\Some people come to Steamboat Springs, Colorado for the beauty
of the environment. Some come for the western ambiance, the
restaurants and the laid back casual atmosphere of the town.
Most, however, come for the snow. "Ski Town" boasts an average
of nearly 30 feet of snowfall every season which means snow,
snow and more snow - all winter long.
Steamboat Springs lays claim to the driest, fluffiest snow in
the world. So dry and fluffy is the snow there that the locals
have coined and copyrighted the descriptive phrase "Champagne
Powder." To back up their claim, the local government hired
several meteorologists to measure the moisture content in the
snow surrounding Steamboat Springs and the results confirmed the
notion that Champagne Powder does in fact have 70% less moisture
than average snow.
In addition to Champagne Powder, Steamboat Springs Ski areas are
unique in that once you leave the gondola at the top of the
mountain and begin to ski down any of the many trails available,
you are actually skiing on land owned by the US government.
That's right. Skiing is available in Steamboat Springs due to a
unique partnership between the Steamboat Ski & Resort
Corporation and the Routt National Forest. In fact, this
arrangement may be the only one in existence anywhere in the
United States. Usually, skiing property is owned by someone and
leased out to a company that provides the services necessary to
keep skiers coming back year after year.
Within 400 yards of a base area for skiing there are at least
three excellent hotels with ski in, ski out packages available.
Obviously, the closer you get to the action the higher the
prices go for the rooms. Move a bit away from the base of the
mountain and you'll find an ample supply of ski resorts offering
more in the way of amenities and less in the way of cost. The
choice is up to you as always - ski out your back door, hop on
the gondola and you're on your way, or, wake up, have breakfast,
dress, take a shuttle over to the base of the mountain and your
ski adventure begins. Whichever you prefer, you'll find it at
Steamboat Springs.
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