Recent Winter Storms Pound Steamboat and Aspen

November 28, 2005
Aspen/Snowmass, CO – (Press Release) – A winter storm passed through Aspen/Snowmass this Thanksgiving weekend dumping up to 18 inches of new snow on Snowmass and Aspen Mountain in 48 hours. Snow is expected to fall through Wednesday.  

The weekend saw the opening of Snowmass and Aspen Mountain with a combined total of 600 acres. The storm allowed an additional 130 to open including more terrain on the Big Burn at Snowmass and Copper Bowl and parts of Bell Mountain on Aspen Mountain. More terrain will open throughout the week.

The season kicked off with a weekend of events including the NEPSA Video & Awards, followed by Thanksjibbing and the first FREE Bud Light Hi-Fi Concert featuring The Trews.  Click here for contest results – http://www.aspensnowmass.com/companyinfo/mediacenter/newslist.cfm.

Watch for the next event – Women’s FIS World Cup racing – Dec. 9-11 on Aspen Mountain when Olympic favorites and hopefuls will descend on Aspen for a weekend of non-stop action and entertainment.  The fastest women in the world will compete for three days in the disciplines of Giant Slalom, Slalom and new this year, Super-G, to garner international notoriety before heading off to the Olympics in Italy in February. 

Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk will open for the season on Sat., Dec. 10, 2005.

***

Steamboat Springs, CO – (Press Release) – The winter storm that started dumping snow Saturday, Nov. 26, in the Yampa Valley has brought the Steamboat Ski Area nearly three feet of Champagne Powder® snow at mid-mountain and nearly four feet at the summit in the past 48 hours. Snow continues to fall at this time in Ski Town, U.S.A.®”While the ski season in Colorado is off to a great start, Steamboat once again is proud to lead the pack in mid-mountain snow depths among the major destination resorts, said Chris Diamond, president of the Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation. “We’re only six days into the season and the resort has opened with phenomenal snow, 3600 vertical feet of top-to-bottom terrain and nearly 1000 acres.As of 12:30pm, 15″ had fallen overnight at mid-mountain and 20” at the summit in a 24-hour period (12:30pm-12:30pm). Since 12:30pm Saturday, an additional 17 inches has fallen at mid-mountain and 27.5 inches at the summit for a total of 32 inches and 47.5 inches respectively in the past 48 hours. Forecasts call for snow to taper off this afternoon with another system arriving on tomorrow and Wednesday. Since Nov. 4th, the resort has received nearly 6 feet (70 inches) of snow.

The resort is currently reporting a 41-inch base at mid-mountain and 57-inch base at the summit. Due to all the new snow, the ski area was able to open additional terrain and lifts this yesterday, bringing the total to 58 trails, 7 lifts and 949 acres open for skiing/riding on powder conditions. Many trails in the resort’s legendary Priest Creek area, know for the best tree skiing/riding in the country, are opened down to the Duster trail and include Shadows, Closet, Kuus’ Cruise, Twilight, Sundown Lift Line and Three O’Clock.

“Mother Nature has provided holiday skiers/riders with a heaping helping of the best course for Thanksgiving, nearly three feet of fresh, early season Champagne Powder snow with more on the way,” said Doug Allen, vice president of mountain operations for Steamboat. “Year-in, year-out, Steamboat always receives big, consistent early season snow and this season is shaping up to be no different. It’s why the term Champagne Powder was coined in Steamboat-Ski Town, U.S.A. back in the 1950s.”

Experience Steamboat this season with a variety of winter vacation packages and specials including exclusive to Colorado Front Range packages and Winter Escape Package, offering a day and night free. Steamboat Central Reservations®, which represents the majority of the lodging properties in the area, now offers exclusive online iCORIS technology, allowing users to book their entire vacation online. Calll toll-free (800) 922-2722 or visit steamboat.com.Even with all the snow, getting to Steamboat has never been easier. American, Continental, Delta, Northwest and United Airlines fly directly into Steamboat and are offering attractive fares this winter. The Steamboat/Hayden (HDN) Airport is just 22 miles/35kms from the ski area and even with more than 30 feet of snow annually, very few diversions are caused by weather.

To stay up to date on Steamboat’s snow conditions visit www.steamboat.com, view the Mountain Cam, photo-of-the-day, movie archives and register to receive the Straight Talk Mountain Report. Snow conditions will be updated daily and can be access online or by calling 970.879.7300.