Backcountry SkiingCrested Butte

TR: Quenching the Thirst – Finding Powder in Crested Butte

(Last Updated On: March 11, 2015)

We were thirsty. And we weren’t thirsty for water, or liquids of any sort really. We were craving that fluffy white stuff that makes us smile as it sticks to our faces. That thing that we call powder.

Winter went on Spring Break for a couple of months, but has now decided to return. We couldn’t be happier. We are in the midst of a series of storms that have produced 7 days in a row of snow, just after a short but powerful burst of winter before. We’ve seen feet of snow in the last 10 days. And we hope that more will be on the way.

Before the last big pulse blew in, we decided to go enjoy some backcountry powder turns. We headed a few miles west where the powder was quite a bit deeper than in town. We were joined by our old friend Dave Bourassa who was visiting the Crested Butte area.

Dave Bourassa getting pow in the Crested Butte backcountry.
Dave Bourassa getting pow in the Crested Butte backcountry.

It was a good day. One of those days we won’t forget for a very long time. The snow was just the right kind – dense enough to float, but light enough to fly in our faces. I had more faceshots than I can remember. By far, it was the best powder day of the season – so far, anyway 🙂

We took a lot of pictures. But, to be honest, we had to leave a lot of them out because they looked like this:
Visiting the White Room in the Crested Butte backcountry.

Where’s the skier? In that cloud somewhere. We had a lot of powder clouds that day 🙂

Dave.
Dave Bourassa getting powder while backcountry skiing in Crested Butte.

Dave Bourassa getting powder while backcountry skiing in Crested Butte.

Dave Bourassa getting powder while backcountry skiing in Crested Butte.

Dave Bourassa getting powder while backcountry skiing in Crested Butte.

Dave Bourassa getting powder while backcountry skiing in Crested Butte.

Frank.
Frank Konsella getting powder while backcountry skiing in Crested Butte.

Frank Konsella getting powder while backcountry skiing in Crested Butte.

Frank Konsella getting powder while backcountry skiing in Crested Butte.

Frank Konsella getting powder while backcountry skiing in Crested Butte.

A sequence of Frank going in deep.
Frank Konsella getting powder while backcountry skiing in Crested Butte.

Frank Konsella getting powder while backcountry skiing in Crested Butte.

Frank Konsella getting powder while backcountry skiing in Crested Butte.

Frank blasting a mini-pillow.
Frank Konsella getting powder while backcountry skiing in Crested Butte.

Powder makes me smile. A lot.
Brittany Konsella getting powder while backcountry skiing in Crested Butte.

Brittany Konsella getting powder while backcountry skiing in Crested Butte.

Brittany Konsella getting powder while backcountry skiing in Crested Butte.

Of course, sometimes you couldn’t see the smile as it was obstructed by snow.
Brittany Konsella getting powder while backcountry skiing in Crested Butte.

Brittany Konsella getting powder while backcountry skiing in Crested Butte.

Brittany Konsella getting powder while backcountry skiing in Crested Butte.

Brittany Konsella getting powder while backcountry skiing in Crested Butte.

Brittany Konsella getting powder while backcountry skiing in Crested Butte.

As we finished our last lap, we looked to the sky and welcomed snowflakes as they pounded on our heads, heavier than they had been all day long.

Dave and Frank getting ready to load up on the snowmobile after our last lap.

I stuck out my tongue to lap them up. My thirst had been quenched.
Blizzard while backcountry skiing in Crested Butte.


Get your powder gear here:

Brittany Walker Konsella

Brittany Walker Konsella

Aside from skiing, biking, and all outdoorsy things, Brittany Walker Konsella also loves smiles and chocolate :) Even though she excels at higher level math and chemistry, she still confuses left from right. Find out more about Brittany!

2 thoughts on “TR: Quenching the Thirst – Finding Powder in Crested Butte

  • Brittany Walker Konsella

    It was a great day Colin, for sure 🙂

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