Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — While standing on the top of Rainbow ski run, Andrew Schmidt may have summed up the snow conditions on the last day that Steamboat Ski Area was open.

"You see that brown spot right there? Well, there are two or three more on the other side of it, so watch out," he said.

Temperatures pushed into the mid-60s on Sunday to help with this spring's early meltdown. But partly cloudy skies and a little breeze did come in later in the day.

Though a few bare spots needed to be avoided and the melt was a factor, there was enough snow to make for good skiing, and anything lacking condition-wise was made up for by the costumes worn by some of the people on the slopes.

"This has been fun for the last day," local Betsy Rapp said, who was dressed up for the occasion. "It's been beautiful."

Rapp cautiously admitted she's been in the Steamboat for 27 years and has skied on the last day of the season for 24 of those.

Though she said it was a good day, she added that there were last days with temperatures in the 80s that were a little more festive.

"There isn't a huge contingency of skirts," she said.

As many know, the tradition for the final day of the season is to wear a skirt.

"Men and women alike," said Millie Flanigan, who also has been in the valley for a while and was sporting a red dress for the day.

"I think we need to get the tradition back," she said.

Along with the dresses, people were sporting Hawaiian shirts, shorts, T-shirts, and wigs.

There also were several small gatherings on the mountain friends spending the day in the sun together and generally having a good time. Also, a water pit was constructed near Sundown Lift for the skiers and riders to try to glide across after finishing their runs.

Others made the trip to Steamboat Springs to catch one more day of skiing before the resort closed.

Brian Yount from Denver has made it to Steamboat the last three years for the final day.

"It's just the great deal and it's also the first official outing for spring," Yount said. "I like to hold onto the ski season as long as I can."

Judging by the mood of most of the people on the slopes, the last day was a good time for most of them. However, local Scott Williams, had one complaint.

"Too bad it isn't snowing," he said.

Though it may be a little too late, snow showers are forecasted for most of next week.