Steamboat Pilot & Today

You can see the Milky Way and what 60 minutes of star movement looks like. Submitted by: Susannah Blundell

Submitted by: Susannah Blundell

From the Steamboat Springs Pro Rodeo Series. Submitted by: David Blundell

From the Steamboat Springs Pro Rodeo Series. Submitted by: David Blundell

Beautiful Mica Lake on Saturday afternoon. Submitted by: Maryedith Davies

Alondra Cerda Courtesy photo

Guests visiting the Larson Barn during Saturday’s Strings Kitchen and Garden Tour may opt for a picnic lunch in the barn and on the surrounding patio. The event kicks off with a light breakfast at 8:30 a.m. at the Strings Music Pavilion, and there will be live entertainment from Steamboat musicians at many of the homes on the tour. Photo by Tom Ross

Jim and Susan Larson’s home is surrounded by ponds and flower gardens, but there also is a tidy plot of vegetables where lettuce and onions are flourishing. Photo by Tom Ross

Smokey Bear reminds visitors of the wildfire danger at the Steamboat Ski Area gondola entrance. Photo by Matt Stensland

Steamboat Springs U18 soccer player Enrique Lopez wins a ball Saturday at Emerald Field. Lopez, a 2012 Steamboat Springs High School graduate, was playing with Steamboat one final time. Photo by Luke Graham

Steamboat Springs U18 soccer player Graham Noel sends a ball on goal Saturday at Emerald Field. Photo by Luke Graham

Steamboat Springs U18 soccer player Alan Flores kicks the ball Saturday at Emerald Field. Flores, who plays for Moffat County, was playing with Steamboat in the Steamboat Mountain Soccer Tournament. Photo by Luke Graham

Chinese students on a Yampatika nature hike take pictures of flora Thursday on the way to Lithia Springs. The Lowell Whiteman School is hosting the students for two weeks during a new summer program. Photo by Scott Franz

Flowers grow up out of a burned-out tree along the hike to Mica Lake. Photo by Joel Reichenberger

Flowers dot the sides of the trail on the way to Mica Lake. Photo by Joel Reichenberger

The craggy peaks of the Sawtooth Range stand high in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area. Photo by Joel Reichenberger

Boulders and rocks litter the trail on the way to Mica Lake. Photo by Joel Reichenberger

Dead trees litter the landscape in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area. Photo by Joel Reichenberger

Water pours into Mica Lake from a handful of streams, rolling down from nearby mountains. Photo by Joel Reichenberger

Water flows down into Mica Lake. Photo by Joel Reichenberger

Trees are reflected in Mica Lake. Photo by Joel Reichenberger

A bald eagle swings wide over Mica Lake looking for prey. Photo by Joel Reichenberger

A waterfall dumps into a pool along the route to Mica Lake. Photo by Joel Reichenberger

The trail is mostly a steady climb, but there’s plenty along the way to keep hikers going. The trail clings to creeks at several points. Photo by Joel Reichenberger

Reminders of the fire that swept through the area in 2002 still are visible during the eight-mile hike. Photo by Joel Reichenberger

Mica Lake stands nearly 2,000 feet above the trailhead, and it’s not an easy hike. Despite the ravages of beetles, blowdowns and fires, the view still is stunning. Photo by Joel Reichenberger

Boulder's Michael Lovato won the Howelsen Hill 8-Miler on Saturday in 54 minutes and 41 seconds. Photo by Luke Graham

Greg Ross races to the finish of Saturday’s Howelsen 8-miler. Ross finished third in the men’s division. Photo by Luke Graham

Boulder triathlete Michael Lovato finishes the Howelsen 8-miler on Saturday. Lovato, who is training for his 30th Ironman, was the top men’s finisher. Photo by Luke Graham