EMSC
Well-known member
Surprise powder day
Both wife & I had 2 days left at Steamboat on our passes, so we decided to hit earlier than later with the low altitudes and less than ideal exposures. Forecast during the week looked reasonably promising so I booked midweek. Fridays storm put another several inches down in most places, but couldn't have been more than a heavy dusting in town. So I figured probably only 2 or so inches would be up top. Instead a very altitude based storm, with 8+" up top. Plenty to refresh most areas on top of a few inches earlier in the week.
Specifically, Closet even had sections that no one was skiing at all. Though ~1,500 of the 2K vert down the snowfall dropped off enough to become total dust on crust if you didn't pay attention to making your turns on either fluff piles or remaining untouched. Also found knee deep drifted into north St Pats area - with some untouched turns in there still at 3pm. several laps on each plus runs in a few other areas.
Wife was skiing with me only for a couple hrs in the am before feeling a little ill, so much of my day was alone with some interesting lift rides. Most interesting being a Finnish couple and a couple of grad students doing field work from U of Utah of all places (micro-climate temperature profiles on my lift ride for example). Either way, it turned into a big vert day of >30K and probably ~70% powder/cut up powder.
Lower mtn and groomers were pretty horrifically firm & icy by the end of the day. Though a cool, not cold day. Only the final 100 yards were turning to slush even at 3:40 when I finished. Tired and some sore muscles from all that vert too... but I'll take it.
A few Pics on Sun or Mon.
Both wife & I had 2 days left at Steamboat on our passes, so we decided to hit earlier than later with the low altitudes and less than ideal exposures. Forecast during the week looked reasonably promising so I booked midweek. Fridays storm put another several inches down in most places, but couldn't have been more than a heavy dusting in town. So I figured probably only 2 or so inches would be up top. Instead a very altitude based storm, with 8+" up top. Plenty to refresh most areas on top of a few inches earlier in the week.
Specifically, Closet even had sections that no one was skiing at all. Though ~1,500 of the 2K vert down the snowfall dropped off enough to become total dust on crust if you didn't pay attention to making your turns on either fluff piles or remaining untouched. Also found knee deep drifted into north St Pats area - with some untouched turns in there still at 3pm. several laps on each plus runs in a few other areas.
Wife was skiing with me only for a couple hrs in the am before feeling a little ill, so much of my day was alone with some interesting lift rides. Most interesting being a Finnish couple and a couple of grad students doing field work from U of Utah of all places (micro-climate temperature profiles on my lift ride for example). Either way, it turned into a big vert day of >30K and probably ~70% powder/cut up powder.
Lower mtn and groomers were pretty horrifically firm & icy by the end of the day. Though a cool, not cold day. Only the final 100 yards were turning to slush even at 3:40 when I finished. Tired and some sore muscles from all that vert too... but I'll take it.
A few Pics on Sun or Mon.