marzNC
Angel Diva
My Pres. Day weekend trip to Steamboat Springs included an unexpected ski area. My last day of skiing was at Howelsen Hill (HH) . . . which is in town, not at the Steamboat Resort. Haven’t heard of Howelsen? Well, neither had I. Turns out it’s the longest continuously operating ski hill in the U.S., having opened in 1914. It’s currently owned and operated by the town. The Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club is based at HH. Steamboat Springs has produced many Winter Olympics athletes and quite a few got their start at HH because it has not only downhill slopes, but also nordic trails, and ski jumps.
I had a great time at Howelsen Hill. Got more fresh powder turns than at Steamboat during the snowstorm two days before. Town View (blue) was my favorite. Upper Face and Lower Face were untracked when we started skiing but that felt just a bit too steep to feel comfortable in slightly heavy snow. It was easy to get fresh tracks on the groomers. For any a traveler arriving in Steamboat midday Tue-Fri, a couple hours skiing at Howelsen to warm up is worth considering.
Howelsen Hill: beginner area with magic carpet, ski jumps, powder tracks on Lower Face (on other side of poma lift)
Hut (center) is at top of poma lift, Town View (blue) fresh tracks (on left)
I had a great time at Howelsen Hill. Got more fresh powder turns than at Steamboat during the snowstorm two days before. Town View (blue) was my favorite. Upper Face and Lower Face were untracked when we started skiing but that felt just a bit too steep to feel comfortable in slightly heavy snow. It was easy to get fresh tracks on the groomers. For any a traveler arriving in Steamboat midday Tue-Fri, a couple hours skiing at Howelsen to warm up is worth considering.
Howelsen Hill: beginner area with magic carpet, ski jumps, powder tracks on Lower Face (on other side of poma lift)
Hut (center) is at top of poma lift, Town View (blue) fresh tracks (on left)