Steamboat Springs and Beyond

Only a short 2hrs 40 minutes from Fairplay lies the mountain town of Steamboat Springs. Known primarily as a “ski town”, Steamboat has other amenities to offer the summer visitor. The hot springs, which is the source for the towns name, are located in downtown and offer multiple hot pools for relaxation, and a water slide for the kiddies. The town also boasts many water sports on the Yampa River which also runs through downtown. Kayaking, fishing, rafting, tubing and anything else you can think of doing on water, is pretty much game. Each year there is also something for the doggies with the annual Crazy River Dog Contest where people stand around and cheer while dog owners attempt to drown their dog by throwing sticks in the water and seeing how far the dog can swim, sometimes in rapids. Sounds like fun for everyone, except the dog.

So, you may be asking yourself, what does the hot springs have to do with the town name, Steamboat? Well, way back when in the early 1800’s when settlers took over the area from the Utes, they heard a strange sound. It sounded like a steamboat coming down the river. After days of watching for a boat, someone found the source of the noise, the hot springs. Embarrassed that they had stood around waving flags and shouting welcoming comments to no one but the trees, the settlers decided to name the town after the noise so they wouldn’t be the laughed at by the Utes. (They were already “forcibly” removed by the Army so not to worry). And that’s how Steamboat Springs got its name, a bubbling hot spring and (probably) drunkards waiting for a boat.

The trip is relatively easy, take interstate 70 to Silverthorne, go north on hwy 9 until you get to Kremmling where hwy 9 turns into hwy 40, then straight into Steamboat Springs. Of course, you’ll need to go over Rabbit Ears Pass, a measly 9.426ft, but it presents a real challenge for trucks and trailers.

Highway 40 drops right into main street Steamboat, or “the Boat” to locals, Steamboat to out-of-towners. Lincoln avenue is where you can find your tee shirt and pottery shops, art galleries, and restaurants. Lots of other shops throughout town but a stroll down main street is a sufficient sample.

Not sure how Ben Franklin and Amelia Earhart fit into the town

Same with Wilbur and Orville Wright????

Beautiful downtown Steamboat Springs.

On the south side of Lincoln avenue is Howelson Ski Area, one of the two ski areas in Steamboat. This is the original ski area built by Carl Howelson back in 1913. Back then it only had a ski jump because that’s what old Carl did back in his native country of Norway, he ski jumped. Not until around 1963 did the downhill ski area open. Created by a couple of locals, Jim Temple and John Fletcher, who saw an opportunity to bring in the cash by having people flail around on long wooden sticks, while going downhill at ungodly speeds, only to crash into trees and people and get up and do it again. Storm Mountain, as it was known at the time, made the perfect location.

Looks like the original landing spot is in the parking lot!

Interesting notes about Steamboat Springs. More Winter Olympian athletes have come from Steamboat than any other town in North America; Steven Ray Swanson, NASA Astronaut was born in Steamboat Springs; the Cowboy Downhill is held in Steamboat each year; and last but not least, Reese Roper, singer / songwriter for Five Iron Frenzy was born in Steamboat. Now that’s an ending!

After having a wonderful tub of banana pudding from Louisiana Lindsy’s, a neat little sidewalk café serving Cajun food, we decided to head back home the long way, Hwy 40 through Milner to Hwy 13 to Meeker and finally, back to I-70 at Rifle. Should have taken about 3 hours if Hwy 13 wasn’t being totally removed and rebuilt, and I-70 wasn’t closed due to a wildfire. Good thing we’re retired and the extra 2 hours doesn’t really matter to us. So, take I-70 to Glenwood Springs, Hwy 82 to Aspen (where all the beautiful people live), then over Independence Pass (12, 095ft!).

With a name like Lindsy, had to stop.

Damn good banana pudding!

So, going over Independence Pass is in itself and good journey. There are several tight curves where the dividing line disappears because there is only room for 1.5 vehicles, meaning someone has to stop and / or back up if two vehicles meet. The signs for Independence Pass clearly state “no vehicles over 35 feet” but with this pass being the closest road to get back to I-70, people tended to fudge it a little.  The average car length is 14’ 7 “, add to that a camping trailer 24’ plus the tongue at 4’ and you’ve got a total vehicle length of almost 39’, not a problem, right?

Heading to the summit.

At the summit

Fortunately, we didn’t encounter any oncoming vehicles at the narrows so our drive was pretty easy. But, the next day, Colorado Highway Patrol closed the road to all traffic because too many people were taking too many liberties with their vehicle measurements. Even some semi-trucks tried to sneak through.

If have the chance, take the drive over Independence Pass. At the summit there are the remnants of a mining town and a few old mine buildings that are fun to explore.

Not much remains of the town that housed almost 1,500 people!

Remnants of the Farwell Stamping Mill

That my friends was the day trip. Turned out to be a bit more than we planned, but hey, that’s what makes it an adventure! Till the next time……………….

Shitty job, good sense of humor