Steamboat Springs — Steamboat Ski Resort will be opening Sunshine Bowl and Morningside Park after a foot of fresh snow has fallen on the mountain during the past five days.

“With the snow this past weekend and continued hard work by resort crews, the mountain is in fantastic shape to serve up great skiing and riding as well as all the holiday trimmings that our guests are accustomed to,” Steamboat Ski and Resort Corp. President and COO Rob Perlman said in a news release.  

Sunshine Bowl opens today but Sundial will remain closed due to snowmaking. As a result, there will be no beginner access from the top of Sunshine. 

The Morningside chairlift will open Wednesday morning. Depending on the storms forecasted this week, Pioneer Ridge could open for hike-to access as early as the weekend.

Steamboat’s First Tracks, the early access program in the Priest Creek and Sunshine areas, will begin on Wednesday, Dec. 16 hosting First Tracks passholders and ticket participants as well as a limited number of season passholders as part of Passholder Appreciation Week.

The free First Tracks passholders option must be reserved in advance. Reservations can be made by calling 970-879-0740 or by coming by the ticket office, before 5 p.m. today.

With the opening of Sunshine Bowl and Morningside park, there is 100 trails open across 1,545 acres, offering 3,668 vertical feet, serviced by 13 lifts. The season’s snowfall total so far is 81.25 inches at mid-mountain.

Steamboat remains under a winter weather advisory until 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Tess Richey selected as Teen of the Month for November

Steamboat Springs Teen Council has selected Tess Richey as Teen of the Month for November. She has been chosen, because she is an outstanding teen and embodies the values of Teen Council, which include demonstrating teens are valuable community assets, acting as a leader and/or a positive role model amongst their peers and being committed to community service

The Steamboat Springs High School senior is one of the captains of the girls’ varsity basketball team and has been a three-year member of the soccer team. When she is not playing sports, Richey is participating in the Rotary Interact Club, the Knowledge Bowl, Spanish Club, National Honors Society, and high school drama productions or volunteering at STARS.

“I loved getting to know everyone involved (with STARS), and I really enjoy the days I spend with the program,” Richey said. “I feel that the time I spend working with STARS is worthwhile, and I am proud to participate in the organization.”

Richey said there are many people who have shaped the young woman she has become, including her sister who now attends CU and her friend, Allison Pearl.

After graduation Richey will travel abroad to participate in the Rotary Youth Exchange Program where she will live with a host family for a year while attending school and becoming integrated into the local culture and language. When she returns, she plans on attending a university where she can major in international or environmental studies.

The Steamboat Springs Teen Council, in its ninth consecutive year, works to increase positive leadership development, involve teens in the community at large and provide substance free and alternative activities for youth. The program is sponsored by the city of Steamboat Springs and Grand Futures Prevention Coalition. Teen Council is funded through a grant from Routt County United Way and the Craig-Scheckman Family Foundation. Visitfacebook.com/ssteen

council to learn more.