Emerald Mountain

Operation Dates: 1947 - 1954
Area Stats:
* Elevations: Base: 6,696 ft; Summit: ~9,000 ft
* Runs: About 4
* Average Snowfall: 250 inches
* Snowmaking: none
Lifts: 1 Constam combination T-bar and single chair
History:

Emerald Mountain began operation during the 1947-48 ski season. The
area contracted E. G. Constam to install the area's only means for uphill
transportation. Constam is credited as being the inventor of the T-bar lift
and during this era held the record for the longest installed lift at Camp
Hale in Colorado. Prior to the construction of the Constam lift, Emerald
Mountain also boasted a boat tow, and at least one rope tow.

After a few years of operation, the Constam lift was shortened to the top
of Howelsen Hill, where the current poma terminal is located. During this
time, the single chairs were also removed and the lift was just a T-bar.
During the 1970's a lift malfunction caused removal of the old Constam lift
and it was later replaced by a Poma platter lift.

Directions: Emerald Mountain is directly above Howelsen Hill Ski Area
located directly in downtown Steamboat Springs. The old Constam lift
house remains located next to the area's base lodge.

Various history
pictures:
(click for larger views)

Area Pictures:

The old lower tow house for the
single/T-bar lift

The lift line for the Constam tram.

An overgrown trail on Emerald
Mountain.

The remains of the upper terminal.

Have you ever skied at this area? If so,
contact us with your memories!

Memories:

"I grew up in Steamboat and skied at the local hill (Howelsen/Emerald mountain from 48 till
1960 when I graduated from high school. I don't remember riding the chairs of the Constam lift,
but of course remember the T bars. If I remember right, at the top of Howelsen hill the lift went
over a small promontory and went down hill. This would require the skier to leave the t bar, ski
around and down the promontory where you would reach up and grab another t-bar and
continue on up Emerald mountain. From this point on, the pitch of the hill was very flat for a
considerable distance until about 150 yards from the top terminal when the hill pitched upward
at quite an angle. The skier would disembark and ski down a ramp to ski terrain that was
certainly not exciting to ski on. It was too flat. Most people just skied straight on long ski trails
till getting to the back side of Howelsen and then going down the "mile run" which took you
around the west side of Howelsen, over sulfur cave and down to the bottom of Howelsen. Their
was however, another run that came down the east side of Emerald and then dropped over a
steep precipice "the steilhung", corkscrewed downward and ended on a county road probably
three miles from the base of Howelsen. This was a downhill run used by the likes of Buddy
Werner for training. It was never a popular run due to ending three miles away and its steep
pitch.

Probably 3/4's of the Constam lift was rarely used due to most of it transporting skiers over
hardly skiable terrain. What a design error!! Later the lift was shortened to just the top of
Howelsen and t-bars only. The lift house for the Constam lift also incorporated the machinery
for the boat tow. The boat tow was rarely used when I was there. Mainly for ski jumpers."
-John N.

"I am one of the lucky ones still alive remembering Carl Howelsen . He lived just down the street
from my house. The house he and his wife moved into in 1921 still looks almost like when he
lived there. Carl was an inspiration for us young ones and always had a comment or
two when we practiced jumping. His son Leif taught me how to go downhill though I never took
it further than pleasure skiing. Carl and his wife are both buried at our local churchyard."
-Eilif H.