Steamboat - I'm a noob

Last year my first visit tp Vail was made great in part to the advice and information found here. Specifically a bit of route / tour planning to see (and how to see) that behemoth that is Vail.

This year the family is heading to the 'boat. It'll be my first trip there. My wife was there but that was at a time when Miami Vice was a popular Friday activity prior to heading out to some cheesy neon filled nightclub. I digress.

Please offer your suggestions for a 1st day tour to get familiar with the joint. We will have 4 full days to ski and all is good save those pesky bump thingies. Kids (10 & 12) will hit up the so widely acclaimed ski school for the first day and a half so pretty much anything goes.

TIA to all.

Mark

You'll get lots of info here on this one.  With the 10 and 12 year olds in tow, stoke them full of breakfast and be in line for the gondola's open at 8:30 (earlier if it's a fresh snow day.)  Once off the gondi grab Spur Run to the right (rope drops at 9 am) and head for the base of the Sundown lift.  Lots of blues and blue/blacks off the Sundown and Sunshine Express lifts.  When everybody's shot and hungry head for lunch at Rendevous Saddle, good eats, sit outside on the deck if weather permits. 

After lunch explore what's available off the Burgess Creek lift.  When your legs are shot either ski all the way down or make your way back to Thunderhead and ride the Gondola down.  For the adults, apres starts with a Steamboat IPA in the bar in the Sheraton

Wow, I can't believe Finndog hasn't weighed in on this one.  He must be working too hard!

Overall, I agree with gregmerz's description above.  It all depends on what type of terrain that you want to ski.  The good thing is that you and your wife can explore the first day without the kids and learn your way around.  My additions to the above would be, if the gondy line is long, you can ride the Christie 6-pack and then ski down to Thunderhead lift.  You will end up at the top of the gondola.  When at the top of the gondola you may want to ski down to Storm Peak quad instead of taking Spur Road.  From the top of Storm Peak you can ski Highline over to the Sunshine Express area.  There are lots of cruiser blues over there and the area is affectionately known as Wally World.  Lunch at Rendevous Saddle is a good idea.

 

Once you have skied out Wally World you can drop into Morningside from the top of Sunshine Express.  Take a run or two in Morningside and drop back over to the front side from the top of Morningside.  You can either ski the Ridge or cut over to Buddy's Run depending on your skill level.  Watch out towards the bottom of Buddy's as it can get icy and a lot of skiers seem to funnel into an area of very mixed abilities.  If you are finishing late in the day you may want to ride the gondy down to avoid the crowds.  Alternatively, take Valley View instead of Heavenly Daze for fewer people and generally less icy conditions.

 

Enjoy your trip.  Steamboat is a  great family mountain.  Search around on Epic and you will find restaurant recommendations.

I suggest doing laps on High Noon to lower High Noon to the Priest Creek chair and then hit the oclocks, 1,2,3, if they're not bumped up. Also, from the top of Priest Creek, you can check out my favorite tree run, Shadows to Closet, where you can cat track back to High Noon. Sunshine is very mellow and flat but in good snow conditions, fun, but too flat in powder conditions. Cowboy Coffee on the backside is fun and easy trees with long run outs. Watch your trail mag carefully as many times, runs end up in bump runs. There are some great runs off Buddy's or you can just do laps there if it's not crowded. I seldom take the Gondola down unless I've been doing bumps all day. The Boat is a huge playground. Explore everything and have fun.

The Nachos at the Tugboat Saloon are the best. (beer ain't bad either)

powderhound,- great post plus these two -  its all right here! no need to post. :)

All good info, but I'm surprised no one yet mentioned the mountain tours that they have that start at 10 (10:30?) just off to the side of the gondola building. Great way to get to see the hill from folks who know it best, and meet new friends.


Only thing wrong with the tour is that they don't do the trees, and don't forget, it's Steamboat so you're there for the trees.

Great place - not much gnar, but lots of personality. I go every year for at least 4-5 days and always have a blast.

all great suggestions.   When ya going, how good are the kids?

3 adders.

At ambassadors and ticket counter, pick up a day report.  Steamboat seems to be one of the few places that have a simple one page easy to read quick map marking all groomed trails.   Ambassadors (in the square opposite ticket offices) can tell you where and how the snow is from first hand morning reports, very friendly

After ski school be sure to capture your kids travels of the day from their instructors.  We've done that with our daughters (about your kids ages) for the last 5+ yrs.  They love to take us parents over their paths ... showing us the tree paths or lift lines they've skied.  

after activities:  Best Western has an inexpensive happy hour right next to the ski school, easily pegged by the stomped out 'Happy Hour' on their roof.   Steamboat Springs Athletic club, they have a great hot springs pool, Spring feed hot tubs, 2 water slides and a rock climbing water fall wall, last yr we paid under $40 for our family of 5, included towels.  Take a lock for the lockers.  well worth a lounging and one can take just about any shuttle down there.

oh, there a thread on 'Early Steamboat' where folks provided a lot of great ideas on food!

I'll be there early feb should times cross! ; )

All of the above plus:

I would really peruse the Steamboat Forum at :   http://my.steamboat.com/

Bears do not disappoint! Thanks for all of the beta.

I am a thug on skis really. I do like speed and steep. My weapon of choice will be my 186 Hot Rod Jet Fuels (the only choice really from my 3 set quiver). My left knee, with somewhat below average (ok, nearly useless but Don Joy supported) ligaments, prefers to keep away from bumps and air.  Mrs. Trapps has more finesse, technical ability and arguably form, but is not a speed junkie. We are both very comfortable on single blacks and softer double blacks. Kids are learning really. She's 12 and likes moderate, groomed blues as a maximum. He's 11 and has ZERO fear, even charging on faster runs like Giant Steps and International at Vail. He's content to play in the park all day or chase Mom & Dad.

Feb 13 - 20 (+/- a day or 2) is the target. We're shopping lodging now.

Hey Trapps,

not selling but the deals are fair depending what you seek.  The Valentines weekend pops up in price upwards of 50%.  i'm out the 5th -13th ...

spaced off saying the school provides GPS which if you haul a laptop allows you to trak the kiddies traks for time, speed and location.

Trust Daysailers suggestions, and all the above.  one loop that i found fun is up the longhorn side, loops are fun and you can typically hit outs like chuckwagon and back to pony express or up Fourpoints.  

Personally, i love a Four Points loop where one hits Rainbow to Moonlight to Elkhead lift and back down to Four points ... dropping out for various runs or some lift lines, using Burgess Creek too .. however there the above are great runs and loops i love.

funny, my wifey made me ski 8 yrs ago ... she's a natural ... i force it ...

Feb 13-19, airfare booked.

Can anyone comment on the Phoenix for accomodations? Is it really walk to the lift?

Thanks

I'm spacing it right now but there's more info here:  http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g33657-d85671-Reviews-The_Phoenix_at_Steamboat-Steamboat_Springs_Colorado.html

I would also ask this at http://my.steamboat.com/forum/categories/lodging-accommodations/listForCategory

The Phoenix are good condos.  They are right across the street from the base area, so yes truly walk to lift.  If possible, request to be in the lower phase (99% sure it's called phase 2 but don't quote me on that, I used to work for the mgmt company but it was 6 years ago)... upper phase is a longer walk and uphill from the base.  Lower phase is truly walk across the street and along a short path (100 ft or so?) to the gondola... plus the Market on the Mtn is right next door (small grocery/liquor store, expensive but good for last minute needs).  There is a shuttle bus to take you to the transit center if you don't want to walk, but the walk from the transit center to the gondola is not much shorter than from the condos to the gondola.  Units themselves are pretty spacious and they have heated garages to keep ski stuff in... some of them can be outdated decor-wise, but for the most part the owners keep them up to date.

goggle maps give a good pic of the set up:

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&source=hp&ie=UTF8&q=phoenix+condominiums+steamboat+springs&fb=1&gl=us&hq=phoenix+condominiums&hnear=steamboat+springs&view=map&cid=16304246579701088843&iwloc=A

if ya note the big white square just above the condo location, that's the Gondola building.  the short street amost directly across the Condo leads to the Best Western (pretty certain, green roof) where one can enjoy an after ski happy hour.