If there is such a thing as a snow gene, Steve Conney’s DNA contains it. Known as Steve, the Gunpowder Hunter, he spent more than 40 years researching the weather and tracking snowstorms to open deep trails across the country, all while working a full-time job.
For more than 15 years, he has lived primarily in Park City and also owns a home in Boulder, Colorado. He considers Park City to be a wonderful network to live in year-round and an ideal center in winter, as it is relatively close. to most major powder regions, from the various resorts of Utah to the ski areas of Tahoe, Wyoming, and Colorado.
Snow has always fascinated Conney. He grew up outside New York City and remembers jumping up to watch snowplows roll through when he was just 3 years old, which also happens to be the age he learned to ski. He loved sledding on the hillside outside his home and began chasing snowstorms at age 15 throughout New England, then worked part time as a ski patroller at Sunday River Resort in Maine.
At the time, powder snow forecasting required a more specialized approach. It didn’t exist, so Conney relied on the Weather Channel and radar, particularly the amount of snow falling west of his location. He has developed relationships with hotel employees, hotel staff, and snow removal crews. He even had a direct number with the other people in the Eisenhower Tunnel in Colorado to give them information.
He started Powderchasers as a hobby more than 20 years ago, in anticipation of a small email list of friends.
When the internet took off, I couldn’t because I was offering national weather forecasts for free. While it’s become much less difficult to know which hotel will have the most productive dusty conditions, it prefers quieter days over social media and online acquaintances. Attract hordes of gunpowder hunters to hotels.
“At first, unless you know someone at the hotel or know enough. . . You didn’t know what was going on. The web, just access to the weather and webcams have made gunpowder hunting less special ( and busier), “he said. “It’s definitely a stressful procedure to take a look at weather models and radars. It used to be less stressful to drive on empty roads and throw the bucket to succeed.
Overall, powder skiing and horseback riding have gone from relaxing in nature to competing for the first saddle and carrying a new line.
“There are very few secrets left, other than riding in dust in small off-grid resorts, like Beaver Mountain or even Sundance,” he said.
Yet, he still manages to carve his snowboard signature into plenty of untracked powder fields while working full time selling medical equipment. He also forecasts for Opensnow.com and manages Powderchasers.com, which provides free general forecasts and paid assistance to plan the best powder trips through customized forecasting.
“I’ve kept under the radar for 40 years doing this. I’ve been extremely successful at my job and at chasing powder,” he said, explaining how he often works nights and extra hours on non-powder days. “The reality is, when you’re skiing powder, you’re only skiing for four to seven minutes.”
The rest of the time, one has to stand in line or take the elevators (two places you’ve been known to have visited at a convention), plus ski chalets and elevator huts. It’s true that he was arrested on the hill when he turned on his camera, which “didn’t go well,” he said.
Prioritize quality over quantity. The average snowfall that falls each season exceeds 700 inches, but it can only last 20 to 25 days. Sometimes he settles for two or three deep runs before concentrating on his career. He is also known to have chased the same typhoon in 3 states, from Washington to Utah to Colorado.
You succeed in all of this financially in a number of ways. First of all, he has a smart career. In second place, it has several passes, adding Ikon, Mountain Collective and Epic; When he has to pay for a ticket, he thinks it’s worth every penny spent on a busy day. Third, look for places with discounts like Hotels. com and Hoteltonight. com or stay an hour away from the hotel for a while. Less expensive rate. And finally, his Powderchasers janitorial facility is paying lately for his and the other two members of his team’s gunpowder hunting addiction.
Guests pay for concierge service because they get so much more than just a weather forecast. Gunpowder hunters examine snow quality, depth, closures, temperatures, wind, and other points that typical forecasts don’t include.
“The innermost station is not your friend because occasionally it happens that the innermost station doesn’t open (the most productive terrain) due to avalanche control; it may open the next day or the road may close,” he said. “The art of storm chasing is knowing how to navigate road closures and where and when resorts and roads are closed. “
And since it is an art rather than a precise science, like any adventure, it is an obstacle. Last season, it was headed toward Little Cottonwood Canyon by a 50- to 75-inch typhoon and got stuck there due to road closures for five days, while the mountain remained closed for 3 of those days, opening only intermittently. There he sat at Cliff Lodge, watching everyone else ski at other resorts on the news.
This season, he’s followed rookies for a total of six days: two in Utah, one in Wyoming and three in Colorado.
“I took a week off and went to Portugal because I was bored,” he said. “Most winters, there is always deep snow falling in the West every week.”
The challenge lies in El Niño, which brings warmer temperatures. For example, the Pacific Northwest has gained a general amount of moisture so far this season, but it has fallen as rain instead of snow. Still, Utah got lucky with two or three storms. which provided a decent snow cover.
And there will be more to come in Park City: “Moderate waves of snowfall will increase in intensity from Saturday afternoon into Monday,” he said. “Next week is shaping up to be very active in the west with a lingering threat of cooler temperatures and more snowfall. “.
The trend turns out to be toward cooler temperatures, he said, which bodes well for powder enthusiasts.
“We all know we got off to a slow start, but we’re only in January and things can change,” he said. “Never give up. “
You can watch Conney’s adventures (or search for your own) on Instagram @powderchasersteve or @powderchasers.
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