Steamboat Springs
We’re off on our next trip of the year, a month-long ski road trip through northwestern US and into Canada with our friends Monika and Josh!
So. Many. Logistics.
The trip began with what has become and recurring van-life type of scramble. I came down to the Front Range a few days early to finish the cabinets for the van with a friend Nick, but Rose and I linked up on Sunday, dropped off our cat with a friend Patrick who’s pet sitting for the month, checked off a list of other last-minute errands, and finally pointed the ProMaster toward our first official stop: Steamboat Springs.
Rendezvous at Rabbit Ears
We climbed Rabbit Ears Pass and pulled into a turnout at 9,000 feet to find Josh and Monika waiting in their rented van. Despite the cold mountain air, we hopped over to catch up and inspect their van’s build before retreating to the warmth of our own van. We spent our final night of prep installing the faucet in our new sink and finally called it a day.
Icy Turns and Lodge Beers
The next morning, we caravanned into town for our first day on the slopes. After Rose and I grabbed our passes and everyone was caffeinated, we took the gondola up to explore Josh and Monika’s favorite run on the mountain, Christmas Tree Bowl. The entry cliffs were rough and icy, but the glades below were a snowy wonderland, impressively long compared to our usual runs at Loveland.
The abysmal snow levels in the Southern Rockies this year made for some unsavory conditions (including perhaps the iciest moguls on planet Earth), but we still enjoyed the day. It was Monika’s birthday, so we hit the lodge early for some beer and fries before doing a few more runs. We met a pretentious park bro on the lift that Rose comically took down a peg, and we ended the day with a few laps at the terrain park ourselves.
A Decadent Celebration
To celebrate Monika’s birthday (and Rose’s a few days prior), we headed to Mambo Italiano. The food was unreal! We feasted on cheesy garlic bread and artichoke heart, braised short rib and tasty pasta dishes, smoky marinara gnocchi, craft cocktails, and some decadent desserts like molten brownie topped with coffee gelato and toffee sauce, served on a sizzling cast-iron skillet like fajitas.
Seeking Out Better Snow
While we initially planned for two days at Steamboat, the crusty snow quality convinced us to keep moving. After a less-than-glamorous night in the Craig Walmart parking lot, we stocked up on groceries and started the long drive to out next stop: Jackson Hole, Wyoming!
