Steamboat Pilot & Today

Going into its third full summer of operation, the Howler Alpine Slide has quickly turned into a favorite attraction for tourists and locals alike.

The slide, which curves around Howelsen Hill, opens today on a limited schedule until June 14 when operating hours will be seven days a week through mid-August.

Winter Sports Club Executive Director Rick DeVos has been down the slide plenty of times and said it's worth the price of admission.

"This is one of the better ones in North America," DeVos said.

"It's really exciting based on design. It was put in on a steep hill and required big bank turns. On a flat surface, they can be a little boring."

Early season cleanup is complete and maintenance work has been done, allowing the Alpine Slide to open. Crews have been working over the past month to ensure that the slide is safe and ready to ride.

"Because there's so much run off, we do go back and tune up the track and make sure everything is level and the drainage system is working," DeVos said. "We still get some cracking so we have a regular crew that does crack repair work each night."

The Alpine Slide is one of the Winter Sports Club's best fund-raisers.

In addition, dozens of Winter Sports Club athletes and others hoping to live in Steamboat year round have found summer employment.

"It's a nice connection to our winter athlete pool," DeVos said.

The Alpine Slide will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and Sunday. It will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday.

It will reopen May 31, June 1, June 7 and June 8 before resuming full-time summer operations June 14.

Hours for the slide are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays.

On Aug. 18, the slide will resume a weekends-only schedule through Sept. 28.

Prices vary depending on a rider's age and the number of rides.

The ticket office is in a tent near the base of the slide at Howelsen Hill.

-- To reach Melinda Mawdsley

call 871-4208 or e-mail

mmawdsley@steamboatpilot.com