Did you know at higher elevations the air is thinner and it filters less ultra violet light? For your eyes in particular, that is a big deal. We often get asked by clients “does it matter what color of lens you have on your goggles?” The answer is yes.

The combination of sunshine (or lack of), and snow hugely affects your vision. On a bluebird day, you will rarely catch a Steamboat local going about without their sunglasses. Snow-blindness is an actual thing.

Lighter lenses such as yellow, gold, amber, green and rose-color are excellent choices for cloudy days. They allow a higher amount of visible light transmission, which improves vision in flatter lights.

Darker lenses such as copper, browns, and grays have lower visible light transmission and will ward off the glare on a sunny day. Mirrored lenses reflect light, and a polarized lens will reduce the glare from the sun on snow.

If you’ve been prone to fogging, goggles with all around venting will help. However you’ll need to outweigh the risk of the air chill factor.  For those who can’t stand to throw out a pair of old favorites, consider applying an anti-fog coating.

Fit is everything. A snug connection with the helmet will eliminate the dreaded ‘gaper’ gap and avoid the ice cream headache on an extra cold day. A good fitting strap and comfortable padding will keep precious eye gear in place. Finally, avoid scratching the lens when you put your helmet down and purchase a lens cover.  It’s worth every cent of the $10-$15 you’ll spend.

Here’s Five of our Favorites

Are you coming to town and don’t feel like hauling extra luggage back and forward with Christmas gifts? We have the perfect solution – buy a memory.

Foodie Fanatic

MEATSKOOL Cooking Class. 

Ideal for someone who loves to be in the kitchen, and even better for those who would rather avoid the slopes at all costs. MEATSKOOL, run by Laura the Butcher is offering at home classes for food lovers.  Options include: The Art of Charcuterie Boards, Artisanal Sausage Making, Chicken Ballotine or Fried Chicken and Biscuits. Classes include a glass of fizz and plenty of chance to savor the flavors. www.meatskool.com

Family Fun

Dog Sled

Learn to drive your own dog sled across snow-covered pastures or sit back and let someone else do the mushing. Owned and operated by Iditarod musher, Kris Hoffman and his wife Sara, Grizzle-T Dog and Sled Works provide adventures suited to all ages. Sleds can take two people, (or three if you are with children under 80lbs), and a team of Alaskan Huskies will pull you along, beneath the breathtaking backdrop of the snow covered Flat Tops. www.steamboatdogsledding.com

Adrenaline Seeker

Snowmobiling

Pump up adrenaline levels by cruising through the backcountry on Rabbit Ears Pass at speed. Zip over meadows, wind through forest trails and climb to spectacular viewpoints without meeting a soul. Complementary shuttle and equipment provided. www.steamboatsnowmobile.com

Solitude for Skiers

Snowcat Skiing

Experience Steamboat’s legendary powder without the crowds. Spend a day leaving your own lines in untouched snow with Steamboat Powdercats. Climb back uphill in a comfortable heated snowcat with skilled backcountry guides who help you navigate the day’s terrain. Skiing is suited to strong intermediate and advanced levels. www.steamboatpowdercats.com

Taste of the Wild West

Horseback Ride and Sleigh Ride Dinner

Hop on the shuttle to Saddleback Ranch, a family owned and operated 100-year-old ranch located west of town. Step into a horse drawn sleigh and wrap up beneath a wool blanket for a 30-minute sleigh ride beneath the starry sky.  Savor a home-cooked meal at the Double Dollar Lodge, where cowboys will teach you a thing or two about roping. If time permits, you’ll be working off your meal with a Do-Si-Do and a little line dancing. Alternatively, arrive earlier to squeeze in a horseback ride and make it the ultimate taste of the west. www.saddlebackranch.net

Do I need to make a reservation to use my pass at Steamboat?

Reservations are notrequired for Ikon, Ikon Base, Ikon Session 4-Day, Steamboat season, Steamboat Merchant, 7 Heavenly Daze, Weekday Hall Pass, Early & Late season 3-Day Passes and Snowy Range pass holders at Steamboat, at this time. Guests who pre-book packages approved travel partners, prior to November 2, 2020 will have access for the dates of their pre-booked package.Condos in Steamboat is an approved travel partner.

Can I buy a day lift ticket when I am in Steamboat?

No, at this time single and multi-day lift tickets, not associated with a package are not available. Tickets will not be sold in person at the ticket office this year.

Do I have to wear a face covering?

It is the law in Routt County to wear a face covering to enter a building. Guests and employees at the Steamboat Ski Area will have to wear a face covering while riding in the gondola.

Will there be physical distancing at the Steamboat Ski Area?

The gondola and chairlifts will be running at reduced capacity. Mazes will be expanded to accommodate physical distancing while in line.

Is my ticket refundable?

Guests are urged to take insurance in case of cancelation.

On-mountain capacity will be limited, in particular during holiday and peak periods, and stand-alone lift tickets are currently not being offered. The only way to access the mountain is through advanced purchase packages and season pass products. 

Only guests who pre-book packages by November 2 through approved travel partners – of which Condos in Steamboat is one, will have mountain access for their reserved dates. 

“In Steamboat, we know that taking vacations isn’t as simple as it used to be,” said Rob Pearlman, President & COO, Steamboat Ski Resort and Corporation. “We want to welcome you back this winter, knowing that we are prioritizing your safety and making operational changes so you can enjoy your time on the slopes worry-free.”

The resort outlined the following guidelines for on-mountain services.

• For pass holders and pre-booked packages, additional lift-line management (specific queue times) may be necessary during holiday and peak periods. If this is the case, guests will receive further instructions closer to, or during, the season.   
• Ragnar’s and Four Points night dining will not operate due to capacity limitations on transportation to these venues. Hazie’s and Haymaker will be open with modified night dining. 
• Lodges and restaurants will be reconfigured to allow more space between tables. 
• Expanded outdoor dining options will be available at Rendezvous Lodge. 
• Advanced reservations will be required for all night dining, as well as day dining at Ragnar’s, Hazie’s, Stoker and Timber & Torch.
• Advanced reservations for Snowsports School lessons are required. Private lesson class sizes will be limited to 5 students. Group lessons will be half-day sessions with a target of 5 students per instructor. Children ages 2.5 to 4 years old may participate in private lessons with a maximum of 2 students. Childcare and group lessons will not be available for children under 5.
• Common COVID practices: We have all become accustomed to wearing facial coverings, socially distancing, practicing healthy hand washing/sanitizing, increased cleaning efforts at all high-touch points, etc. These practices will remain a priority for Steamboat Ski Resort staff and guests.

How well do you know Steamboat Springs? Test your knowledge and see. 

1. The town was given its name by French trappers who were confused by the engine-like chugging noise from a spring located across from the current library on 13^thStreet. It was reminiscent of an old Steamboat, hence the name.
2. The width of Lincoln Avenue – the main street that runs through downtown Steamboat, is wide enough to accommodate a cattle drive. The stockyards were on the west of town and ranchers had to move their cattle through town to the load onto cattle cars. The Yampa Valley is home to eight Centennial ranches, (they are still owned and operated by the same family after 100 years).
3. In the early 1900s, Steamboat was known for its strawberries. Around 9,000 crates of strawberries were shipped out of an area three miles from downtown, known to this day as Strawberry Park.
4. Howelsen Hill is the oldest, continuously running ski area in North America.
5. Sherman Poppen invented the modern snowboard in 1965. Back then it was called the Snurfer. Poppen, who was a skier, never actually learned to snowboard until he moved to Steamboat Springs in 1995.
6. Steamboat Springs is home to more U.S. Olympians than any other town in the nation.  Over 89 Olympians have come through the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club.
7. The Yampa River is named after a flowering root, which grows along the river. The Ute Indians used to ground it into flour and use it as a staple food in their diet.
8. The Yampa Valley has more than 150 natural hot springs. Since the 1800s, the Ute Indians together with the Shoshone, Arapahoe, Sioux, Crow and Cheyenne came to the area to soak in the medicinal springs.
9. F.M. Light & Sons is one of the oldest family-run businesses in the country. Last year the store, which is now in the hands of the 5^thgeneration, celebrated 115 years. Drive into Steamboat from any direction within a 150-mile radius, and you will see one of 100 yellow and black signs, advertising their wares. 
10. Founded in 1913, the Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts School and Camp is the longest continuously operating camp of its kind in the United States. Students from ages eight through college come to learn about dance, theatre, art and equestrian all summer long. Dustin Hoffman and Julie Harris are among the famous alumni.

As summer air temps hang around the 80’s and 90’s this month, snow is not the first thing on our mind. For the Steamboat Ski and Resort Corporation it’s exactly what they are thinking about with less than 100 days until the 20/21 ski season begins. Today they released this winters flight schedule with Southwest flying into Steamboat for the first time. 

“Southwest flying into Steamboat is a game changer. Their passengers are used to a certain level of customer service that we know will be met by the genuine friendly community of Steamboat,” said Rob Perlman, president and COO of Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation. “Steamboat now offers the best variety of airlines to a mountain destination with options that fit every skier and snowboarder’s needs.”

Alaska, American, JetBlue, Southwest and United Airlines provide nonstop access from 14 airports across the U.S. as well as convenient connections from more than 300 airports worldwide. 

Information as of August 2020 and subject to change without notice.  *Daily United ORD will operate Saturdays/Sundays only from 1/11 through 2/14. ** EWR operates Saturdays only from Jan.9-Feb6.

Downtown Steamboat Springs/ Steamboat Ski Resort

On June 1, the lodging ban that was implemented as a safety measure in response to the outbreak of COVID-19, will be lifted. For our team at Condos in Steamboat, it brings a huge sigh of relief. After months of uncertainty, Routt County is now open to visitors.

This summer will be a summer like no other. Like everyone, we’ve had to adapt to a new ‘norm.’ For most of us in Steamboat Springs, we’ve been separated from our neighbors, friends and families. Our activities amounted to walks around the block, or occasionally, a hike in the backcountry as the weather warmed. The pace of life slowed and allowed us to take stock of what is important.

Mindsets vary on how we move forward, but there is one common thread that binds us all. We don’t want to go back to the hustle and bustle of life’s crazy pace.  This summer we won’t have the regular festivals and laundry list of events that keep our wonderful visitors coming in droves. Instead we will have our trails, rivers, lakes, mountains and meadows to play in. Restaurants, shops and galleries will be open in accordance to state laws. 

This is the summer that will be devoid of distractions that keep us from enjoying the simple things. The bare bones of this little ski town are the reason most of us chose to call Steamboat home. It’s the people and the place that keep the curse of this former cow town alive, “Those who leave the Yampa Valley, will always return.”

We hope you will return to us soon.

If you are planning to visit this summer, please pack a mask. Routt County has made it a legal requirement to wear a facemask in public, even though it is not mandated by the state.

Do you love Steamboat Springs and its passion for offering warm western hospitality?

Like everywhere around the world, this little community is hurting from the outbreak of COVID-19. None of us could have predicted the situation we are all in, and it saddens us not to be sharing time with our valued clients.

The ski area is closed and stores have temporarily shut their doors, leaving many of our wonderful workforce out of jobs.  One local retailer put their thinking caps on and came up with a way to help the community, no matter where you are. Steamboat Hat Shop and Summit Apparel Solutions have partnered with LiftUp of Routt County to raise funds in order to financially assist those most in need.

If you want to keep Steamboat strong, here’s the perfect way to show support. Wear it on your next visit and we can guarantee an even warmer welcome than ever. https://www.steamboathatshop.com/steamboat-strong

Stay safe and well.

As we celebrate the month of Saint Valentines, we urge you to find your inner romantic. Whether you are looking for love, or some inspiration to reignite the flame, Steamboat Springs is the place to make it happen.  Here’s just a smattering of ideas to get you smooching.

❤️Watch the sun go down over the Yampa Valley from the best viewpoint in town. Ride the gondola to Thunderhead Lodge on most Thursday evenings for Sunset Happy Hour. Snag a table by the window, savor a cocktail and listen to the live music before cozying up on the gondola ride down. $15 for the gondola pass and get $5 off food and drinks.

❤️There’s nothing like trying something new together to break up old habits. Sign up for a class at the Steamboat Snowsports School, or a guided trip to experience ice fishing, dog sledding or horseback riding. Reward yourselves with dinner for two at Café Diva, a favorite among past guests and our team at Condos in Steamboat.

❤️Stash schnapps or a flask of hot chocolate in a backpack, along with goodies from the bakery counter at Winona’s and head for Fish Creek Falls. Strap on snowshoes and follow the trail to the iconic 283-foot waterfall. Stop at the base of the frozen falls then hike up the winding pathway through miles snow-packed forest.

❤️Get your motor running with a two-hour guided snowmobile ride in picturesque North Routt, and cozy up in a cabin at Hahn’s Peak Roadhouse over a three-course dinner.

❤️Relax in style with a massage and a soak at the Strawberry Park Hot Springs. Clothing is optional after dark.

❤️The first ever chairlift speed-dating event happens on Saturday, March 7. Starting at noon, the Denver-based speed dating company Lovebug is staging Love Laps: an afternoon packed with introduction opportunities, live music and après ski festivities. Register @steamboatprings.net/lovelaps

Boatloads of fresh powder and a sunlit blue sky are enough to make most of us plan on spending a day outdoors. Setting yourself up for success on snow is paramount, so we made a checklist to ensure the memories made on a ski trip, are ones you’d want to keep. 

• Dress in layers and wear wool or polypropylene. Breathable fabrics like cotton store moisture and will not keep you warm. On a chilly day, hand and foot warmers work wonders, especially for younger fun seekers.
• Keep hydrated and store up on snacks. Locals love trail mix and Honey Stinger chews to maintain energy levels. If you feel tired, take a break.
• Wear plenty of sunscreen, and goggles or sunglasses to protect your eyes. Snow blindness is a real thing.
• Start slowly and build up your activity level. Allow yourself to acclimatize to the altitude.
• Orientate yourself with the ski area and take a free tour from an ambassador, offered daily at the Steamboat Ski Area.
• Keep an eye on conditions and be cognizant of warning notices and closed trails.
• Never approach, or feed, wildlife. You are just as likely to spot a moose at the ski area as you are in the backcountry. Their behavior can change in a second and you can put yourself or them at risk by approaching.
• On the slopes, the downhill skier has the right of way. Always look uphill when you take off again from a stopped position, or when you are merging onto a trail.
• If you plan to explore the backcountry, get a permit from the Forrest Service. If you find yourself in a bad situation and require to be rescued, the permit covers the costs.
• Be careful not to overdo things at après ski. Over consumption of alcohol can cause your body to sweat and reduce your core body temperature. Remember, hot tubs and alcohol don’t mix.