Fresh Harvest
With St. Patrick’s Day on the horizon, Steamboat scored a little luck o’ the Irish overnight. After a bluebird week, some giant snowflakes poured out of the sky last night, and 4 inches of freshies have kindly graced the mountaintop this morning.
It’s skiing like soft-serve ice cream up on Storm Peak. Bumps haven’t disappeared, but they’re gentle underfoot. Those shots through the aspens are fresh fun once again. Runs that have been getting the groomer treatment are ripe for rippin’ turns.
The price you pay for the best snow today is low visibility. Lower mountain is out of the clouds but still flat — so flat that they have the night skiing lights turned on over the See Me race course this morning. Up high, you are straight-up skiing inside a cloud. The air is still and a little moist, and it continues to spit snow up there. It can feel a little disorienting. I call it skier’s vertigo, so goggle up accordingly.
Tonight’s fireworks over Mount Werner keep the Friday ritual alive, then you can get your green on this weekend with a funky free après ski concert by Turkuaz at the base of the gondola on Saturday afternoon. I suspect green beer will be on offer, but I’m going to encourage you to throw back a fine Colorado brew instead.
Speaking of keepin’ it local, we’re celebrating agriculture in the Yampa Valley over the coming week! Check out cool meals supporting the Community Agriculture Alliance at Steamboat restaurants, then hear some lifelong Routt County locals share their stories at the library. On March 25, local ag is taking over Western BBQ at the top of the gondola — a great way to mingle with local ranchers and support the organization that supports what they do.
After all, folks, along with our public lands, that productive ranchland is a key component of conserving the wide-open spaces you love. Routt County ranches are protecting that pretty view you see from the gondola. Let’s all share some appreciation while we’re out harvesting that fresh snow today!
Jennie Lay, Telemark skier
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