Steamboat Early Dec 2009

headed out to Steamboat early Dec to ski the 11th, 12th, 13th and if good snow, more.  Finally talked some buds into going and just was interested if any others may be out in the area.

skied out there for 8 yrs now after my Norwegian heritage wife called me at work and told me i was gonna ski ..    every yr for the rest of my life.   It's early season but rates are good and us aging folk will be in Ski Time Square.

I'm ok at intermediate, others i'm with are far better.

perhaps the Slopeside?

I'm going to be in Colorado the 8th pete, for a few days, but will probably just ski around ABasin and Mary Jane.

Sorry

Thanks Lars,

have a great time.
Mary Jane ... gee, that's my wife!

i'll be there dec 12-26.

Not sure yet when we will be up there but not likely that early in the season unless it's an epic November......we can always hope

Usually  its buddy's, wally world and the front side open, utile the week before Christmas. Coverage is usually not enough for the trees. For some reason, about mid-week, we get dumped on, Can't promise it but for the past 3 years, its been really good by the end of that week.  The week before Christmas tends to be very good.  Last December 23rd was over 2 feet of super blower. (notice I still remember that date!)

youd be an idiot to schedule an early December trip this early in colorado or anywhere for the matter.

Part of me wish you well. part of me wishes you get totally skunked and go back in mid april when there is tons of snow on the ground already.

If more people stopped going early season and booked late season the ski season would shift to where weather can support it better.

what if more people just booked more ski vacations later in the season, period?...... maybe you could get on the phone with the forestry folks and concince them to get together with the elk and other wildife and convince them not to start their migrations so early,  maybe more asual skiers would stop thinking about spring weather and not golf and other sports and maybe........

I hope you have a great time skiing since I am sure you are well aware the terrain will be limited but you will still be skiing! 

I feel an idiot now ... but, being from Iowa even 2-3 runs open are 10-20 times more land than a 450 foot drop.  prices were too good and i went with last 2 yrs snows so I have hope. 

I really love steamboat, since we're driving we can simply cancel but that weekend they open a bit more terrain so ...

heck, bars, hot-tubs and town would be nice regardless of conditions and i have a feb trip locked in.

and i will try a late season ... i agree late is often sweet, warm and uncrowded

ah, just under $110/day for lifts and lodging, each with their own room in the square ... just couldn't pass it up.

Pete, I am glad you feel the same way as I do and the boat is more than just skiing, If you love the boat in the winter, come out in the summer and you won't go home.....

First beer's on me bro' 

Ron

You just love that word don't you Josh?

Call me an idiot then. I'm going to be in Colorado early december not  so much for skiing but will certainly not go without my skis. Got business there but plan to hit some areas and will play it by ear and my visits will be based on snow conditions. Should get two days in anyhow.

Steamboat is probably out of the question because of time constraints but it's always on my list.

Hey pete, make sure you find the Double Z for a pulled pork BBQ. The best around.

Sorry if my sarcasm-meter is off, but "elk migrations" have nothing to do with the ski area closing date, neither does the forest service... both are complete myths.  The ski area sets the closing date based on tourist volume, period.

And Pete, good conditions that early aren't out of the question.  In 02/03 and 03/04 (both El Nino years I believe), early season conditions were actually better than later in the season and a good chuck of terrain, including shadows/closets/3:30/2:30 trees were all open by the last weekend of November (in 2002 the mountain even opened a week early because there was so much early season snow)... in 2003, opening day and thanksgiving were both powder days... so could be good, you never know.

Would rather have a vacation at Steamboat in so-so snow than a week at work anytime!  So all the terrain won't be open, sometimes you have to suck it up and just ski what is available. 

Just go. Not knowing what is going to happen is one of the joys of being alive.

thansk for the info. I always though it had to do with the environment. But as a owner and renter, the more revenue for me early or late is welcomed. I think we all should get together for a pint or 3!  Cheers

Pete,
I think that we all know Dec 11-13 is really quite early for good snow, however, if there is good snow, it wouldn't take just too much arm twisting to point my car west and to point my skis downhill. 
Keep your fingers crossed.
Garyskr

we got 2 storms that week last year, 1 about 8" the other about 6..... not too shabby

yeah, later would be less risk but if schedules can't accommodate ...  so i'll go with luck and the last two yrs. 

hey, it's a road trip, a destination, friends .... without work.  no reason to take a risk without rewards.   worst we'll hang in a tub and hit the town, there's always Cheyenne to hang out too! ; )

Been to Cheyenne. Nothing there.

They say the wind blows in Fort Collins cause Cheyenne sucks.

Idiot is not having a real job and real income.

Skiing fits in the grander schem of things. If early December is the available time to ski, so be it. There maybe other more important things in April (e.g. tax time if you're an accountant).

While I don't usually ski in December at all, never mind scheduling vacation for skiing. But my current job is very slow during Christmas time but quite busy Feb/March. So it's either sitting at the office biting my nail at Christmas time. Or go skiing, despite the questionable snow and un-questionable crowd. I'd take the latter!

Well Lars, I don't know about you but I didn't realize how much of an idiot was I was until I met Josh. How did we make it through life before he came along.

We were out in Steamboat 12/13-20 last year and it was great, what do I know though....I scheduled trip and am an idiot. 

BTW- here is my friend and co-idiot Phil skiing durig that week last year in some really crappy thin and icy conditions on Buddy's run....... 

That looks like really sucky snow...I would wait till April when it turns to slop if I were you

Yeah, it sucked. We were idiots for even trying to ski it. Shoulda gone shopping...at the outlets. 

Ahem. Past performance is no indication of future returns. 2nd week of december is sooo early. If it were me, I would be sweating from Thanksgiving unill I arrive.

Here are the rules. Read them, know them, live them.  http://webpages.charter.net/tcrocker818/earlysno.htm

OUCH!  I got a haircut, and got a real job.  And my job doesn't include picking up fat kids off the snow.

Lars, the wind blows in Wyoming because Utah sucks.  Get it right.......   and where is this Double Z you speak of?  I like the Smokehouse pulled pork, but maybe that's cause I'm a Clark Griswold-like tourist.  (I like Bubba's in Jackson too, but I hear that's just for the gapers).

double Z's is the  best bbq for sure.  I also like bubba's but I am a gaper so it fits.....

the ZZ is down by the river near the Library. Just a dive bar but really the best BBQ in town. The Smokehouse is good also but trendy and expensive.

Yampa and 11th I think. Only a few tables so go early if you want to sit, cash only but they do deliver, Smokehouse tends to get a lot of families so f you don't like screaming kids......  Now, you can always head over to 8th street steakhouse and grill your own steaks! 

I think I walked in there once during the summer.  It was pretty full, and we did a lap and left.

I used to have screaming kids.  Maybe that's why I liked the Smokehouse.  They got a kick out of being encouraged to throw peanut shells on the floor.  Now they are in college.  My oldest kid's roomie is from Craig, Colorado, so I'm sure we'll head down there this winter.  I'm kinda thinking a trip this fall during the slow season might not be too bad either.  It's only 4 hours from here.

P, Since you are intermediate you will still most likely have plenty of options at that time. Also, you have a laid back attitude and thats good. Most places that cater to expert level skiers seeking off piste challenge rarely have enough snow to open the best terrain at that time of year. If you do find some off piste stuff is open I would be careful to consult a mouintain host of get a guide so that you can avoid places with burried treasure. Alot of people get too adventurous after that first big storm and then suffer a season ender.