⛷️ Ski For Free In Steamboat This Winter

Good morning, Stoke Crew. Hope you are all doing well and enjoying your week.

Sad fact: Denver is on track to set a top-3 record for latest first snowfall ever recorded. The longest the city has gone without snow was December 10, 2021. (Measurements are taken at DIA.)

In today's report

• New I-70 app
• Free skiing in Steamboat
• OnX Backcountry drops new winter features
• Utah's $2.5 billion ski economy
• Why is early winter so dry?

LOCAL STOKELIGHT

❄️ Colorado Headlines

Colorado Department of Transportation just launched a new landing page designed to be the go to resource for anyone driving I-70 this winter, consolidating everything drivers need to know before and during their trip in one convenient location. The new page here shows real-time road conditions, traffic incidents, and roadwork along the route. The page also covers chain and traction laws, winter driving safety tips, travel forecasts, safety metering at the Eisenhower Tunnel, and public transit options to and within the mountains. The new platform and mobile app are constantly updated by CDOT making it far more reliable than Google Maps or Apple Maps for closure and detour information.

Why It Matters: Anyone who's driven I-70 on a powder day knows the corridor can go from moving smoothly to a complete closure in minutes. This resource gives drivers the tools to plan ahead and make smarter decisions. While I do appreciate the government's proactiveness to hopefully make driving I-70 a better experience. I can guarantee that at some point this winter most of us will be stuck in some bull$hit bottleneck on I-70… oh the things we do for white powder.

Looking to ski for free this winter? Howelsen Hill in Steamboat Springs is bringing back its Ski Free Sunday program, offering completely free lift tickets every Sunday throughout the entire season with no strings attached! The historic ski area, which first opened in 1915 and has produced close to 100 Winter Olympians (Howelsen Hill is a small ski hill where a lot of Olympic athletes train for special events), is expected to operate from November 29 through March 29 this season.

While Howelsen Hill is one of Colorado's smaller ski areas at about 50 skiable acres with 440 feet of vertical, the free Sunday deal saves you $52 compared to regular adult lift ticket prices. No reservations are required but you do need to grab a lift ticket from the Ticket Office before heading up. My friend Spencer told me the other day that nothing in life is free. I'm about to prove him wrong!

MOUNTAIN BRIEFING

❄️ This Week in Winter

OnX Backcountry just made backcountry trip planning a whole lot eaiser with an update that increases their Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale coverage to 23 million acres across ten US states! The expansion adds nearly 15 million acres in 18 new zones, including Colorado, Washington, Montana, Wyoming, and California. The most significant update is the new Level 0 classification that identifies "Non-Avalanche Terrain," essentially drawing a definitive line showing exactly where you won't be exposed to avalanche hazard no matter the conditions.

Why It Matters: As more people head into the backcountry each winter, tools like this become essential for making informed decisions before you even leave the parking lot. This isn't a replacement for avalanche education or checking your local forecast, but it provides a powerful visual for the type of terrain you plan to travel in that day. The new Level 0 classification feature is especially valuable for days when avalanche conditions are elevated but you still want to enjoy winter touring without exposure to avalanches.

If you needed proof that powder pays the bills, look no further than Utah's ski industry which just delivered $2.51 billion in economic impact during the 2024-2025 season according to a new University of Utah study. The numbers are staggering across the board, with 6.5 million skier days at the state's 15 resorts directly supporting 31,800 jobs and generating $342.6 million in state and local tax revenue. The average visitor spent $306 per day on the slopes, splitting that cash primarily between lodging ($62), food and restaurants ($61), and lift passes ($59). The visitor mix showed strong local support with over 40% of all skier visits coming from Utah residents, followed by Californians at 9% and visitors from Florida, New York (4% each), and Texas (3%) rounding out the top destination markets.

Why It Matters: These figures validate what the ski industry has always claimed: winter sports aren't just recreation, they're economic powerhouses that support entire communities through job creation, tax revenue, and small business activity. The study also highlights the importance of maintaining both a strong local skier base and drawing destination visitors, a balance that keeps resorts healthy through both good and challenging snow years.

Weather

❄️ Why Western Ski Resorts Are Off to a Frustratingly Dry Start

If you're a Western skier wondering why your local mountain looks more like fall than winter while East Coasters are posting powder shots, blame a stubborn atmospheric ridge that's been kicking storms into Canada instead of dumping them on Colorado, Utah, and California. The Pacific North American index spiked in October, creating a blocking pattern that deflects moisture north into British Columbia.

Brian Head and Solitude in Utah, Mammoth Mountain in California, and Schweitzer in Idaho all had to push back their start dates as temperatures stayed too warm and precipitation kept missing the mark. The good news is that models are showing a significant pattern change heading into late November, with better chances for storms to actually hit Western mountains if the jet stream extends cleanly into the West Coast rather than going north.

What else is going on

• Washington won't give Colorado more wolves
• Ice Climber death near Ouray
• Independence Pass closed for the season
• Last day to buy Epic Pass is 12/4/25
• Park City Mountain delays opening day
• Tragedy at Torres del Paine National Park

Trailhead Trivia

How many vehicles have traveled through I-70 Eisenhower Tunnel since it opened 50 years ago?

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