The Sounds of Steamboat | Calgary Herald

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It didn’t take lengthy. Simply 10 turns into my Steamboat ski fest – as I schussed by means of knee-deep snow in a stunning glade that didn’t relent – spontaneous hooting, hollering, and different unscripted utterances echoed within the aspens. A Canadian was on the unfastened in Colorado. And he was having an excellent time. 

Sure, three nights in a row of 15-cm dumps – in April, no much less! – tends to facilitate some enjoyable and frivolity. Particularly whenever you’re in a spot like “The Boat.” 

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Positioned roughly 265 kilometres northwest of Denver within the powder-pounded Park Vary of the Rocky Mountains, Steamboat Springs is a traditional Colorado ski city that belongs within the higher tier. Recognized for its superior aspen glades, its historic downtown simply minutes from the slopes, its genuine western tradition, its pure scorching springs – and, sure, its legendary Champagne powder dumps! – Steamboat Springs undoubtedly checks all of the containers for a memorable ski vacation. 

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For Canadians (particularly Calgarians), getting there additionally isn’t half dangerous. A shortish two-hour flight from Calgary into Denver adopted by a ravishing three-hour drive (or a super-quick 45-minute flight into the tiny Hayden Regional Airport) is what’s required. (I did the latter.) 

True, we do have nice snowboarding in our Rockies proper right here in southern Alberta. Nevertheless, the general high quality of the expertise, the vibe, the city, the over-the-top quantity of snow (at the very least final yr), make for a completely completely different sort of ski vacation. And it’s one which any alpine snowboarding aficionado ought to have on their bucket checklist. 

Owned by the Alterra Mountain Firm, a North American powerhouse with regards to the ski business, Steamboat is a large ski resort. And it’s solely getting larger. (Alterra owns over a dozen ski resorts, together with Mammoth Mountain in California, Deer Valley in Utah, Tremblant in Quebec, and plenty of extra. Additionally they personal the wildly common IKON Go, a season cross program that opens the door to ski at 58 ski locations world wide, together with a handful in Western Canada, at big financial savings. www.ikonpass.com.)  

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Due to an extra 625 acres of latest skilled terrain opening on Mahogany Ridge in 2024, Steamboat is now the second-largest ski resort in Colorado. (Solely Vail is larger.) Not surprisingly, the numbers are spectacular: 3,741 skiable acres, 23 lifts, 182 trails, and 1,118 metres (3,668 ft) of elevation. Additionally, a powerful 98 winter Olympians have come out of Steamboat Springs, a determine that actually justifies their trademarked moniker, “Ski City U.S.A.” 

And, sure, then there’s the snow. With a base elevation of two,903 meters (6,900 ft) and a peak elevation of three,224 metres (10,568 ft), properly, you’ll be able to perceive the copious quantities of light-and-dry snow. 

Final yr at Steamboat, it acquired the second-highest snow whole that’s ever been recorded there in a single season; over 12 metres (about 40 ft) fell earlier than closing day, which was April sixteenth.   

So, understandably, contemplating the meagre snowpack ranges within the Canadian Rockies final yr, I used to be very happy to strive my luck south of the border. It was the precise name. After all, given the time of yr, I used to be totally anticipating morning ice and afternoon slush. I used to be incorrect.  

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Face photographs and recent turns had been, for 3 days straight, the first order of enterprise. Due to the ski information program, I acquired to know the mountain, together with tips for getting round, the perfect areas for my intermediate skills, and a few secret powder stashes. In a spot as huge as Steamboat, it was invaluable and I’d extremely advocate this. (If nothing else, your information might be your mannequin for some superior motion photographs within the aspens. Thanks, Dave!)  

Indubitably, the atmospheric facet of snowboarding within the aspens was a spotlight. We merely don’t have this kind of snowboarding in Western Canada. The absence of tree wells, the spacing, the visibility (only a few branches!), the ambient gentle that filters by means of; the summation is a ravishing model of snowboarding that folks of all skills will get pleasure from.  

However Steamboat’s distinctive “model” goes far past the ski resort. The genuine Western tradition is clear all through the city and surrounding countryside. For me, a horseback using journey at Del’s Triangle 3 Ranch yielded yet one more winter journey that was magical in its personal manner. (Sure, the path our group rode traversed by means of a beautiful mountainside coated with, you guessed it, aspens!) Though the snow was deep – and extra collected throughout our trip! – even the horses uttered some unusual sounds of pleasure. (However, no, I don’t wholly perceive “horse.” I do know “Naaay!” That’s about it.)

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Some downtown procuring – I loved wandering by means of FM Gentle & Sons, a 100-year-old mercantile promoting high quality cowboy gear – and a memorable noon soak within the superb and somewhat-developed Strawberry Park Scorching Springs had been different actions I fortunately pursued.  

Positioned a couple of miles down a tough logging street (a four-wheel drive automobile is extremely really helpful), Strawberry Park is a one-off oasis with some unusual little quirks. It’s money solely ($20 per particular person, should reserve on-line), clothes elective after darkish, and operates off-the-grid with no energy. Nevertheless, when you have some adventurous bones in your physique, you’ll completely love the place. The swimming pools – and the gorgeous pure environment – are merely beautiful.   

Fittingly, whereas I used to be having fun with my grand finale soak within the swimming pools, a younger couple entered the soothing waters and collectively emitted a string of joyful articulations one thing to the impact of “Ohhh! Ahhh! Yeah! Whoah!” Submerged within the steam, I assumed: sure, in Steamboat, regardless if you happen to’re soaking or snowboarding, that is native lingo that everybody appears to know.       

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