Steamboat Pilot & Today

Good afternoon. I'm Alexis Delacruz this is your news update for the weekend of February 16 through the 18th.

High winds and blowing snow the closure of many highways Friday including U.S. Highway 40 over Rabbit Ears Pass and Interstate 70 from Floyd Hill outside of Denver west to Vail. Also, the weather forced the Steamboat Ski Area to close several lifts including the gondola and Storm Peak Express. Winds in excess of 100 miles per hour were clocked at the top of the ski area. There is a snow and blowing snow advisory in effect for the Steamboat area until early Saturday morning. The advisory warns of wind gusts that could exceed 50 mph at higher elevations. Up to 10 inches of snow are expected by Saturday morning. Snow showers tomorrow morning should give way to clearing skies and temperatures in the 30s.

American Skiing Co. is selling two more resorts. Company officials announced Friday morning that ASC has an agreement to sell Mount Snow and Attitash ski resorts to Peak Resorts for $73.5 million. ASC is expected to sell the Steamboat Ski Area to Intrawest sometime next month for $265 million.

Seven snowmobilers who had been missing for more than 24 hours were found late Thursday in North Routt County. The six Colorado Mountain College students and a 16-year-old boy visiting from Wisconsin went missing Wednesday after leaving on a private snowmobile tour. Because of conditions, Routt County Search and Rescue did not want to search for the men Thursday night, but friends of the men went out anyway and located the group at about 9 p.m. in the Silver City Creek Meadows area between Dome Peak and Farwell Mountain in North Routt County. The men were in good condition.

At the state-wrestling tournament, Steamboat's Houston Mader won his quarterfinal match in overtime Friday. Mader defeated Josh Lucero of Fountain Fort Carson. He will wrestle in the semifinals at 7:15 p.m. Three Soroco wrestlers Justin Iacovetto, Joel Schlegel and Dennis Morgan as well as Hayden's Mitchel Doolin also advanced to the semifinals. Dave Shively will have a complete report from the state wrestling tournament in Steamboat Today and on steamboatpilot.com.

In Sports, the Steamboat Springs Sailors hockey playoff game against Air Academy has been postponed until Saturday. The bys and girls basketball games versus Battle Mountain in Steamboat Springs were scheduled to go on as planned Friday evening.

Don't forget Saturday's free concert at the Steamboat Ski Area. Joseph Israel and the Jerusalem Band will be performing. The concert starts at 3 p.m. If you're looking for nightlife, the Chad Hollister Band is performing at Steamboat Springs Mountain Theater in Ski Time Square. Tickets are $10 at the door. For more events check out Happenings at steamboatpilot.com

That's your news for now. Stay tuned to steamboatpilot.com throughout the weekend for more news updates and have a great President's Day weekend.