Skiing The Butte

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...

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.

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

Snowmaking aided by grant at Crested Butte Mountain Resort

Photo by Rob Pennie.

Guests to CBMR also will note increased snowmaking capabilities resulting in earlier terrain openings and a better late season base. Increased snowmaking at the base area will allow for Peachtree beginners lift and the Camp CB teaching area and magic carpets to open on the first day of the season. CBMR will also be making good use of its 10 new high-efficiency snowmaking guns courtesy of the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) and Massachusetts-based snowmaking equipment manufacturer Snow Economics/HKD Snowmakers.

CBMR adding some higher end intermediate terrain for 2010/2011

Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) is adding some upper level intermediate terrain for the 2010/2011 season. Horseshoe Springs is an existing expert gladed trail that is located in the middle of the Crested Butte Mountain Resort ski area directly below Yellow Brick Road, next to upper park area (skiers right), and above the unload area at the top of Teocalli Lift.

Thinning of trees and pole saw cutting branches ("raising the skirts") has been the mountain team's focus to open up the tight lines it previously offered and allow for wider turns with more options to navigate the run. It won't be a groomed trail and the pitch of this area will still dictate it to remain a black run. But CBMR hopes it will be an area that a higher end intermediate will be able to get a feel for some more open tree skiing.

Chris Corliss, CMBR's mountain manager says the aim is "to enhance skiing and riding here that will allow for upper level intermediates to enjoy this unique terrain."

A touch of winter in August in Crested Butte

Photographer Rob Pennie got this shot of the season’s first snow – a dusting at the tip-tops of the highest peaks – around Crested Butte this morning. Penni took this photo from Crested Butte South looking toward Crested Butte Mountain Resort.

2010-2011 Winter Season Air Service to Crested Butte/Gunnison

Direct, non-stop flights to Gunnison/Crested Butte Airport make winter travel easy


Access to Crested Butte this winter is quick and easy thanks to direct, non-stop flights into the Gunnison/Crested Butte (GUC) Airport from several major cities across the U.S. Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) announces air service for the 2010-2011 winter season from three major carriers, including Continental Airlines, American Airlines and United Airlines with flights from Houston (IAH) Denver (DEN). Through each carrier’s extensive flight network guests can get to Crested Butte from anywhere in the world.