Flakes of white drifting down and covering the ground create an entirely new meaning living in a ski resort.
The long time ranching families shrug and declare,” we always get snow. The only questions are when and how much.” Snow means winter moisture to ranchers. Timing really is not an issue.
Timing to the ski resort and to the avid winter ski enthusiast is of paramount importance. Steamboat Springs ski resort typically opens slightly before Thanksgiving. When the temperature hovers around the 60 degree mark during October, the palms of the ski resort owners and key department supervisors begin to perspire. You see mounting tension as the temperature refuses to plummet. Staring at green grass on the slopes with only a few weeks until season opening strikes terror in the hearts of the owners. Well, more likely terror as they visualize their bank accounts bathed in red ink.
Steamboat installed snow making equipment in 1980 to stave off a disastrous ski season. The drought of 1977 forced the resort to close for a few weeks. No snow = no skiers = no revenue. Every effort commenced to avoid a similar economic disaster in 1980. The Industrial Company received the coveted contract to install the noisy cannon sized guns which transformed water into frozen particles resembling snow. In reality the product of those noisy massive guns resembled tiny granular ice chips. The good news was that the “corn snow” served the purpose of filling in the bare spots and allowing the mountain to function for winter sports.
Snow was more than desired, it was coveted as prevention of an economic disaster for the entire resort. Merchants relied on the fluffy white gold to bring tourists. Steamboat began its transformation from a ranching and mining community to guest oriented services on July 6, 1958 with the ground breaking of the first few trails. The merchants in the 1960s through the 1980s relied heavily on the tourist trade for the bulk of their annual income. Summer tourism at that point was minimal at best.
A skimpy snow year equaled little if any net profit for the year. Snow quickly transformed from a four letter word to “white gold.” As the ski area flourished, so did the merchants in downtown Steamboat as well as Ski Time Square at the base of the mountain. The ski resort, the merchants and the winter “slat rats” eagerly anticipated the white landscape.
The enthusiasm was almost palpable as the new “ski bums” arrived in town. A full season pass adorned the necks of the privileged and was displayed as a fine piece of jewelry. Actually with the 2009-2010 cost of a season pass at Steamboat retailing at $1299, it is equivalent to a fine item of jewelry.
The buzz intensified to the sound of a swarm of bees as the temperature dropped and snow flakes drifted to the ground. Normal night owls and bar stool warmers rushed home to bed in order to awake early. The goal became to arrive at the gondola fully dressed and ready for action before the line formed. Grab your water bottle, power bars, and anything else you might possibly need for the day. Arrive at the gondola in time to press your nose to the glass doors eagerly waiting on the massive bull wheels to turn moving the gondola cars up the mountain. The first ones to set skis or snow board to the slopes outside the gondola at the top of the mountain relished the fresh powder.
Snow became the delight of the ski resort, the merchants and the winter sports enthusiasts.
Anyone who has lived in a ski resort for even a few seasons never views snow the same again. Snow was almost revered as the white gold it represented to all those who relied on it for fun and financial security.
Showing posts with label ski resort. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ski resort. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Monday, January 4, 2010
Snow - Fun Or Frustrating?
Snow, in this reference, means that wet white moisture which falls on the ground from above. To a ski enthusiast and new resident of a ski resort, it means fun in all capital letters; pure unadulterated FUN. Powder hounds start howling as the first fluffy flakes drift down. The noise intensifies as the depth accumulates. 29 years of living among that pack and participating in powder rituals still inspires a chug chug and a double back flip heartbeat.
Snow takes on many descriptions and meanings:
Champagne powder means the dry fluffy powder which easily blows away with a good strong breath of air. This crisp powder resembles cool talcum powder. Wear your powder straps with this one because digging several inches or feet rummaging around seeking a lost ski is not only possible but probable. Not only the searching becomes frustrating but the loss of precious daylight powder hours is priceless.
Corn snow frequently arrives courtesy of the snow making equipment. If the sky reluctantly withholds the precious white moisture, massive snow guns generate artificial snow. Snow guns predominately appear early season when the ski resort panics at the lack of ground cover and the potential loss of skier revenue.
Dust on crust results after an inch or even a partial inch covers the hard packed base snow. Frequently spring brings warmer temperatures during the daylight hours causing slight melting of the base snow. Overnight this solidifies into a surface about as firm as pavement. Add a dusting of powder over the top of the asphalt-like base creates the delusion of powder. Make no mistake, a fall results in severe road rash.
Another term for the early morning conditions during spring skiing can be "sierra cement." Cement being the operative word becomes accurately descriptive of the firmness of the surface. Catch an edge and go down on sierra cement and your body thuds with an uncomfortable whack; no bounce or cushion results from impact on sierra cement.
Currier and Ives presented a commendable impression of the exquisite beauty of ice and snow covered trees enclosing the boundaries of many ski runs. Even the most skilled photographer struggles to adequately capture the magnificence of such a picturesque view.
Time on the slopes enjoying snow sports or appreciating the unparalleled beauty of a winter wonderland explains why the ski industry is a multi billion dollar endeavor.
The other side of that entertainment coin involves wrapping your cold hands around the handle of a snow shovel. Snow shovelers seem to fall into three categories depending on the density of the snow. Flingers lightly toss shovel after shovel off to the side of the driveway or off the deck; this method is most productive for champagne powder and the early snowfalls before the energy and enthusiasm level for shoveling diminishes.
Scoopers arrive on the scene with higher moisture content snow, deeper accumulations and less energy. Scoopers are personified by the slightly ruddy face, furrowed brow and occasional aching back grimace. Scoopers frequently have passed the point of pleasure with the thick white moisture. Scoopers appear at the edge of the newly cleared driveway immediately after the snow plow passes through the street depositing a foot or two of icy mass all across the driveway entrance. Being within ear shot of a scooper at this time, particularly mid to late season is highly unadvisable for ladies and small children.
Pushers have depleted all energy for the shoveling activity. No longer does the shovel lift above the pavement or deck floor; snow simply pushes ahead of the shovel hopefully to a reasonable distance away from a necessary vehicle or foot path. Pushers have had it. This becomes the time when a vacation to Florida feels almost like a life enhancing necessity.
Snow in a ski resort, particularly Steamboat during many of the last 29 years become so deep that residents were known to tie bicycle flags to their car antennas to extend the reach. At times the bicycle flag presented the only visual indication that a car was approaching the intersection. When the mounds of snow at intersections accumulate to that enormous proportion, "pushers" leave town.
Pleasure, pain, or sheer frustration describes the winter moisture we frequently term snow. How lovingly the term appears in spoken or written language depends on the quantity of time your hands form to the configuration of the snow shovel handle.
Snowinly yours, Elaine Love
Snow takes on many descriptions and meanings:
Champagne powder means the dry fluffy powder which easily blows away with a good strong breath of air. This crisp powder resembles cool talcum powder. Wear your powder straps with this one because digging several inches or feet rummaging around seeking a lost ski is not only possible but probable. Not only the searching becomes frustrating but the loss of precious daylight powder hours is priceless.
Corn snow frequently arrives courtesy of the snow making equipment. If the sky reluctantly withholds the precious white moisture, massive snow guns generate artificial snow. Snow guns predominately appear early season when the ski resort panics at the lack of ground cover and the potential loss of skier revenue.
Dust on crust results after an inch or even a partial inch covers the hard packed base snow. Frequently spring brings warmer temperatures during the daylight hours causing slight melting of the base snow. Overnight this solidifies into a surface about as firm as pavement. Add a dusting of powder over the top of the asphalt-like base creates the delusion of powder. Make no mistake, a fall results in severe road rash.
Another term for the early morning conditions during spring skiing can be "sierra cement." Cement being the operative word becomes accurately descriptive of the firmness of the surface. Catch an edge and go down on sierra cement and your body thuds with an uncomfortable whack; no bounce or cushion results from impact on sierra cement.
Currier and Ives presented a commendable impression of the exquisite beauty of ice and snow covered trees enclosing the boundaries of many ski runs. Even the most skilled photographer struggles to adequately capture the magnificence of such a picturesque view.
Time on the slopes enjoying snow sports or appreciating the unparalleled beauty of a winter wonderland explains why the ski industry is a multi billion dollar endeavor.
The other side of that entertainment coin involves wrapping your cold hands around the handle of a snow shovel. Snow shovelers seem to fall into three categories depending on the density of the snow. Flingers lightly toss shovel after shovel off to the side of the driveway or off the deck; this method is most productive for champagne powder and the early snowfalls before the energy and enthusiasm level for shoveling diminishes.
Scoopers arrive on the scene with higher moisture content snow, deeper accumulations and less energy. Scoopers are personified by the slightly ruddy face, furrowed brow and occasional aching back grimace. Scoopers frequently have passed the point of pleasure with the thick white moisture. Scoopers appear at the edge of the newly cleared driveway immediately after the snow plow passes through the street depositing a foot or two of icy mass all across the driveway entrance. Being within ear shot of a scooper at this time, particularly mid to late season is highly unadvisable for ladies and small children.
Pushers have depleted all energy for the shoveling activity. No longer does the shovel lift above the pavement or deck floor; snow simply pushes ahead of the shovel hopefully to a reasonable distance away from a necessary vehicle or foot path. Pushers have had it. This becomes the time when a vacation to Florida feels almost like a life enhancing necessity.
Snow in a ski resort, particularly Steamboat during many of the last 29 years become so deep that residents were known to tie bicycle flags to their car antennas to extend the reach. At times the bicycle flag presented the only visual indication that a car was approaching the intersection. When the mounds of snow at intersections accumulate to that enormous proportion, "pushers" leave town.
Pleasure, pain, or sheer frustration describes the winter moisture we frequently term snow. How lovingly the term appears in spoken or written language depends on the quantity of time your hands form to the configuration of the snow shovel handle.
Snowinly yours, Elaine Love
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