Skiing The Butte

Pow Warning!

A significant winter storm has arrived and will seriously impact the Elk Mountains over the next 3 - 4 days. Expect periods of Heavy snowfall this weekend lasting through Tuesday. The storm is on a West, southwest flow and temperatures will remain somewhat mild through the storm though winds will be significant. The heaviest snow sets in Sunday and Sunday night when the winds will also pick up. Be prepared for a blustery weekend with blowing snow, poor visibility, and the accumulation of 2-3 feet of snow in the high country by Tuesday. The long term remains unsettled so do not expect to see the sun any time too soon!

Today
Snow 4-8 inches possible, winds west, southwest 15-25 mph gusting in the 30’s. High temperatures in CB and Gunnison will be in the high 20’s

Tonight
Snow 4-6 inches possible West winds 10-15 with gusts in the 20’s and a low temperature for CB and Gunnison in the mid to high teens.

Tomorrow
Snow 6-10 inches, West Southwest winds 15-25 mph with gusts above 40 mph. High temperatures in CB and Gunnison in the mid to upper 20’s.

Crested Butte Mountain Resort opens additional terrain

Resort opens 199 additional acres for a weekend total of 58 trails, 7 lifts

Following up on the best opening in years, Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) also is poised to offer the best holiday skiing and riding in years. Early season storm cycles continue to deposit an abundance of light, dry powder on the slopes and resort operations crews are hard at work preparing terrain as quickly as possible.

On Saturday, snow seekers found an additional 199 acres to explore, including trails off the Silver Queen and East River lifts. The addition bumps CBMR’s total trails to 58, representing 75 percent of the resort’s terrain served by 7 lifts.

Video: Paradise Lift opens at Crested Butte

The Paradise lift opened on November 29th is now open serving intermediate terrain including Paradise Bowl, Forest Queen, Canaan, Treasury and more...

Video: Crested Butte Opening Day

Video of Crested Butte Opening Day:

10 inches of powder greets skiers at Crested Butte Opening Day

Delighted skiers and riders kicked off the 2010-2011 season at Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) this morning with whoops of delight and ear-to-ear grins. First chair was nabbed by four young ladies from Crested Butte Community School who skipped class in favor of first tracks on the first day of the season. CBMR opened with 10 inches of fresh, airy powder and a 31-inch base. Snow continues to fall steadily. The resort has received 27 inches of snow since Sunday and 82 inches thus far for the season. CBMR plans to open more terrain, as conditions permit, in time for the Thanksgiving weekend.

“This is the best opening we’ve seen in at least six years,” said Ken Stone, CBMR’s COO. “We have much to be thankful for today and with Mother Nature’s help our operations crews will have more terrain ready for holiday skiers and riders.”

Crested Butte opens with the best conditions in years

The chairlifts are being dusted, the slopes groomed and trail map dispensers stocked. Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) opens for the 2010-2011 season in less than 24 hours and crews have been working round the clock in preparation for a season to remember. Over 17 inches of fresh powder – this week alone, plus 19 trails, 5 lifts and the Keystone Jib Park await skiers and riders for an early Thanksgiving ‘feast.’ This season marks 50 years of skiing and riding at the resort, with opening day kicking-off an ongoing celebration of the resort’s heritage.

The ski area welcomes skiers and snowboarders to enjoy early season snow and the resort’s best opening conditions in six years with the Red Lady Express lift, Peachtree lift, Teocalli lift and the Pine and Aspen Magic Carpets starting up for the season at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2010. Trails include: Peanut, Bubba’s Shortcut, Houston, Lower Keystone, Warming House Hill, Poverty Gulch, Mineral Point, Kubler, Tulsa, Upper Smith Hill, Lower Roller Coaster, the Keystone Jib Park, Rustler’s Gulch, Augusta, High Tide, Lower Ruby Chief, Bushwacker, Meander, Paradise Access and Conundrum. Trail openings total 105 acres covering 19 trails, or 20 percent of the resort’s beginner and intermediate terrain.

Lower Bambino Glades

Fun run for the kids in the trees off Houston before you reach the base area. Very narrow so tricky, but fun, for adults to follow in too:

Video: I feel dirty: confessions of a first-time snowmobiler

The rental skis had been returned and we had half a day to kill before leaving Crested Butte. The one petrolhead (ex-motocross racer) in the party had scoped out snowmobiling, convincing us all to have a go before we hopped on the bus to the airport mid-afternoon.

Skiing powder a month before opening day in Crested Butte

That storm dumped 20 inches of snow in Crested Butte and the Crested Butte Mountain Resort team took the opportunity to go skiing something like 28 days before opening day. You can see video and photos of them skiing Keystone on their facebook page.

Heavy snow in Crested Butte 30 days before Opening Day

Gotta love this shot from Crested Butte's PowCam today