Lately, CBMG has been busy with lots and lots of Wildflower Hiking & Peak Tours around the surrounding backcountry.
As the flowers have hit their peak bloom the local trails, alpine meadows, and peaks have been awash in a sea of pastel colors…making the Crested Butte Backcountry a spectacle of natural beauty.
Daily afternoon thunderstorms are contributing to keeping everything fluorishing and in full bloom.
No where have the flowers been in all their glory, then on the West Maroon Pass hike between Crested Butte and Aspen.
CBMG Guides took a special group on this hike between the two towns last week, and despite the difficulty of the hike (11 miles and ascending 12,500′ West Maroon Pass) the group was rewarded with incredible views of the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area and the peak of the high country wildflowers.
Many more hikes await your participation, but it is almost August, so the flowers will begin their colorful decline soon, so make sure and get out there with us soon.
-CBMG Staff
A family reunion held in Crested Butte was livened up with 3 days of fun-filled rock climbing.
Nora Longthorne and crew joined Crested Butte Mountain Guides for 3 days of fun-filled vertical adventures with ascents of local favorite the ‘Guides Ridge’ on Mount Crested Butte, and rockclimbing in local Taylor Canyon.
CBMG Guides Kyle Mattingly & Laura Chase had a lot of fun taking various family members on these technical outings over 3 days, and the guests had this to say about their experience:
“Just want to let you know what a great experience the entire family had on our Crested Butte Mountain Guides Adventures! Kyle and Laura were FANTASTIC. The kids all really enjoyed both days with them, and Matt (my husband), Brian (brother) and I all had an amazing experience with them. They are wonderful guides and dealt with the many personalities with good grace and humor! ” – Nora Longthorne
All of our guides have been busy, with CBMG Owner/Guide, JSJ, taking 2 folks up the challenging and exposed ‘Sunset Ridge’ on Mt Crested Butte.
and, along with CBMG Guide, Ian Hatchett, continuing to cover miles of local trails and peaks hiking with return guest, David Maniatis.
Other days have been filled with daily rockclimbing trips in Taylor Canyon and Cement Creek, Mountain Biking Tours, and some very successful and beautiful remote Backpacking Trips.
Stay tuned as more photos and stories roll in from our daily mountain adventures with our guests.
—CBMG Staff
This past weekend, Crested Butte Mountain Guides held our annual Summer Staff Training. Staff gathered to go over 2 great days of skills workshops, summer equipment and facilities prep, and just some good ‘ol hang out time with an incredible staff and crew of folks. This year’s training was a great mix of older, senior guides, and a few new fresh faces as well.
The weekend took place with a 3-part focus, with Sat. morning being dedicated to operating procedures, emergency response plans, and overall logistical and operational overview for the coming summer season. The we spent the afternoon Rockclimbing, by checking out all our usual climbing sites, developing s few new ones, replacing some anchors, and overall having fun in the sun and on the rock.
Sunday was dedicated as a Mountain Biking skills day, with clinics amongst the guides on appropriate rides and terrain for different guests, sharing teaching skills and tips for improving people’s technical riding, and sharing trail maintenance tricks we’ve all picked up over the years.
We are all looking forward to a great summer season here in the beautiful high country of Crested Butte and the Gunnison Valley and hope to be seeing you all for a guided adventure with us soon…..Call or email us to book your summer adventure today.
info@crestedbutteguides.com //// 970.349.5430
–CBMG Staff
This past Spring season, exciting things have been happening at Crested Butte Mountain Guides. CBMG Guides have travelled far and wide in search of powder, singletrack, and warm rock, some for play and rest after a long and busy winter of guiding, others keeping the work season going through the Spring off-season lull.
A first stop on many lists was Moab, UT…only 4 hours away, but a great respite from a long and cold Crested Butte winter, with great warm sunshine, invting sandstone Desert Rockclimbing and dozens of desert towers to get back out on the rock, miles of some of the world’s best singletrack to begin the Mountain-Biking season with, and of course great camping.
CBMG Guide Steve Banks headed off to Europe to guide the Classic Haute Route Ski Tour between Chamonix and Zermatt once again. Steve has just returned to Crested Butte and word is, the trip had great conditions and was once again smooth and successful. Join us next year on this ‘must-do’ ski mountaineering tour. Look for Steve’s write-up on this BLOG coming soon.
Closer to home, the wet and stormy weather in the Colorado high country kept the Ski Mountaineering season going through late May. CBMG Guides Johnny MacKinnon, and Mike Soucy have been busy guiding these ski descents both locally on the Mt. CB ‘Guides Ridge’ and farther abroad on some of Colorado’s 14ers. Either a great capstone experience to the ski season, an intro into bigger more technical skiing, or as a training regimen for bigger and more complicated mountains, make sure to join us on a Ski Mountaineering trip in 2011.
This off-season the CBMG World Headquarters also got a face lift, as we disposed of the old dingy carpet and replaced it with some brand-new oak hardowwd floors, installed by CBMG’s own JSJ. We think they do alot to brighten and open up our cozy little miner’s cabin, so make sure and come check out the new(er) digs, just make sure to wipe your feet at the “Guide Shack” door.
Lastly, warmer days are here, and dry rock abounds from the Utah Desert, to the local Taylor Canyon and The Black Canyon. This summer, as well as having our standard Rockclimbing Programs and guided opportunities, we are once again having our successful Women’s Climbing Series, a 3-day High Angle Rock Rescue Course, and a few Yoga /Climbing Retreats. Visit www.crestedbutteguides.com or call us for more details.
Don’t delay. Get out and enjoy summer in the Colorado high country and in the Crested Butte backcountry. Book your guided summer adventure today with Crested Butte Mountain Guides. Currently offering guided trips daily in: Rockclimbing, Mountaineering, Mountain Biking, Hiking, Backpacking, Skills Instruction/Training or simply a fully supported car camping trip around a campfire under the Colorado stars…
—CBMG Staff
