Snowy Scenes from Steamboat

Steamboat Springs has had an incredible past couple weeks.  Over 50 inches of pure fluff fell from the sky, making Steamboat the place to be to ski and ride in Colorado.  Prior to these storms, Steamboat had received almost no snow through all of January.

Terrain in Steamboat’s backcountry.

Here’s a little edit I made with some GoPro footage over the month of January.  I decided to make a quick edit, so there are plenty of interesting GoPro sounds for you to hear.  If you’re familiar with Steamboat, you’ll recognize some classic runs like East Face and the trees off of Vagabond.

January in the ‘Boat from Dustin Eldridge on Vimeo.

Here’s to more snow in February!

Snow in Steamboat!

The snow gods have blessed Steamboat.  Consecutive storms started last week and have dropped decent accumulations every other day.  The last storm settled in all day Monday and put down 8 inches in 24 hours at the ski area.  Only a few hours ago did the clouds finally dissipate.  Another storm is on the horizon for the weekend, another Sunday/Monday, and more possibilities after that!  The rest of December is looking snowy for Colorado.  Steamboat is not quite open top-to-bottom yet, but the last lift, Storm Peak Express, should be opening any day now.  The snow not only means accumulations but chances for the snow-making crews to get a lot done.  Chair and trail openings will be abundant over the next few weeks.

CMC Skiing and Riding

Now the only unfortunate thing is that the snow and finals came in the same week.  I have been enduring long days between the mountain and the classroom.  But this is why I moved to Steamboat, the best place to be ride and go to school.  Pow laps in the morning, classroom discussions in the afternoon.  CMC’s proximity to the resort isn’t the only reason its great.

Next Semester and Graduation

I don’t know about all college students, but I’m so excited for next semester.  I’ll be taking some amazing classes while also graduating with an Associates and Snowboard Guide Certification!  Not only that, but I will be taking some incredible trips that I’ll get to share with all of you.  From Beginning Ice Climbing to River Kayaking, and Environmental Sociology to Leadership Development, my semester will be filled with outdoor adventures and intriguing classes.  Stay tuned for updates about these classes and more!

Think Wolf Creek is the Snowiest Spot in Colorado? Think again…

Now I’m sorry I have no pictures of the snow for you, but instead I’ll give you some weather forecasting models to fool around with.  These things can be addicting once you learn a little about them, and you’ll know all about the upcoming weather.  The Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) has some awesome forecast models on their website, and Unofficial Networks has a page full of every sort of weather map you could imagine.  A little curiosity can go a long way, and its possible to learn so many incredible things about mountain weather, and how great Steamboat has it.  To finish, I’ll leave you with this study done by CSU about the snowiest mountain ranges in Colorado.  I was surprised to find that it was not the San Juans, where Wolf Creek is located, but the Park Range, where Steamboat is located.  Check it out in the  links below!

• CAIC Snowfall Model Forecast
• Unofficial Networks Weather
• CSU Snowfall Study

Winter is Here! Here’s What You Need To Be Ready…

While winter may not technically be here, for all intents and purposes as long as snow is flying it is winter to me.  As you may or may not have noticed, it has been snowing around the various mountain peaks and passes of Colorado lately, and temperatures are dropping drastically.  Being the snow fiends we are, a couple buddies and I decided to climb Hahn’s Peak the morning after the snowfall to see the pure,white glory that is plentiful powder snow.

Shrouded in clouds atop Hahn’s Peak

From the base of Hahn’s around 8,000 feet, there was a generous globbing of two inches everywhere on the ground.  As we continued upward, the snow only grew in depth.  Once above treeline, windrifts stacked snow crystals deep into knee-high piles.  The snow was still falling.  We were prepared for the snow, even the deep stuff, and we were able to make it to the summit and back with no incident.  Preparation is necessary for every winter outing, and ours was no different.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s website should be the best friend of  every outdoorsmen (noaa.gov).  This website gives the most accurate and up-to-date forecasts of anywhere on the internet.  The site comes with a litany of tools, including pin-point forecasts and weather graphs, to give the viewer the best idea of what the weather will be like for the next couple of days.  I highly suggest spending a little time on noaa.gov and playing with the weather forecasts, you’ll be surprised by how much time you spend there!

Once the snow starts stacking up a little more, a new hazard will face the backcountry.  You guessed it, avalanches.  Anyone who is venturing into the backcountry or sidecounty should make viewing the Colorado Avalanche Information Center’s (avalanche.co.us) website their first step when thinking about a backcountry outing.  Avalanches take the lives of Colorado backcountry enthusiasts each year, so it is of utmost importance to make sure to make conservative decisions out there.  CAIC breaks down the avalanche danger between slope aspect, elevation, time of day, etc.  CAIC is one of the best tools for getting to understand what is going on in the snowpack and how that affects your backcountry travel.  Check out the website and pray for a stable snowpack!

Here’s a video from Teton Gravity Production that explains an important aspect of avalanche awareness, the five red flags of avalanche danger (http://www.tetongravity.com/videos/-Recco-Avalanche-Safety-Series-Lesson5-Five-Red-Flagsto-Look-Out-For-613594.htm)  This is some basic knowledge that will take an endeavoring skier/boarder far in their backcountry travels.

So stay safe out there, get educated, and have an awesome winter!

The Business of Ski Guiding

One of the main reasons I chose to go to Colorado Mountain College’s Alpine Campus in Steamboat is the Ski/Snowboard Guide Certification that is offered there.  This certification teaches the basics of leadership, avalanche safety, guiding skills, and the ins and outs of professional ski (yes I mean snowboard too) guiding through six classes of 16 credits.  This is one of, if not the only, college curriculum that is available for endeavoring ski guides.

I’m currently taking The Business of Ski Guiding, which is taught by Kent Vertrees, the operations manager for Steamboat’s local cat-skiing company, Steamboat Powdercats.  Kent has been working at Powdercats for the past twelve years and has an abundance of knowledge to share about the guided powder skiing industry.

Last week, the class had the opportunity to go investigate the Powdercats’ office, as well as one of their snowcats.  We were able to see firsthand the things that lead to a successful guiding operation.

Two of Chris Davenport’s 58 14er descents.

Taking a look at one of Steamboat Powdercats’ powdercats.

Some of Steamboat’s sidecountry terrain. Mt. Werner is visible on the left third of the frame in the background.

Every week, the class conducts at least one interview over the phone with different industry proffesionals.  We’ve had the opportunity to interview the marketing manager at Mica Heli-skiing; the premiere heli-skiing operation in the world.   Mica’s formula for success is a mix of a huge amount of epic terrain, with very few of the down days that plague most helicopter skiing operations.

Last week, we had the incredible fortune of interviewing professional skier Chris Davenport, the only man to climb and ski all of Colorado’s 14ers in one year.  Chris has risen the ranks of skiing over the years due in large part to his incredible focus and self-promotion. After winning his first World Freeskiing Championship, Chris immediately wrote a business plan on how he would utilize his crown to continue down the road of professional skiing and guiding.

But how can a Business of Ski Guiding class be useful to anyone not interested in becoming a guide, or working at a guiding operation? Simple.  This class is first, a small business class.  We have learned all about marketing, risk management, business plans, management, competitive and market analysis, in the context of a ski guiding operation.  What better way to learn about small business than the exciting field of ski guiding?

Personally, the Business of Ski Guiding has excited me about the prospects of operating a small business.  Never before have I considered taking business classes, but the Business of Ski Guiding changed all of that.

The Business of Ski Guiding and the Guiding Certificate offered at Colorado Mountain College in Steamboat is only one of the things that make it the best school to go to for a skier/snowboarder.  Nowhere else can an avid skier/rider go to a school where they can learn about various aspects of the snow sports industry, be surrounded in every direction by incredible terrain, and live less than ten minutes from one of the world’s premiere resorts.  No other college or university, at least to my knowledge, combines these elements in the way CMC Alpine does.

Some of Steamboat’s sidecountry terrain. Mt. Werner is visible on the left third of the frame in the background.

So, what do you think? Are there better schools out there for skiers or snowboarders? I don’t think so, but maybe you can persuade me.  Leave a comment about your school or other schools that you think are great for avid skiers and snowboarders.

 

Jackson Hole with the CMC Backcountry Club

As a member of CMC Alpine’s Backcountry Club, I get first dibs on the annual Club trip to Jackson Hole.  Each year the itinerary is a little different, but this year the trip cost only $300 dollars and included a 3-day lift ticket to Jackson Hole, as well as lodging for three nights and transportation from Steamboat.  I had never ridden at Jackson before, but I knew of its infamous terrain.  I knew Jackson Hole would provide relief for a flats-weary snowboarder from Steamboat.

We left Steamboat caravan style, 4 cars deep, early on a Thursday morning.  Windswept plains and abandoned buildings passed my window for hours until the peaks of the Wyoming Rockies began to appear out of the horizon.

Five hours in, two left to go.

Our plan was to arrive at Teton Pass around 2 pm or 3pm, to get at least one run in before our three days at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. From the summit of the road, we climbed south along to a higher point that would take us down to where we parked at the bottom of the pass.  The snow was heavy, but soft, and provided some great steep turns.  Minutes after the sun had set we piled back into the caravan of cars and set off for our condos.

Looking Southeast off the summit of Teton Pass.

The next day was bluebird and warm, a perfect day to explore Jackson.  Our first run was on the the tram, and riding this would be a recurring theme throughout the trip.  The tram rises about 4,500 vertical ft. and is outfitted with plenty of windows so that the riders can get a good look at Jackson Hole’s terrain that lies beneath.  I would not recommend the tram for those afraid of heights, as it passes over huge cliff bands hundreds of feet high.

Prepared with avalanche gear and led by our guides, CMC teachers and Backcountry Club sponsors Mike Martin, Tim Widmer, and Alex Pond, we explored the huge sidecountry terrain that Jackson Hole has to offer.  We started the day with two Rock Springs runs.  Rock Springs is accessed from a gate near the top of the tram, and leads to a drainage the contains chutes, cliffs and just about and open      bowls.  Our last run of the day was through Granite Canyon.  This is also accessed from the tram, but requires a traverse and about twenty minutes of hiking to reach.  Granite Canyon was definitely the best run of the day, but it wasn’t without a price.  The traverse out is long, and especially brutal to snowboarders such as myself.  If you want to venture into Granite Canyon, make sure you’re ready for a workout.

The next day was a snowy one, and we spent it exploring Jackson’s inbounds offerings.  The runs got better and better as the snow piled up throughout the day.  While our edges scraped against the rough surface underneath the soft powder, I knew the next day would be a different story.

With 11 inches of snow in 24 hours reported, the crew and I hustled to pack up and leave the condo in time to catch an earlier tram.  We showed up to a long line, but it moved quickly, and we were on the tram about twenty minutes after opening.  From there, we dropped into the infamous Corbet’s Coulior.  At the top is a mandatory drop into the steep powder-filled chute. From there we rode over to the hike across the Headwall, which would take us to Casper Bowl.  We lapped Casper Bowl’s various chutes for the rest of the day.  The last day was our best day of riding in Jackson, and it only made me ask myself why I was leaving.  Jackson Hole’s abundance of terrain, frequent snowfall, and steepness make it a step above most other resorts.

Me looking up at Casper Bowl. Photo: Dylan Barber

While it was sad to leave, I knew that I would be returning to Jackson Hole one day in the future. Thanks to the CMC Backcountry Club for an awesome trip!