The drive from Aspen to Crested Butte in heavy snowfall is long and difficult. The route planner had indicated a good three hours in normal weather, but with 30 centimetres of fresh snow on completely uncleared mountain roads, it takes seven hours. Without four-wheel drive, this would probably have been a mission impossible. So it was once again midnight before we drove our jeep into the hotel garage.
But then the sun's rays woke us up early. Of course, I immediately jumped up, ran to the window and peeked out to see what the weather would say. Blue skies, not a cloud in sight and the piste seemingly right on our doorstep. In no time at all, we jumped into our clothes, wolfed down our breakfast and walked towards "Meeting Point", where we met Todt. Todt has lived in Crested Butte since he was a child and really knows every run in the ski area.
The ski area of Crested Butte is considered one of the best "extreme skiing areas" in the USA. Headwall and Big Chute are the central runs on the front side. From the summit of the High Lift, you can take a short hike into Tecalli Bowl on the backside. This is a real freeride paradise. Free slopes in the upper area and tree runs in the lower area offer everything a freerider's heart desires.
Another interesting sub-area can be accessed from the top station of the Northface lift. Here, it takes around 10 minutes to reach the slopes of Spellbound, Phenix and North Face Bowl, where the US Extreme Ski Championships are held. The skiing highlight among the many variants are the slopes directly below the omnipresent, striking summit. The High Traverse leads to the "Banana", the largest couloir. Peel, Orange Peel and Funnel follow Banana further out. All of them are steep runs with several hundred meters of elevation gain. No wonder that we meet Wendy Fisher here on our second lunch in Crested Butte. The former freeride world champion has settled in Crested Butte with her family.
Crested Butte Mountain Village is a pure ski resort. Located three miles above the historic town center, you can get into your bindings and start skiing right from the doorstep of the Mountain Village. In the main town of Crested Butte itself, you could make a western without much change. Fortunately, the facades of the shops, bars and saloons have hardly been changed, which makes for a great atmosphere. The Secret Stash serves probably the wackiest pizza variations of the Wild West. Salami and figs or corn, tuna and black beans are just two interesting recipes.
We would have loved to stay longer in Crested Butte. The unique flair of this old mining town in the wide valley and the open, friendly nature of its inhabitants exerted an almost magical attraction on us. However, as we wanted to make the most of both days of skiing right up to the very last minute, we didn't even have time to take part in one of the quick courses in piste bashing on offer here in Crested Butte.