An Introduction to Ski Town, USA...
Seven thousand feet up in the Colorado Rockies, nestled quietly below
one of the largest ski mountains in North America, sits a small
ranching community that serves as a constant reminder that the Old West
is alive and well. Never far from its ranching roots, Steamboat remains
firmly linked to a Western tradition that sets it apart from every
other ski resort in the world. Officially known as Ski Town, USA, Steamboat has always found a place in the hearts of skiers from around the world.
Long
before Steamboat Springs became the world-class resort it is today, the
Ute indians adopted the area as their summer home. The inviting waters
of numerous natural springs, mild climate, abundant wild game and
rivers teeming with fish, made the area a true paradise. The town got
its name when trappers traveling through the area in the mid 1800s
found a spring that made a chugging noise which sounded to them like a
steamboat.
 Skiing
became an integral part of Steamboat's make-up around the turn of the
century. Since that time the town has produced nearly 70 Winter Olympians
(many more than any other town in the USA).
Today, winter "champagne powder" skiing and an endless list of summer
activities bring outdoor enthusiasts to Steamboat year round.
This
only adds to the thriving lifestyle of the Western-town of Steamboat
Springs which boasts a welcoming community of friendly people from
around the globe, no matter when you choose to visit.
It's
difficult to think of Steamboat as a resort town. More families than
movie stars wander its streets. Mountain bikes or horseback are the
preferred mode of summer transportation. Steamboat's retail giant is
F.M. Light & Sons, whose slogan "Outfittin' the west since 1905"
suggests a western heritage that existed long before skiing. Steamboat
is a gem with no pretensions, just waiting to be discovered.
A walk down its one main street, Lincoln Avenue, offers many opportunities for "window
shoppers". Browsing through one of Steamboat's cozy bookstores or pass the time at a local coffee shop. Shoppers can challenge their
credit cards at rugged outerwear clothing shops, art galleries, unique gift boutiques and finish off the afternoon at Steamboat's own microbrewery Mahogany Ridge or Old Town Pub!
Steamboat Springs lies in the Yampa Valley in the N.W. Colorado Rockies
at a base elevation of 6,700 ft. Every winter the mountain receives an
average of over 350 inches of snow. In 2007/08 a record snowfall of 489 inches was recorded.
With legendary beautiful tree-lined trails covering its four peaks,
and family activities Steamboat is consistantly voted as one of the finest ski areas in the US.
The
dry clean air environment invigorates visitors year round. Summer
months are blessed with lower precipitation and daytime temperatures
that reach the 80s and average 60°F.
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Steamboat
