Moving Mountains - NEWS - ski Steamboat luxury lodging homes and catered chalets

Winter showed the first sign of things to come this morning as the 1st snow of the 2006/2007 winter season fell overnight in Steamboat leaving snow as far down as 6,900 feet. Accumulations are estimated between six to seven inches at mid-mountain (9,080'). The resort is currently scheduled to open November 22, 2006.

"Winter made its first appearance in the Yampa Valley this morning and I'm sure it surprised a few folks," said Andy Wirth, vice president of marketing & sales for the resort. "Most of the leaves on the aspens are just beginning to turn color, and yet the upper slopes of the Steamboat Ski Area are white. It's an earlier reminder to folks that the ski season isn't far away - just 68 days."

This winter, more than $7 million in vacation experience enhancements will greet guests. The Sunshine Express High-Speed Quad will replace a triple chairlift in the Sunshine Bowl area, which will also see a new trail and snowmaking enhancements. The Express lift will reduce the travel time by half, which means more skiing/riding. As a part of its long-standing commitment to the environment, the Sunshine Express will operate on a combination of solar and wind power.

The Thunderhead and Rendezvous Saddle lodge food courts are getting first-class facelifts. Steamboat is also investing more than half a million into grooming upgrades including the state-of-the-art Zaugg Superpipe cutter, which means even smoother sailing on the slopes from here on out.

Another significant improvement will be expanded air service into the Steamboat/Hayden Airport. Once passengers touch down, they'll set foot in a brand new, ultra-spacious $18 million terminal. Increased flights mean improved convenience and the resort will continue to expand this program in the coming years. Steamboat is accessible by nonstop air service from eight major U.S. cities on American, Continental, Delta, Northwest and United Airlines in addition to one-stop connecting service from more than 150 other domestic and international cities.

"While the sight of snow on the mountain has everyone dreaming of powder days, there are still plenty of opportunities to enjoy the fall colors and variety of activities Steamboat has to offer through September 24th," continued Wirth. "Otherwise, it's never too early to start planning your winter vacation."

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