Over a foot of new snowfall dropped on Steamboat Springs prior to Super Bowl weekend, setting up deep runs through its infamous trees on Saturday. The locals refer to the area’s snow as “Champagne Powder” (which I’ll tell you about later), but it was when the storm passed that things got epic.

Every skier/boarder loves a good snowfall, but one thing that gets sacrificed on the account of a storm is the views and scenery on the mountain. When I woke up on Sunday morning, the clouds had cleared to reveal what is known as a “blue-bird sky” in ski lingo, providing a striking contrast with the white of the snow that had caked on to the Aspen and pine trees. Because the Broncos had yet to embarrass themselves, hope was indeed heavy in the thin Rocky Mountain air.

As we begin February and settle in for the last home stretch of winter, I thought a glimpse of how beautiful it can be would do you well. Coverage from my trip to the jungles of Southeast Asia (Borneo) is next.