In May Steamboat Springs was named the “Most Veterans Friendly Little City in Colorado. Steamboat Pilot and Today reporter Scott Franz gave an insight into what that means to the community, and in honor of Veterans Day we wanted to share his story.

Steamboat Springs — The honor was bestowed on the city by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, or ESGR.

“This is something I think is a great honor that the city of Steamboat Springs deserves that recognizes all of the veterans in the Steamboat area and even throughout Routt County,” said Jim Stanko, ESGR area chairman. “We really have a tremendous tradition here in Steamboat Springs, and a lot of people don’t realize it.”

Stanko said the award will make more people aware of the contributions many local veterans have made to “make this valley the place we all love and want to live in.”

The diverse group of veterans in the audience included former Winter Sports Club skier Crosby Perry-Smith.

Perry-Smith, 91, served in the 10th Mountain Division during WWII and fought in Italy.

After the city made the proclamation, Stanko talked about how generations of Routt County veterans became community and business leaders after they returned from duty.

Steamboat is the second city to earn the ESGR’s Most Veterans Friendly Little City award.

Montrose received the honor last year.

Dick Young, state chairman of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, told the Steamboat Today last month that the city won the award for a number of reasons.

“It’s not any one big thing; it’s really the attitude of a lot people up there year round,” Young said. “They do a lot of good things, and to veterans, it’s pretty important. We thought Steamboat deserved this award.”

ESGR officials were on hand Tuesday evening to present the award to the city.

They also recognized Stanko for his work as area chairman for the ESGR.

Stanko also recognized Craig Kennedy, the program director for Steamboat Adaptive Recreational Sports, for the work he and his organization have done for Wounded Warriors and other veterans with disabilities.

Ahead of ski season we have a myth to dispel. Steamboat Springs has not been set alight with reefer madness. On the contrary. Recreational marijuana was legalized in January 2014, but that doesn’t mean you will come here and see people walking along the sidewalks joint in hand.

There are rules and regulations on where you can and cannot use cannabis, which we thought we should share.

• The City of Steamboat Springs has three dispensaries selling recreational and medical marijuana. There is also one recreational marijuana dispensary in the Town of Oak Creek.

• All three of Steamboat’s dispensaries are located in the west side of town. Rocky Mountain Remedies offers a free shuttle service through Steamboat 420.

• To enter a dispensary you will need a valid ID showing you are over 21 years old. Access to medical marijuana is only for cardholders.

• Colorado residents can purchase 28 grams in a single transaction. Non-residents can purchase up to 7 grams in a single transaction.

• Transporting cannabis over state lines is 100% illegal.

• Consuming cannabis on federal land, including the Steamboat Ski Area is illegal. It is illegal to smoke in public places. Consumption is limited to private areas.

• Be aware of potency. Levels of THC (the active ingredient that makes you high) vary depending on the product and how you choose to consume marijuana. The effects from edibles take longer for the high to kick in, making it easy to over consume. Be patient.

• The legal limit for driving with Delta 9 THC (the active high) in your system is five nanograms per milliliter of blood.

The air is cooler, the crowds are gone and the sun continues to shine. It’s early fall and one of our favorite times of the year here in Steamboat Springs. We thought we’d share five great reasons to head for the mountains and share our Indian summer.

1. Hiking through Aspen groves as their quaking leaves turn from green to gold.  Three Island Lake in the Zirkel Wilderness is number one on our locals list for combining scenery, mixed terrain and the sound of water from the streams that meander by. After Clark turn right onto Seedhouse Road, past Seedhouse Campground on NFSR 443 and continue approximately 3 miles to trailhead on left side of road. Turn right at intersection of trail #1163 and follow to lake in Mount Zirkel Wilderness.
2. Biking trails starting only one block from town will keep even the seasoned adrenaline seeker fueled for a day. Emerald Mountain offers 24 miles of designated recreational space will trails clearly marked for all biking abilities. Downtown a trail map on www.steamboatsprings.net. If riding your wheels over dirt isn’t your thing, then make sure you swing through town for the 9^th Annual Mustache Ride in aid of the Humane Society. Hop on and off your cruiser bike through downtown Steamboat from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Mustaches are not optional). http://www.ssmustacheride.com
3. Fishing close to town at Chuck Lewis State Wildlife Area at any time of day in fall will not disappoint. Only a couple miles south of town off CR14, two miles of public access waters with large cut banks and deep holes is home to some big trout.
4. Explore the Yampa Valley behind the wheel with a scenic drive or two. Pass fields of gold travelling past Routt County ranchlands out towards Clark and Columbine, making sure to stop in at the Clark store for a morning coffee or afternoon tea. Take a picnic and head up Rabbit Ears pass where the valley below will unfold like an autumnal tapestry on your descent back to town.
5. Fall shopping and dinning deals abound during fall in the valley. Grab a bargain on last year’s ski and board gear; pick up shoes at a steal or home décor for a snip. Kick back with half price cocktails and plates all over town. By favorite our own favorite is Café Diva on the mountain, where Sunday night is date night for $30 a person. The food is sublime and you’ll eat like a king for a third of the price.  

Steamboat Paddleboard Adventures

1. Yoga at 9,000 feet

It’s not everywhere you can downward dog and tree pose with your head almost touching the clouds. Every Sunday until September 6, stretch out at the base of Mount Werner from 9 – 10 a.m. with instruction from the experienced teachers at Yoga Center of Steamboat. Cost is free but suggested donation is $10 – best to reserve a mat in advance.

On August 30 make your way to the top of the gondola (opens at 9.30 a.m.) for a 10 – 11 a.m. class at 9,000 feet. Views, fresh air and an entire body stretch – Namaste.
www.yogacenterofsteamboat.com

2. Paddleboard Pearl Lake beneath the stars

Surrounded by a forest of pines, Pearl Lake is a secluded little haven just short of Steamboat Lake. Steamboat Paddleboard Adventures has introduced a very different way to experience the tranquility of this place. Starting at 8 p.m. a group of up to six people can enjoy a guided nighttime float. Boards are equipped with NOCQUA lights, which emit a soft glow to show the way. Tours end at 10 p.m. and must be reserved. Suitable for age ten and up. www.steamboatpaddleboardadventures.com

3. Unwind in soothing waters

Feel your stresses float away with a Watsu massage at Strawberry Park Hot Springs. Nestled in the trees, seven miles north of town is one of Steamboat’s hidden gems. Natural waters gather in a series of pools ranging in temperature, with a cool stream to dip in and out of. ½ hour massage $65. www.strawberryhotsprings.com

4. Seek scenery from the saddle

Meander your way through aspen groves and catch a glimpse of rolling ranchland riding in North Routt. Family owned and run Del’s Triangle 3 Ranch offers one and two hour rides through some of the Yampa Valley’s most dramatic scenery. $55 for one hour, $85 for two hours. www.steamboathorses.com

5. Source or sample some of Steamboat’s edibles.

With only 59 growing days, we relish any fruits or veggies that can grow up here. Local non-profit, Yampatika runs a series of guided summer hikes and workshops throughout the summer, sharing knowledge of native flora and fauna. Join them later this month on their annual wild mushroom hike and learn the art of foraging. Or kick back on September 16 for their garden to table dinner served in the historic setting of the Legacy Ranch. Reservations for both are required. www.yampatika.org.

Reading on Ranches with BookTrails

Planning your summer vacation and wondering how to make your trip appeal to everyone in the family? We have a solution – summer camp. Steamboat has a whole host of exciting options for kids this summer and you don’t need to be local to take part.

We thought we’d share a couple weeklong favorites that never fail to please year after year. The best part of all, kids have fun, they do things they’d only be able to do here, and you are free to explore Steamboat without any resistance from the junior crew. You have your evenings together and everyone’s happy.

BookTrails
Steamboat’s first ever literacy learning camp was founded in 2012 by environmental educator and self professed bookworm, Emily Krall. Reading on Ranches is a collection of weeklong adventures that allow kids up to 6th grade to literally bring stories and characters alive. Students have the opportunity for multisensory learning by mixing reading with hands on activities all taking place outdoors. Each camp is themed and activities correlate to the chosen title or series. Campers could be reliving the days of homesteading, exploring the waterways of the Yampa Valley, learning wilderness survival types, writing in hieroglyphics or playing quidditch in a field. Student to teacher ratio is 3:1 and readers of every level are encouraged to join the fun. This summer camps include: Little House on the Prairie, Hatchet Camp, Wolves Mini Camp, Harry Potter Camp, American Girl Doll, Camp Half Blood, Spirit Animals, Spy Camp, Magic Tree House, Native American Legends, Tomb Raiders, Camp Splash I and II.
For more information or to register go to www.steamboatbooktrails.org

Yampatika
There is no better way to explore the natural world around us than through the guiding eyes of Yampatika. Four themed camps are offered to kids ages 5 -14, with an overnight camp out option for older participants. The Blue Planet is all about water and weather. Explore forests and plants on the Evergreen Scene camp. Delve into history on Wild, Wild, West camp learning about mammals, birds, livestock, mining and pioneers. Or cover geology, mountains and soil ecology on Landform to Landfill camps. Great adult day guided hiking options too. For more information or to register go to www.yampatika.org

Packing List

BookTrails is all about empowering kids to be themselves.

Don’t forget to bring sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, good shoes for hiking, backpack and lunch bag, water bottle, rain jacket and a big smile. Pre-made lunches can be ordered and picked up around town from Backcountry Provisions and Cruisers. Our own local favorite snack for happy campers is Honey Stingers mini waffles and chews available in most food stores and from BAP at the little red house on Oak Street.

Steamboat Spring has earned a notable reputation for many things. One you may not be so familiar with unless you live here, or have four legs and tail, is, Steamboat peoples’ love for dogs. No event shouts out ‘we love Fido,’ like the bi-annual Poochie Paddle. When the town stops to take a breath after the mountain closes, some unusual things happen, no more so, than at the Old Town Hot Springs. Twice a year the pools are drained, cleaned and refilled. The day before the water is emptied, dogs of every shape, size and age can take the plunge. It’s a sight to be seen – or heard. Yelping, howling and mad splashing mask the calls and whistles of owners directing, tossing Frisbees and hauling soggy stragglers from the waters edge. If you are on the fence about bringing the hairiest member of the family on a trip to Steamboat, then just remember – locals call this Dog Town USA, for good reason.

See the ski season out in style with the Steamboat Ski Area’s not to be missed grand finale of wild and wacky events. April 1 marks the official countdown to the mountain closing for another year. Come and join locals for Springalicious, when the attire of the day are tutus and capes, the music at the base area is pumping, the sun is shinning and the snow is forgiving.

Live Music

April 4 – The Motet: Denver based the Motet blends American funk, afrobeat and jazz. Known for their high energy performances, the band has released seven studio albums.

April 12 (Closing Day) –Steel Pulse: Spreading a message of love and justice to all people, this British reggae band plays their grammy award-winning music all over the world. Prepare the end ski season with style.

Events

Cardboard Classic A legendary happening year after year, watch teams race down the hill in their individually designed cardboard contraptions. Using only cardboard, glue, string, duct or masking tape; past creations have included everything from Viking ships to race cars. Saturday, April 11

Splashdown Pond Skimming Competition Dress to impress as you attempt to cross a freezing pond at ski area base. Judging for this annual contest is based on outfit choice, distance skimmed and audible crowd appreciation. Sunday, April 12

Closing Day Anything goes on the last day of the season. Tutus and t-shirts surpass ski suits as the chosen attire of the day. Make the most of your favorite runs before hanging up the ski boots, and rocking out at the final free concert. Sunday, April 12.

Happy St Paddy’s Day from us all at Condos in Steamboat. Here’s our take on spending the quintessential March 17 in the ‘Boat.

1. Festoon your being in green and avoid a pinch from the visiting leprechauns. Beads or bandanas are the preferred choice for skiers.

2. Have fellow gondola riders in stitches sharing your vast array of jokes, preferably those ones hailing from the Emerald Isle.

3. Ski St Patrick’s bowl

4. Grab a bowl of Irish stew washed down with hearty pint of guinness listening to live music at McKnight’s Irish Pub in Wildhorse Plaza

5. Don an itsy bitsy teeny weeny green polka dot bikini and soak away the hours at the hot springs.

6. Push yourself through a free work out at Anytime Fitness in Central Park Plaza and reward your efforts with a green power ice.

7. Experience the Yampa Valley’s Celtic heritage with a dancing and costume display at Casey’s Pond (4pm)

8. Join locals for dinner at Holy Name Catholic Church for their annual corn beef and cabbage feast.

9. Watch the skies turn green at the Torchlight parade and fireworks.

10. Finish the day with an Irish coffee by the fireside.

10 Things to do with the family off the slopes 

Dog Sledding glide over snowy fields with furry friends doing the hard work at Grizzle-T Dog & Sled Works. Learn to drive a sled pulled by Alaskan huskies or simply be a passenger. Www.steamboatdogsledding.com/970-870-1782

Cross Country Ski & Snow Bike Try something a little different and switch from alpine to Nordic. Steamboat Touring Center offers lessons for all levels with equipment rental. Catamount Ranch and Club located in the south valley also welcomes skiers of all levels, with the opportunity to try out the latest winter craze, fat bikes. Equipment is available for rent. Both locations offer snacks and lunch. Www.steamboatnordiccenter.com/ 970 879 8180 or www.catamountranchclub.com/ 970 871 9300

Bump and Skate at Howelsen Ice Arena – Split two hour sessions on the ice between skating and bumper cars. Ice hockey fans can join in open stick and puck.www.steamboatsprings.net/ 970 879 0341

Swim in the outdoor naturally heated warm pools or scale the climbing wall at the Old Town Hot Springs. Day care available for little visitors.  www. oldtownhotsprings.org/ 970 879 1828

Tubing – it’s all about fun whizzing downhill while a tow takes you and your tube back to the top. Saddleback Ranch (they offer a pick up and drop off service), or downtown’s Howelsen Hill. Www.tubingsteamboat.com/ 970 819 8010 or www.saddlebackranch.net/ 970 879 3711

Indoor Tennis – Needing a break from the snow for an hour or two, then take kids inside the “bubble” just off Mount Werner Road for a game of tennis. Racquets are available for rent and courts must be reserved. Www.10s.com/ 970 879 8400

In Celebration of Kids Opened in November, this is the ultimate all-about-kids place to hang out for a while. A fully inclusive kids hair and nail spa (even we can have the big city feel, sometimes), karaoke corner and an upstairs game floor will keep younger visitors busy for a while. Www.incelebrationofkids.com

Paint and Bowl All under one roof west of town the Steamboat Snowbowl and Splatz Painting Studio will have you creating and striking for hours. Www.splatzpainting.com/ 970 871 7904 and www.snowbowl.net/ 970 879 9840 call for reservations

Chill Out at the Bud Werner Library. Hang out with the locals for story hours, teen reads and craft workshops, weekly itineraries can be found on the library website or in the “Happenings” section of the free local paper Steamboat Today. Www.steamboatlibrary.org/ 970 879 0240 (oh and did we mention the cafe, where parents can kick back?)

Western BBQ – Experience the west as a family on Friday or Saturday nights at the Ski Area. Take the gondola to the top, put on your dancing shoes then enjoy a night of BBQ and country dancing. Reservations are required. Www.steamboat.com/ 970 871 5150

Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club annual Winter Carnival is upon us which means a great many things. For spectators it is a weekend long photo opportunity. Snapping perfect pictures in snowy conditions brings endless challenges so we thought we’d share some tips from local pros with our readers.

• Snag a good viewing spot to watch the events. The end of the race line is usually a great place to catch action shots, but try to shoot from different angles.
• Use a faster shutter speed to capture action shots if you have a camera with manual settings.
• People often avoid a flash when out on the snow but it’s a must among some of the town’s most celebrated photographers.
• Try shooting with the sun behind your subject zooming in on their face, to lessen shadows and avoid them squinting.
• For the ultimate night shot at the Carnival fireworks opt for a tripod and long exposures.
• Capture quintessential Steamboat images at the Steamboat Barn (From Pine Grove turn east on Angel’s View Way). Best taken late afternoon or early evening. For the ultimate ski snap, find your way into the Aspens, shooting toward the sun, to capture sunlight filtering through the trees. Perfect on powdery mornings. Feeling energetic? Snow shoe or cross country up Summit Loop 1A on Rabbit Ears Pass where the views go as far as the eye can see, and you’ll travel through your very own snow globe setting to get to the peak.