Steamboat Springs, Colorado

I went to Steamboat Springs, Colorado for a long weekend over the 4th. I highly recommend it as a destination summer or winter. My parents have lived there a long time and my youngest brother was raised there. Dad was a ski jumper as was that young brother--that now resides in Park City, Utah. Fortunately he and his family was able to join my wife and I for the weekend.
The first day I was able to run in The 'Boat was Friday. I set out about 7 am on a cool gray morning and headed down to a great trail that runs next to the Yampa River as it runs through town. The weekend crowd was not yet in place and those that were were not stirring. I got to a train trestle, and a great looking deer was standing near the tracks enjoying a little breakfast. As I moved along enjoying the mountain scenery I ran with a gent from Nebraska. He was chugging a bit and said he had run a 1/2 the first of May, in a very respectable 1:47, but had not run since and the altitude was killing him. Steamboat is at over 7,000 feet and can be a challenge. Did not seem to bother me on the trip much though I did just go no more than an hour a day or so.
Everyday I was there at least one hot air balloon rose off the valley floor--a great pastime for visitors to this as in many vacation spots.
After that great run on the first day, we had a pretty good family hike up Fish Creek Falls. Another must if visiting.
Ran again on the 4th and this day broke clear which made the balloon that much more impressive. I ran way to the end of town on the trail and then back right downtown main street as it was all blocked off for the upcoming parade. Lots of fun and a neat old town...real western feel to it.
The 5th I went out of town on the same path. New scenery and ran right under the balloon for a while out and back. Very cool to see the flame filling the envelop.
The final day was a high-light as I got to run with my youngest brother. We only had time for a shorty, so we headed up from the rented condo in the cool clear morning and run through the golf course and neighborhood up that way. My brother is and always was a much better athlete than I. Even figuring for his youthful exuberance. We had the good fortune of running the St. George Marathon together a couple years back. We managed to run the first half together, got separated at a water stop and finished just minutes apart. At any rate a great run to finish a wonderful vacation and series of runs through Steamboat Springs.