Crested Butte: We Ski Rocks

[goldenboy]

^^ Nice one.

One of the biggest reasons I visited CB and ended up here was the 1993 comp. Fat conditions, all these great skiers like Coombs, Conway, Kreitler, and 19 year old Seth Morrison. Not to mention the super cute skier chicks like Kasha. And when they rappelled off the peak into Hall of Fame- I pretty much thought it was the coolest thing I'd ever seen in my entire life.

[byates1]

Totally. I got bit by the extreme thing in college. Complete gaper compared to the CB hardcore.

Splains gulch got 3 plus feet of blower we are out there in resort gear wallowing up 400 vert. In October. The definition of green

I sat down on a rock at speed in Snodgrass hard enough to launch me into a full front flip. Basketball size black and blue on my ass leg. The definition of stupid

A super cute 10 yr older chick meeting me at the gym in the hot tub. The definition of lucky

[raisingarizona13]

Nah, there’s still magic in CB. Maybe you just need to scratch a little deeper?

All these ski towns are amazing places to be. Everything is always changing - you can either roll with it, or get out of the way.

Yep, in the mid-90’s I also paid $285/month for my own bedroom in one of the wealthiest ski towns in North America. It’s not like that anymore, but I’m still committed to living in the mountains.

You should’ve bought a condo in CB in 1995 for $150k…

Crested Butte was always now of my favorite ski towns. I haven't been there in 19 years now and I'd love to get back at some point but that may never happen.

I'm not so in love with the classic ski towns anymore though tbh. They feel and look so damn polished and fake to me now. It's like a big show for the wealthy homeowners and tourists. I prefer a little more grit and realness to a town. I've really fallen in love with these old mining ghost towns in the desert SW. Man they have character, and some serious characters. It has that funky, weird eccentric sort of local vibe but with a lot more dirt behind it, there's a lot more people that have been through some hard times and have a true understanding about some level of suffering. Being amazing at skiing and exercising kind of just says "hey, I'm so wealthy I don't have anything else to do so I risk my life while doing recreational activities." I know, there's plenty of that in most ski towns too but you gotta dig around to find it.

Anyways, skiing is rad and I still enjoy a visit to a ski town but I'm done trying to live in one. Crested Butte was one that I still wish I did at least one winter in. 90's/early 2000's ski bumming was the pinnacle imo and Crested Butte was a sacred spot for sure.

[The SnowShow]

^^^ maybe check out Silverton. Still rough on the edges IMO

[Name Redacted]

If CB is too ski towny for you, just go to Gunny. Honestly, you can't pass judgement unless you live there a while. I can tell ya, even the most bougie ski towns still have a rough underbelly and good local people who are cool. Can't really make that judgement on a quick ski vacation.

[byates1]

^yes

[raisingarizona13]

If CB is too ski towny for you, just go to Gunny. Honestly, you can't pass judgement unless you live there a while. I can tell ya, even the most bougie ski towns still have a rough underbelly and good local people who are cool. Can't really make that judgement on a quick ski vacation.

I've lived in mountain towns for 30 years now. Whitefish, Steamboat, Telluride, Jackson, been in Flagstaff for 23 years now. We are moving out this February. When I first got here I referred to it as a working mans mountain town, not so much any more. We won't ever be able to buy a house here but even if the prices were 50% less than they are now I still probably wouldn't try to. The ski Rea is so busy it isn't very fun anymore and Sedona is a total shit show now too.

I started hanging out in Silverton some 23 years ago too. I love that town. I used to call it the anti-ski resort town. I haven't been there though for close to ten years now. It was starting to get a bit fancier back then but not too much.

But hey, this thread is about CB! CB is still in my top 5 ski town list! Taos is currently #1. At this point I think I prefer my mountain towns without a ski resort there. Ski resorts eventually end up fucking it all up.

It's hard to beat the north face terrain at CB but the 3 lift rides for a lap would probably get old after a while. One lift to do hot laps on that terrain would change their whole game.

[uglymoney]

FWIW I was going to move to CB in 1993. I let parental pressure get in the way. My dad is good people, but he and I fucked this one up and I ruined my life by getting a real job in a dead end field, alas I encouraged my own kid to not make the same mistake and actually do it, and he did. My stepson has had a couple three seasons there now (Gunnison). This one may well be his last sadly, but he will always have the memories and never have to wonder what if...

I'll be in town next week post MLK weekend, Wed-Friday for a few laps if all goes well. Rolling solo after dropping my girls off at SLC airport Tuesday. Affordable dog room on the mountain after a sleep and hike in the Black Canyon Tuesday night. Fuck yeah!

Also, Vail has not yet ruined Crested Butte. Too many rocks to move. Still a special place.

[snowaddict91]

I'll be in town next week post MLK weekend, Wed-Friday for a few laps if all goes well. Rolling solo after dropping my girls off at SLC airport Tuesday. Affordable dog room on the mountain after a sleep and hike in the Black Canyon Tuesday night. Fuck yeah!

I'll be working when you're skiing, but beers on me if you feel like stopping on your way through MTJ.

[uglymoney]

I'll be working when you're skiing, but beers on me if you feel like stopping on your way through MTJ.

Thanks T. Would love to catch up but googles tells me you guys will be in bed by the time I roll through.

High pressure. Good for walking dogs. Not so good for skiing.

Sent from my SM-S911U using Tapatalk

[goldenboy]

^^ Yeah, cross your fingers this cold weekend storm actually produces a little snow. I'll be around if you want to make a lap or grab a beer

[uglymoney]

^^ Yeah, cross your fingers this cold weekend storm actually produces a little snow. I'll be around if you want to make a lap or grab a beer

Yes, would be very cool to cross paths with you.

I feel like I have barely seen the sun, so I'll deal okay with the high pressure.

[HotSchmoo]

Heh, pretty sure we vaguely new each other that year you wacked your hip.
I've seen a few posts of yours occasionally that made me wonder if you were the same guy.
I was roomates with this guy Dale (Franco) and knew Craig Lamar and Johnny V. and others from the Grand Butte kitchens.

[goldenboy]

I did some FOH stints in the Grand Butte and Marriott in the late 90's myself, mostly banquets with an occasional Roaring Elk

[byates1]

Heh, pretty sure we vaguely new each other that year you wacked your hip.
I've seen a few posts of yours occasionally that made me wonder if you were the same guy.
I was roomates with this guy Dale (Franco) and knew Craig Lamar and Johnny V. and others from the Grand Butte kitchens.

Hol le fuk. Bro. I partly inspired Franco dale liberty desimone to go to pastry school. C Lamar( spice of life) dale and I skied Montezuma basin oct 98. Jonn v. Damn. Worked w him at cbmr Marriott. I was the pm sous. Zack!

[HotSchmoo]

Yeah Franco pretty much taught me to ski tour. We did a multi-night trip down to the San Juans the spring of '98 or '99. Skied Wetterhorn and Uncompahgre and some other stuff in that area. Life changing and exceptionally eye opening time for me.
Craig and i ran headlong into each other in a brushy spot on the lower loop and his brake lever got kinda twisted. Dude never seemed to appreciate me after that...
Last i heard, Franco was like the private pastry chef for the crown prince of Dubai or something

[HotSchmoo]

And i just gotta say, if your technical skills are lacking, go do a few seasons at the butte.
To this day, i'll occasionally be skiing something steep and rocky and chundery and my ski partners will be shitting bricks and panicking. Wereas im saying to myself "well I'll just make a turn directly on that chunk of granite there".
I've told people stories of intentionally hitting rocks with old broken skis, just in an effort to completely break them and also maybe throwing a big middle finger to the stingy ass weather gods.
People dont believe me.

[whipski]

I always thought of Spellbound and beyond as landing zone skiing as in I'm going to make every turn to the next spot and pull up and reevaluate my next move. But that was very soon after it was opened for skiing.

[byates1]

Yeah Franco pretty much taught me to ski tour. We did a multi-night trip down to the San Juans the spring of '98 or '99. Skied Wetterhorn and Uncompahgre and some other stuff in that area. Life changing and exceptionally eye opening time for me.
Craig and i ran headlong into each other in a brushy spot on the lower loop and his brake lever got kinda twisted. Dude never seemed to appreciate me after that...
Last i heard, Franco was like the private pastry chef for the crown prince of Dubai or something

Rad. I remember him talking about those san Juan multi days. I gotta reconnect w him. He gave me all 10 of his comp tickets in Vail in '00 or so.good times.

[mattyTru]

2 inches of fresh is a classic recipe for coreshots... but otherwise the north face terrain is skiing reasonably well. today was soft with some nice windblown pockets

[goldenboy]

Word on the street is more terrain opening today for anyone braving the cold. PHQ is "only" -9, so I guess it could be worse, like -25 in town.

[mattyTru]

Felt lucky to catch one lap through Spellbound before Pdise broke down (?). Lots of great snow to be had. Poked around the steps before bailing back to Phoenix bowl and scoring more great turns. Now we just need snow

[Yukonrider]

Heading to CB in a few weeks, would love to get a resort day or two. Anyone have a discount worth having and want to trade for a Snowbird discount? (or iKon, but this aren't too great) I think I get 50% off day rate but I'd have to double check.

Whats a day ticket go for over there anyways?

[snowaddict91]

No discount here better than an Epic buddy pass, which is like 25% off or some BS. You're welcome to it if you can't find better.

I think Vail keeps discounted day tickets pretty locked down, your best bet is to find a VR employee if you know any.

Anyone know more about Paradise? Looks like it's down again this morning. Lift mechanic union also authorized a strike this week, things could get interesting...

[goldenboy]

Yukon, it was $125 for my FIL last week with the buddy pass. I could help with that if you need.

This article in the CB news said the problems with the Paradise lift are electrical, but who knows. Hopefully lift maintenance gets what they're asking for. I unfortunately feel like replacing 12 people wouldn't be as hard for Vail as it was for the PC patrol.