As the aspen leaves turn and the temperature drops, it’s time to start thinking about winter. Here at Crested Butte Mountain Guides, we’ve unveiled our winter 2011-2012 avalanche courses to prepare you for safe powder play.

There’s no better way to be backcountry ready than with an AIARE Avalanche Safety Course. This winter, we’re offering Level I, Level I hut, Level II and refresher courses. Curious about what each course will entail? Below is a brief run-down. For more information about our Avalanche Safety Courses or to register, click here or call us at 970-349-5430.

Level I

The level I course is designed to provide an introduction to avalanche safety. With a mix of classroom and field time, we’ll learn how to recognize potential hazards, how to minimize and manage them, and how to respond in case of emergency. During this 3-day course, we’ll analyze an avalanche forecast, identify avalanche terrain and avalanche types, learn basic rescue techniques, gain an understanding of basic snowpack, learn the basics of route selection/terrain features, and more. Eight sessions offered. 

Cost:
$325

Dates:
Dec. 9-11
Dec. 21-23
Dec. 30-Jan. 1
Jan. 6-8
Jan. 20-22
Feb. 10-12
Feb. 24-26
Mar. 9-11

Level I Hut Course

What better way to test your newly acquired avalanche safety skills than to apply them right away? With our level I hut course you’ll have the opportunity to put your knowledge into practice immediately. The curriculum mirrors that of the level I course, but takes place from the base of a ski hut in the backcountry. This winter, take your level I course at the Maroon Hut in the former mining town of Gothic (just outside of Crested Butte) or at the Lost Wonder Hut, on the eastern side of Monarch Pass. Breakfast and dinner are provided during the 3-day course. Six sessions offered.

Cost:
$475

Dates:
Dec. 16-18
Dec. 27-29
Jan. 13-15
Jan. 27-29
Feb. 17-19
Mar. 2-4

Level II

With a solid foundation of avalanche safety, we’ll dive deeper into the principles and techniques in level I, but with a strong focus on the science behind it. This 4-day course is great for anyone looking to become a backcountry guide or for the advanced backcountry enthusiast. We’ll explore the snow metamorphism process and how it relates to backcountry snow stability, weak layer formation in the snow pack, temperature gradient and its effects on snow, standardized observations and recordings for weather, rescues, and more. Three sessions offered. 

Cost:
$435

Dates:
Dec. 15-18
Jan. 12-15
Feb. 16-19

Refresher Course

Feeling a bit rusty on those avalanche safety skills? Take our 1-day refresher course to brush up before entering the backcountry. We’ll spend the entire day out in the field, focusing on terrain recognition, travel techniques, decision-making, and a mock rescue scenario. This course is also a great a way to stay up-to-date on the latest Industry news, equipment, tests and techniques. Five sessions offered.

Cost:
$90

Dates:
Dec. 10
Dec. 31
Jan. 21
Feb. 11
Feb. 25

Herder’s Mountain Bike Trip from Laura Chase on Vimeo.

Fall Mountain Biking Season in Crested Butte is here, with clear crisp days and a full spectrum of open local trails to choose from. Whether a 1/2 day single-track ride on the popular Lower Loop Trail just out of town or a full-day excursion to the internationally acclaimed 401 Trail, we can guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

Or….join us for a multi-day vehicle supported/guided trip like the Herder’s did just a few weeks ago, as seen in the video above.

Looking to stay closer to town, and ride the trails on your own, but want a little instruction in technical riding skills and techniques…perfect…join our Annual Fall Technical Mountain Biking Clinic Sept 16-18, 2011…spots still available.

Whatever you flavor, the Fall single-track riding in Crested Butte is sure to satiate your appetite !

-CBMG Staff

Fall is near, and here at CBMG we can almost feel the red desert sandstone on our hands!  The stark desert moonscape of Moab, UT is not only breathtaking, it also hosts some of the best fall rock climbing in the Southwest.  Crested Butte Mountain Guides is excited to offer yet another year of trips on the iconic sandstone walls and towers that litter the area. 

Castleton Tower:

 Castleton tower is easily the most iconic and sought after tower in Moab.  It stands almost 400 feet above the desert floor, and hosts a number of classic routes.  Some of the best routes on the tower are North Chimney (5.8, 4 pitches), Kor Ingalls (5.9, 3 pitches), and North Face (5.11, 3 pitches).

The Rectory:

 The rectory is a large rock formation that sits right across a knife-edge ridge from Castleton.  On its narrowest face, a perfect splitter crack goes straight up for 4 pitches of jamming bliss.  This route is called fine jade (5.11a, 4 pitches) and should not be missed.  You get a little bit of everything on this route, from fingertip jams to off width, and you will be grinning from ear to ear the whole way!

 Sister Superior (Jah Man, 5.10, 3 pitches)

Sister Superior is probably the craziest looking tower of the bunch.  It sits across another knife-edge ridge from the rectory, and stands about 300 feet tall.  The route Jah Man goes straight up the broad face in the picture, and is stunning the entire way.  The route starts in an exciting and fun(?!) squeeze chimney, followed by a couple hundred feet of splitter hand and finger cracks to boot.  This climb, and especially the summit, are not to be missed.

Ancient Art:

I take my last comment back; Ancient art is probably the craziest looking tower of the bunch.  This tower composed mostly of (surprisingly solid) mud, sits in the middle of the mighty fisher towers.  These towers are giant freestanding mud curtains, and most of them hold climbs only for the die-hard mud lovers.  Ancient art is certainly the well-traveled exception, climbing 3 beautiful pitches of rock (and hardened mud) … to an absolutely insane corkscrew summit.  Standing on this summit is certainly the pinnacle moment of most rock climbers’ careers, looking down 400 feet on all sides and standing on a dinner-plate sized summit is an experience you will never forget.

River Road (Potash Road):

Potash road is the quintessential cragging area for budding sandstone samurais and hardened desert rats alike.  There are hundreds of climbs ranging from 5.5 to 5.13 in this area, and they all sprout straight from the side of the road, making the commitment factor relatively low.  This is a great place to hone in your crack skills and chill in the sun, or push your limits and “send the gnar” … from techy slabs to pumpy tips cracks to man (or woman)-eating off-widths … Whatever it is you seek, potash road has something for you.

 So now that all of your soap operas have reached their season finales, and you have finally realized that climbing is much more fun than watching football, you have no excuse not to join us for some truly amazing desert adventures.  Call or email us today if you have any questions or would like to inquire about any of these trips.  See you all out there!

 -CBMG Guide Pat Erley

The USA Pro Cycling Challenge is coming to the Crested Butte area for two exiting days. With 16 pro international teams and the top three finishers from the Tour De France, the Inaugural USA Pro Cycling Challenge  is going to be one for the history books and a chance of a lifetime for spectators to see these crazy celebrities compete on American soil. Right here in Crested Butte!

The USAPCC is being touted as the most demanding bike race ever held on American Soil and being compared to the level and excitement of the Tour de France.  These world famous athletes will be reaching speeds of 60 miles an hour at elevations over two miles above the ocean in some of the most picturesque terrain in the world. Starting on August 22 the Americas Race will tour Colorado on a seven day, 600 mile long journey. Stage 1 will finish in Mt. Crested Butte on August 23 with the only uphill finish line of the tour. This will be the finish not to miss as the racers battle the final climb of the stage after 102 miles of racing. The excitement continues for the Crested Butte area on August 24^th with the Stage 2 start in Gunnison.  The tour will head up the Gunnison and Taylor Rivers valleys, over Cottonwood Pass then back over Independence pass to finish in Aspen.

Crested Butte Mountain Guides is offering a unique opportunity to be a part of the fun and excitement through  our “Chase The Race” Event.  After watching the spectacular Stage 1 finish in the town of Mt Crested Butte on Aug 23rd, take part in our inaugural ‘Chase The Race’ stage to watch the next day’s finish in downtown Aspen, CO. 

On August 24th, as Stage 2 of the USAPCC leaves Gunnison, CO to race over both Cottonwood & Independence Passes en-route to Aspen, we will follow in the tire treads of history, by riding from downtown Crested Butte over historic Pearl Pass, and on into downtown Aspen to catch the Stage 2 finish…… Chase The Race info

So mark your calendars to be in Crested Butte for August 23-24 and see the existent as these world famous athletes race for the title of the inaugural USA Pro Cycling Challenge! Then let Crested Butte Mountain Guides show you all the incredible recreational opportunities that make this place so amazing!