Basalt Colorado - A Cycling Town With A Skiing Addiction

Where is Basalt? Isn't Basalt known for its fly-fishing and cycling? So, how did it become one of the West's greatest ski towns?

Basalt is tucked away in the Aspen valley. Compared to nearby Aspen and Snowmass, Basalt is so unassuming that visitors in the area often pass it by without a glance.

Meanwhile, other visitors quietly flock here for Basalt's scenery, charm and laid-back attitude. For outdoor enthusiasts, Basalt can fill any plate. Its rich red Rocky Mountains provide endless activities. They also bring a peace and casual atmosphere that permeates the town and its local residents.

Basalt has long had a reputation for its gold-medal waters. It boasts both the Roaring Fork and Frying Pan Rivers, tucked between stunning red-rock cliffs. Due to local catch-and-release practices, the fish get huge. Basalt is known to all in the fly-fishing community.

In addition to fly-fishing, however, Basalt attracts cyclists. On a mild summer day, cyclists enjoy riding up the Frying Pan Road. The road follows the river. It provides gorgeous scenery, including views of the Seven Castles rock formations, and herds of bighorn sheep. Wildlife and scenery are plentiful, and cyclists are rewarded with an easy return ride to town.

With all of Basalt's fly-fishing and cycling, locals hardly call it a ski town. But make no mistake, Basalt has a skiing addiction.

But like most other aspects of Basalt lifestyle, we are low-key about our ski cravings. We prize our charm and eclecticism. We know what happens when a town becomes a well-known ski town. Will Inverso, of Basalt Bike & Ski, describes the Basalt vibe. "Basalt's different from the other towns like Carbondale or Aspen." Will knows, because he lives in nearby Snowmass, which is in the midst of a massive face-lift.

It's ski season again, and Basalt has resumed life as a ski town. When a storm rolls in, and snow has fallen heavy on the mountains for several days and nights, town is abuzz with powder tales.

It's ski season, and the lingo returns. And each sport has its own language. Snowboarders, or riders, talk different. Even amongst skiers, there are downhill, telemark, and cross-country skiers. Do you speak Nordic?

And then there's gear-head-speak. But my favorite conversations about gear aren't the ones about the latest and greatest. Instead, I love to hear when a friend makes a great find dumpster-diving.
Thrift-store shopping can also elicit some amazing gear treasures. You never know what will turn up in the infamous Aspen Thrift Shop. But if you actually need cheap (or free) gear, you need to watch the thrift stores like a hawk. Good finds get snagged almost instantly.

For many, it's not a matter of whether or not you'll have sports gear if you live in this Rocky Mountain play-land. It's more about deciding which sports you'll pursue whole-heartedly, and thus acquire gear for, and which gear will show up later.

As Will emphatically put it, "If you just showed up (in the area), you are going to have a bike and skis within a year. That's just the way it is." My porch and storage unit resemble Will's statements. Within one year of living here, I had acquired a variety of decent gear for free or dirt-cheap.

There is a special bonus to being active in this valley. No matter how hard you play, there are many enjoyable therapies to help your sore muscles recover.
You can enjoy nearby hot springs or steam caves. You can visit a day spa or get a soothing sports massage in Basalt. (No wonder the favorite spa treatment in Basalt is called the Endorphin High, at Higher Spa and Studio).

It is acceptable to live in Basalt without participating in these sports. But why would you want to? As Will puts it, "You can't not have skis or a bike and live here, and be happy. "Keep Playin'.

For more information about skiing, cycling, or sports massage offered in Basalt Colorado, go to http://www.HigherSpa.com You'll find health & fitness articles, programs, plus VIDEO! Check out their Members' Zone!

Nina Schnipper is a fitness trainer and massage therapist in Basalt Colorado, at Higher Spa & Studio. She specializes in Pain Relief * Injury Recovery * Weight Loss * Post-Pregnancy Therapies and * Fitness Programs.
When she is not helping people get in shape and pain-free, Nina enjoys running, hiking, camping, and bluegrass music.

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