My Reflection on Steamboat Ski Resort's New Technology & Terrain

Introduction

At the beginning of February, I left my busy D.C. life and traveled home to Colorado to spend 10 awesome days working in Steamboat Springs - thank you remote work! - and spending time with my family. For as long as I can remember, my family has owned a small townhome just 30 minutes south of Steamboat Ski Area near Stagecoach Reservoir. Growing up, my family frequently made the three-hour drive from Denver to Ski Town USA to ski the annual average 307" of trademarked "Champagne Powder" during winter and fly fish for beautiful rainbow, brown, cutthroat, and brook trout in the Yampa River during summer. Steamboat is one of my favorite places in the world and I'm fortunate to consider it my second home. Over time, it has undergone some pretty drastic changes, and I've witnessed Steamboat transform from a hidden gem in a small ranching valley in Northwest Colorado into an iconic Ikon pass destination owned by Alterra Mountain Company. Gradually, Steamboat has grown in popularity, and the once relatively hidden mountain is not so hidden anymore.

While these changes have caused significant frustration among many Steamboat locals over the years (I mean, who likes change, after all?), I believe the investments made by Alterra Mountain Company since acquiring Steamboat have been quite remarkable. Yes the traffic on Rabbit Ears pass and in town is worse. Yes the mountain is more busy. Yes the lines are longer. However, more people means more revenue. And more revenue means more advancements in technology and terrain. And having recently experienced these advancements, I can confidently say that the changes made to the ski area have made the skiing experience at Steamboat better than ever. Let’s explore a few of what I believe the most impactful changes have been and their impact on the Steamboat skiing experience.

Technologies

New Wild Blue Gondola

In the 2022-23 ski season, Steamboat unveiled the first section of their new Wild Blue Gondola. Although initially only going about 10% up the mountain, Steamboat promised to complete the rest of the Gondola by the opening of the 2023-24 season and it would be “the longest and fastest 10-person gondola in North America”. And indeed, it delivered. The lift transports skiers and boarders from top to bottom in 13 minutes and has increased the out-of-base capacity from 6000 people per hour to 10000! 

During my visit, I was particularly impressed by how quickly and efficiently Wild Blue dispersed everyone on the mountain. At the start of the day, it whisked people to the very top of the mountain in minutes, offering beginners and intermediate skiers access to great beginner and intermediate areas. It also reduced the lines for the other lifts at the base of the mountain, getting the more advanced skiers to the tougher terrain quicker. Additionally, at the end of the day, many people would take Wild Blue down to the base, reducing congestion at the lifts that normally get really busy at the end of the day.

Overall, the technology and innovation behind the Wild Blue Gondola are insane, and I look forward to writing more about it and how it works in future posts.

Steamboat Gondola & Elkhead Enhancements

While the new Wild Blue Gondola definitely overshadows other advancements made to other lifts on the mountains, over the past few years, I believe that improvements made to the Steamboat Gondola and Elkhead lift have also dramatically improved the ski experience at Steamboat. 

The Steamboat Gondola was always one of my favorite lifts growing up. It was like a Disneyland ride, featuring a long, curved line in a big, fancy terminal before finally hopping into a unique-looking box that quickly took you to mid-mountain while suspended hundreds of feet in the air. And as a kid who was always cold, the gondola also shielded me from snow and wind. So when Steamboat announced it was renovating the gondola when I was in college, I was a little disappointed. However, now, I’m a big fan of the improvements. Between 2017-2019, they completely redesigned the gondola area, moving the start point and making it much faster and more comfortable. And with the addition of the Wild Blue gondola, the time it takes to get to mid-mountain and to the really fun terrain has drastically decreased.

The upgrade of the Elkhead lift from a slow, 3-person lift to a high-speed quad in 2017, has been another fantastic improvement to Steamboat. The section of the mountain where Elkhead is located is probably the busiest on the mountain, as there are large amounts of beginner, intermediate, and advanced terrain that all funnel into just two lifts: Sundown and Elkhead. Furthermore, you must take Elkhead to get to the base at the end of the day, so the line can get ridiculously long. In the past, you’d pretty much have to avoid that side altogether at the end of the day to avoid waiting for 20+ minutes. Now, however, the lift is so much quicker, taking only a few minutes to get through the line and up the hill. And not only does the improved speed help reduce the crowds, but it also allows you to quickly lap some awesome terrain that wasn’t worth lapping before.

Terrain

Mahogany Ridge

Mahogany Ridge was truly the highlight of my recent ski trip. Steamboat’s impressive 650-acre expansion, which debuted this year, has been on my ski wishlist for decades. I’ve always known about the fantastic backcountry king just beyond the “Out of Bounds” gates off of Morningside or Pony, but never had the proper equipment to explore it. Finally skiing Mahogany Ridge, especially on a powder day, was exhilarating. Although the tree skiing is challenging with some really tight spaces, the runs off of the Mahogany Ridge lift are long, intense, and very fun. During one of my runs, I even encountered two moose, an unforgettable experience! My sole regret was not testing the hike-out extreme terrain, humorously warned by a “falling is not an option” sign. However, I’m eagerly anticipating my next trip to Steamboat to give it a go.

Conclusion

Steamboat holds a special place in my heart as my all-time favorite skiing destination. When I’m there, I find myself in a perfect state of flow, where time effortlessly slips away and I’m left in a state of complete tranquility. Eagerly, I look forward to discovering what the future holds for this special place.