By Ulrich,
Ah Spring! Or “Mud Season” as the locals refer to it. It certainly isn’t as bad as it used to be with more paved roads and sidewalks. Most of Steamboat Springs is empty now due to our school spring break. About 20 years ago the School Board was asked to review their vacation schedules which gave the kids almost three weeks off for Christmas break. This proved to be a hardship for most parents as they were somehow involved in the ski/tourism industry. The Christmas time has traditionally been one of the busiest time of the year and required “all hands on deck”. At that time a suggestion was made and accepted on a trial basis. The Christmas break would be shortened by one week and that week would begin one week after the close of the ski area.
This schedule proved to be so popular that it remains in effect today. This new schedule allows for parents to actually take a vacation with their kids. It is a great time of year to travel as the weather is usually favorable, there are plentiful lodging options and the airfares are at their cheapest.
Not all people fly however, there is always a contingent who haven’t had enough of their favorite winter sport who head to the few resorts that remain open. Add that to the annual pilgrimage to Moab, Utah for mountain biking and hiking and you end up with an empty Steamboat.
The few of us that remain to guard the town are treated with dinner and drink specials at the few remaining open dining establishments. It is a great time to relax, get the yard ready and gear up for what will be another event packed summer season. Sure it may require that a person has a multitude of professions throughout the year but most will proclaim that they enjoy having a definitive end to one job and they wouldn’t have it any other way.
