thick poo!
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N0, we were making turns  in nearly knee-deep pockets of fluffy champagne blower.
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Everytime I giggled or woo-hoo’d I got a mouth-full of snow.  Ohh it was soo nice!  Finally!!
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The locals wanted to go grab a bite, so I joined them.  I had to get back on the mountain, so I thanked them for their hospitality and went back to the hill.
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Two more hours of investigating the hill with a few hikes and more powder to be found! (With the Rockies looking over)

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Snow makes the simplest of things absolutely beautiful.
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While the runout from Morningside was long, the sights were goooood.
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My last stop was to the Strawberry Park Hot Springs.  Outside Temperature was 10 degrees, but the water temp was 100 degrees.  I arrived as the sun was setting and, after paying my $10 entrance fee, Iu was informed that it becomes clothing optional “about now.”  I had my swim shorts on, so no worries.  The soak was relaxing, nobody was neked, and being 8 miles from Steamboat lights, the stars were BRILLIANT!  Strangely, there were about 20 other people in the springs and people were chatting-up.  Of the 20 people, I met a woman from West Chester, a group of four from Lock Haven, a couple from Greensburg, and a guy from Ardmore.  Small world, for sure! No pictures!

The two hour drive back to Breck was a little rough, but the moonlight illumination of the mountains made it very entertaining. Two hours gives plenty of time for reflection.
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I have to say it was a good day!
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  1. […] about a day in Steamboat. I didn't have my bouncy go-pro charged, go figure, so it is all photos. Steamboat __________________ Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it […]

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