Steamboat Pilot & Today

Thunderhead photographed from Tree Haus on Nov. 11. Submitted by: Matthew Grasse

Jake Filler slides beneath a pole Monday night during the mites hockey practice at Howelsen Ice Arena in Steamboat Springs. The 48 Steamboat mite-level players practice twice a week, then play Saturdays. They've already been at work for three weeks. On Monday, they split in several sections and spread across the ice, each group working on a different drill. It made for a chaotic but controlled evening. "We've really seen a lot of progress," said Brent Pearson, one of the coaches helping keeping things under control. Photo by Joel Reichenberger

Martin Hart, from left, of the Northwest Colorado Ski Corp. — former owners of the Steamboat Ski Area — Hans Geier with scissors, and guests from the Doppelmayr lift company, dedicate the new Silver Bullet Gondola in December 1986. Courtesy

Former Steamboat Ski Area President Hans Geier, from left, the late ski area pioneer John Fetcher, center, and former ski area public relations director Rod Hanna celebrate the ski area’s 21st birthday in 1984, with a symbolic coming-of-age glass of Champagne. Geier has been named to the 2012 class of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame. Courtesy

A humorous mailbox on Routt County Road 14 is ready for the season and looked ready to put down a few fresh tracks. Photo by John F. Russell

Snow guns pump man-made snow onto the slopes of Steamboat Ski Area on Monday morning. Photo by John F. Russell

Snow guns pump man-made snow onto the slopes of Steamboat Ski Area on Monday morning. Photo by John F. Russell

Air Force veteran Loretta Kuhlman pins a flower on World War II veteran Lee Willman during a ceremony Monday at the Doak Walker Care Center. The American Legion honored the veterans in a brief ceremony at the center. Photo by John F. Russell

American Legion Post 44 commander Gaylon Kent presents Lewis Kemry with an award for his service to the American Legion, and for his service during World War II on Monday during a ceremony to honor veterans at the Doak Walker Care Center. Photo by John F. Russell

Hans Geier, former president of the Steamboat Ski Area from 1981-1990, stands on the deck of his home in Tree Haus neighborhood. Geier was elected to the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame. Photo by John F. Russell

Soul rockers Robert Randolph & the Family Band will play one of eight free concerts at the base of Steamboat Ski Area as a part of the Bud Light Rocks the Boat concert series. The shows kick off Nov. 24 with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. Courtesy photo

Vikki Lufkin-Franz checks out a plaque along with her father, Don during a special Veterans Day tribute Monday at the Doak Walker Care Center in Steamboat Springs. Lufkin was honored for his service, which includes 65 years with the American Legion during the ceremony. Photo by John F. Russell

Cassett Yeager, left, and Libby Lukens, were a part of a winning U14 hockey team over the weekend. The squad's success earned it a trip to play at another tournament in February in Canada. Courtesy/Shannon Lukens