Yeeha," shouted the crowd. "Yeeha," we Brits joined in. Although quite what any of us made of this our first glimpse of Mutton Bustin' I'm not sure.

Mutton Bustin', for the uninitiated, is the tamer little brother of the bullride or the buckin' broncho.

A favourite on the rodeo circuit, it pits young - very young - would-be rodeo riders of the future against the bucking skills of - erm - sheep. Yep, turns out that in these parts parents are quite happy for their youngsters, some as young as four, to ride on the backs of woolly sheep while crowds of adults shout encouragement from the bleachers.

First prize goes to the nipper who hangs on the longest. The crash helmet-wearing kids appear to love it; there's no news on what the sheep make of it all.

It wasn't the sort of Colorado Rocky Mountain cowboy rodeo I was expecting. But, then again, I hadn't been expecting a rodeo at all.

Think Colorado, think the Rockies, think Aspen, think snow and skiing. Right? Naturally.

And I would be foolish to pretend that's not the first draw for visitors from Britain with a long-haul trip in mind. And yes, Aspen and its near neighbours Snowmass, Vail, et al, offer some of the best winter sports in the world.

But we were here at the start of the summer and, apart from very high up, there wasn't much of the white stuff around. However, the Colorado Rockies in summer were proving to be quite a revelation, and not just because of the sheep riding.

We were staying in Snowmass. Unlike its near neighbour Aspen, which has been around since pioneer goldrush days, the resort was purpose-built for the ski crowd. It's a tad brasher, a fair deal cheaper, and more relaxed than its up-market cousin down the valley.

So what is there to do? How long have you got?

When the Aspen/Snowmass folk started to consider how they could market their region outside of winter, they realised they were spoilt for choice. But it helps if you are in love with the outdoors.

From mountain biking to hiking, from paragliding to rock climbing, from nature-watching to horseback riding, from white-water rafting to golf, to tennis, to the new craze of mountainboarding (pack a sense of adventure and nerves of steel!) the area is a haven for those with get up and go.

For the mountain biker alone there is a bewildering array of choices to provide every possible adventure for the adrenaline junkie to the family group.

Guided hikes up the 14,000 foot peaks may be the pinnacle of the hiking experience, but it doesn't have to be tough. The gondolas that carry skiers in the winter transport hikers just as easily. Or for a tad more adventure, why not a jeep ride to the top? And what an experience once into the Rockies themselves!

The views of the surrounding mountains, including the breathtaking Maroon Bells range, are worth the trip alone. Wildlife is everywhere, from massive elk to nippy groundhogs and tiny chipmunks; even, if you are very lucky, the odd sighting of a bald eagle or even a bear.

If it's fauna you're after, the Rockies are awash with colour. July and August are the wildflower season and autumn's not a bad time to visit either, with the Rocky Mountain just as spectacular as New England.

For golf lovers there are nine courses within a 40-mile radius of Snowmass and Aspen.

And then there's the shopping. As everyone knows, Aspen is one of the haunts of the rich and famous. But don't let that put you off. The array of boutiques and stores has something to fit every price range.

For families there is plenty of adventure, including the Snowmass Recreation Centre with its four pools and water features. Consider also such free activities as the guided walks.

And, for the cowboy in everyone, there's the Snowmass Rodeo - only don't go expecting the Calgary Stampede. This is small town stuff, your regular neighbourhood rodeo and a real family affair. There's a great barbecue, roping lessons for the kids and adults ready to brave a little humiliation and, in the ring, bucking bronco and bull riding, barrel racing and horseback displays that bring it home that you are in cowboy country.

Real cowhands for the girls to meet, real cowgirls in sassy shirts, sharp boots and pristine white hats for the fellas.

And those sheep of course. What rodeo would be the same without them?

3:28pm Thursday 11th October 2007

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