September Finale

Closing day of the summer season at the Steamboat Ski Area; couldn't have been more beautiful.

September at Sarvis Creek

Alien Spider

This pregnant(?) spider is spinning a small black spider into her web.

ArtRush Artwork

Artist Carol Jean's interpretation of cellist John Sant'Ambrogio's performance at the Portfolio Collection during the ArtRush.

Villain and the Maiden

You can tell by the look in his eye that villainous deeds are on his mind, as melodramatic actors make the rounds during ArtRush.

Tibetan Mandala

Drepung Loseling monks visited Steamboat Springs, both to create a mandala for the community and also to increase awareness of the dire situation in Tibet.

More than one million Tibetans have died under communist rule of the country. The monks are in exile in India, where they have reestablished their community.

Lower Bear Trail

Horseback riders near the summit of Lower Bear Trail. The cloudy skies and cool weather brought bikers, riders and hikers to this steep but scenic trail.

Geological Heat

These small mammals were soaking up the heat on nearly every rock along the south-facing Lower Bear Trail.

Spherical Beauty

Past what is commonly considered their prime, wildflowers display a whole new ephemeral beauty as they go to seed.

Wet Summer

Wild mushrooms are growing to magnificent shapes and sizes, due to the wet summer we've been experiencing. This one was about 8 inches across.

Geraniums

Most wild geraniums have gone to seed, but the few still in bloom attracted bees and bugs.

August Wildflowers

Sorry for the absence throughout July. I was in the Norwegian Arctic – flickr photo stream on the left. I arrived home to catch the end of what must have been a spectacular wildflower season.

Rain Pays Off

All the rain we've had recently has turned the valley a lush green. This view is from the top of Buffalo Pass.

Friends with Style

Tommy, Petra and Aiko, from Dusseldorf, Germany, come out to visit in their stylish '59 Corvette, Stella Blue.

Springtime in Steamboat Springs

A purple crocus appears along the Yampa River Core Trail, as spring makes a tentative appearance in Steamboat Springs.

Until Next Year

The sun sets on the 2010 Steamboat Ski Area season. Hasta luego!

Welcome Hometown Heroes

We had a great time today in Old Town Steamboat, decorating the statue of Carl Howelsen with Olympic medals. From left: 3-time silver medalist Johnny Spillane, gold- and silver-medalist Billy Demong, Olympian Taylor Fletcher, silver-medalist Todd Lodwick and (seated) silver-medalist Brett Camerota.

Olympic Horse

Routt County ranchers brought their finest horses into Steamboat Springs for the Hometown Heroes parade down main street, welcoming home Steamboat's Olympic heroes.

Brett Camerota

Nordic combined silver medalist Brett Camerota in the Hometown Heroes parade in downtown Steamboat Springs.

Gold Medalist Billy Demong

Billy Demong rides on an old-fashioned sleigh during the Hometown Heroes parade in downtown Steamboat Springs. He won both gold and silver medals in Nordic combined events at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games.

Pine Grosbeaks

Pine grosbeaks gather at the bird feeder atop Storm Peak.

Hanging Out Over Town

A hang-glider soars over Old Town Steamboat Springs.

Above the Crowd

A hang glider soars over Four Points Hut at the Steamboat Ski Area.

Lift-Off

Spring fever sets in on Mount Werner, as a crowd of skiers gathers round to watch this hang-glider lift off from Storm Peak Face.

Silver Hat Trick!

Mike Lane (center) holds the USA/Olympic flag as a crowd gathers in the One Steamboat Plaza to watch the U.S. Nordic Combined Team take on the world at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. The team's silver medal was one of three earned by the U.S. Nordic Combined Team, all of whom have Steamboat ties.

The Smile Says It All

Oh yeah, he's cool. Not yet a teenager, Matts Thielemann is already an accomplished telier. Note the ski area boundary rope behind him.....

Man Down

Most of the time, Matts Thielemann makes it look easy. The hard part now is going to be getting up!

Down Comfort

There's no bed softer than a mattress made of bottomless Steamboat powder, as Matts Thielemann demonstrates at the end of a long run through deep, untracked powder.

Rockin' the Way Right

Classic telemark form as Matts Thielemann finds a perfect powder line in the backcountry.

Skiing the Bog

Sunday was a glorious day to ski down to and through the bog in the backcountry near Steamboat Ski Area.

A Day in the Backcountry

Closing the door to the cat on the way to our next run. ...No, I'm not pregnant; that's avalanche gear strapped around my waist under my jacket!

Skiing with Powdercats

Julie Hebard banks off a rock on Buffalo Mountain.

Silver Medalist Johnny Spillane

On the eve of the Olympics, Nordic Combined skier Johnny Spillane, a friend of our family since he was a little boy, signs a copy of Steamboat Magazine, featuring him and his teammates. Johnny went on to win a silver medal at the Games.

Olympic Celebration

Fireworks light up the roof of the Routt County Courthouse at the end of the community's Olympic Send-Off.

Olympic Send-Off

We can't call it an Olympic torch, so Steamboat Springs has its own "Community Cauldron," lit during the Games to remind us that many of our friends and neighbors are representing their countries at the Games. Steamboat sent 17 athletes to the Winter 2010 Games.

Early Morning on Mount Werner

Some days it's worth pressing glass, as the sun hits the tree tops and the untracked powder beckons.

Leaving Their Mark

Skiers leave their signature on the untracked powder in the backcountry near Mount Werner.

Feeding the Camp Robbers

A delightful day in the backcountry.

Christmas in the Country

One of Steamboat's fine old farmhouses, listed in the historic register, bedecked in Christmas finery.