Beginners to advanced skiers and boarders will enjoy the terrain park and super half-pipe. My seven-year-old and thirteen-year-old loved the quarter-pipe and jumps. The half-pipe was a little more than either wanted to attempt on their first ski trip.

Our thirteen-year-old son and his friend were able to catch the free shuttle bus to and from the slopes. They spent the entire time from the opening of the lifts to the last run doing their own thing. Steamboat is a small town where kids can still be gone from morning to dark, like things were back in my childhood.

After two runs, I went to some harder trails (blue squares) which were plentiful and then after I felt comfortable (I had never skied on parabolics before), I headed for the black diamonds. These runs were excellent with plenty of good bumps and absolutely no ice (I grew up skiing on the East coast). Those trail intersections that were annoying when I was on the easiest trails were now quite welcome as they give you a chance to recover in a flat and "non-mogully" area before taking on the next stretch of the hard run.

I stayed away from the Christmas tree run, where the skiers not only guide around moguls, but also must avoid pine trees. I did some "double-diamonds" and these were really quite extreme, but very challenging.

The famous "champagne powder" was not available for us to ski in, as the snow had come before we arrived in Steamboat Springs and had been groomed the night before.

The lifts and trails can be a bit confusing as things that look like they should link up on the trail map don't actually connect in reality. The best thing to do is to go down the mountain without a plan.

I recommend making lunch reservations at Hazie's (see journal entry) the day before and if you need rental equipment make a reservation at Steamboat Ski Rentals, (970-871-5346). Arrive early at the rental place (i.e., before the lifts start) to avoid the crowds of people fitting into boots and skis.