By early December, most mountain resorts will be emanating a glorious white glow, pulling diehard powder hounds like a siren’s song. And since the resorts will be undoubtedly packed with skiers and snowboarders by late December as the holidays come upon us, here are a few places to catch some of the best snow ahead of those yuletide crowds.
When a town trademarks its snow, there’s probably a good reason. Take Steamboat, Colorado, whose famed “champagne powder” was coined by a rancher in the 1950s. This vintage bubbly is a special mix that’s both dry—with only 30% of the moisture of average snow—and impossibly fluffy. And with an average snowfall of 331 inches per season, there’s plenty to get find, even in the pre-season (and they’re off to a good start, with a 20-inch base predicted by Thanksgiving).
Located in northwest Colorado, Steamboat encompasses a complete mountain range with six peaks, 2,965 acres of skiable terrain, and glade and groomed trails for all skill levels, the longest run measuring in at over three miles.
Steamboat also has the second highest vertical rise in Colorado at 3,668 feet and a summit elevation of 10,568 feet. Plow through the famed champagne powder in the backcountry, ride the bumps, or schuss down double-black diamond chutes. Boarders will be equally as thrilled with Mavericks, a 500-foot-long, 56-foot-wide superpipe.
Adjacent to Mavericks, a terrain park awaits, with plenty of rails and an outdoor sound system for music-fueled hucking. And skiing doesn’t shut down at sunset. Howelson Hill hosts night skiing on the same training ground for future and former Olympians, such as 1998 snowboarding half pipe bronze medalist Shannon Dunn. Just one block from downtown, the Howelsen ski area is set up for everything from freestyle to alpine skiing to cross country.
By Amy A. Clark
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Courtesy of www.outside.away.com
