Backcountry SkiingCrested Butte

Crested Butte Early Season 2014

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After a prolonged and warm fall that was perfect for biking but not so much for skiing, Colorado was finally blessed with a strong storm cycle in mid November. The snow fell on just enough snow on shaded slopes to make those slopes quite suspect from an avalanche standpoint. (The Crested Butte Avalanche Center took a great series of photos of snow cover before this storm which may be useful for planning early season ski outings). Wanting to take it easy on our first day out, Topher and I made some turns on a short slope just up from the Kebler Pass trailhead.

Topher De Felice snowboarding Crested Butte

Conditions were quite good for the first day of the season, though still fairly thin.

A few days later, Brittany and I headed out the Slate River valley to a different zone, which was even deeper. There was some wind affected snow, and flat light, but otherwise conditions were excellent. The skin up:
early season crested butte skiing


Apparently my skis enjoy summer just as much as I do, and the old repair pulled out when I stripped my skins. Ouch!
skins pulling ski repair

Brittany:
crested butte early ski season 2014

Frank:

The Crested Butte area received another strong dose of snow this weekend. Crested Butte Mountain Resort announced that they will be opening the Paradise chairlift on opening day- a rarity for us. If we continue receiving strong storms every week or so, 2014-15 may well shape up to be a good one. Or so we’ll hope. Think snow!

Frank Konsella
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Frank Konsella

Frank loves snow more than anything... except his wife.    He ensures his food is digested properly by chewing it 32 times before swallowing. He is a full-time real estate agent serving Crested Butte and Gunnison and would be honored to send you his monthly newsletter.

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