SUMMER 2010

CRESTEDBUTTEMAGAZINE.COM j COMPLIMENTARY

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CrestedButteMagazine.com 3

If you’ve spent much time here, you know that Crested Butte is a unique and wonderful place.

The brokers at Red Lady Realty have deep roots in the community, and the experience to assist

you in fi nding the perfect home or property. They’re also eager to share their knowledge

of the area, to help you learn the ins and outs of life in the Butte.

RedLadyRealty.com

in the Buttein the Buttein the Buttein the Butte

Doug KroftBROKER GRI/OWNER

209-0373

Jackie InghamBROKER ASSOCIATE

349-5007

Glena GallowayBROKER ASSOCIATE

596-0139

Steve MeredithBROKER ASSOCIATE

349-5007

Shelley Garcia-WhiteBROKER ASSOCIATE

209-9900

Shelley Garcia-White Maggie DethloffBROKER ASSOCIATE

209-7880

Sam LumbBROKER ASSOCIATE

275-2448

Joe GarciaBROKER ASSOCIATE GRI

209-4034

Molly EldridgeBROKER ASSOCIATE RSPS

209-4234

Linda PittBROKER ASSOCIATE

901-1047

Chris GibsonBROKER ASSOCIATE

596-6633

Diane AronovicBROKER ASSOCIATE

209-0405

Mollye BellBROKER ASSOCIATE

901-4251

Kathy HoogeOFFICE MANAGER

349-5007

Crested Butte’s Oldest Real Estate Company

RLRCBmagFullPgAd_S10.indd 1 4/13/10 8:14:32 AM

CrestedButteMagazine.com4

inparadise

K B U T

CRESTED BUTTE

CRESTED ADVENTURE PARK

Get everything from single activity tickets to a variety of packages at the Adventure Center in the courtyard at Mountaineer Square.(970)349-2262 Private parties available, call for details.

Open daily 9:30 – 5:30 weather permitting.ridecb.com

Phot

os: T

om S

tillo

Private parties available, call for details.

Open daily 9:30 – 5:30 weather permitting.Open daily 9:30 – 5:30 weather permitting. Inspire your passion.TM

REACH NEW HEIGHTS AT THE

ADVENTURE PARKLocated at the ski

base area, it features bungee trampolines, rock

climbing tower and a new mini golf course.

cbmrCBmagFullPgAds_S10.indd 2 4/13/10 11:01:37 AM

CrestedButteMagazine.com 5

inparadise

K B U T

CRESTED BUTTE

CRESTED ADVENTURE PARK

Get everything from single activity tickets to a variety of packages at the Adventure Center in the courtyard at Mountaineer Square.(970)349-2262 Private parties available, call for details.

Open daily 9:30 – 5:30 weather permitting.ridecb.com

Phot

os: T

om S

tillo

Private parties available, call for details.

Open daily 9:30 – 5:30 weather permitting.Open daily 9:30 – 5:30 weather permitting. Inspire your passion.TM

REACH NEW HEIGHTS AT THE

ADVENTURE PARKLocated at the ski

base area, it features bungee trampolines, rock

climbing tower and a new mini golf course.

cbmrCBmagFullPgAds_S10.indd 2 4/13/10 11:01:37 AM

CrestedButteMagazine.com4 CrestedButteMagazine.com

Forum8LEGEND OF THE BLUE STONES by Shelley Read

11THE ADVENTURE OF HOME by Molly Murfee

13THINKING LOCAL by Sandy Fails

Long story short16 HEEDING THE CALL OF HAITI by Shelley Read

18 MIKE EHREDT’S RUN OF COMPASSION by Dawne Belloise

20 THERAPY IN THE SADDLE by Erin English

23 LETTERBOXERS HIDE AND SEEK IN PARADISE by Dawne Belloise

25 WORDS: WRITERS, READERS AND RIDERS CONNECT

27 SCARE THAT BEAR by Sandy Fails

29 SAD ASPENS by George Sibley

30 NEWS FOR THE CULINARY AND PERFORMING ARTS

32 MOUNTAIN BIKE HERITAGE: “GROWN-UPS ACTING LIKE KIDS”

34 STELLAR GLIMPSES AT GUNNISON’S OBSERVATORY

35 ENDORPHIN-FEST AT HARTMANS by Luke Mehall

38 RICKY SANDOVAL, RENAISSANCE TEEN by Laura Puckett

42 RAYNOR CZERWINSKI, PHOTO CONTEST WINNER

photos this spread > 1,2, 3 > alex fenlon 4 > nathan bilow 5 > brooke warren 6 > xavier fane

3

2

1

CrestedButteMagazine.com 5CrestedButteMagazine.com

Features43THE OTHER COVERSWe just had to use these Cover Photo Contest finalists somewhere.

49“HOW COULD YOU TURN THEM AWAY?” by Rachael Gardner | New York immigrants Tim and Terry Bonney didn’t

plan to share their home with horses, mules, llamas, sheep, dogs, cats and

birds, but now they wouldn’t have it any other way.

52CASTING THEIR FATE by Erin English | To the valley’s fanatics,

fly-fishing is science, art, even religion.

60RARE BIRDS by Dawne Belloise | Hang-gliders and paragliders soar

with their winged brethren in the ever-changing skies around Crested Butte.

67TALES OF A FORMER CAMP DOGGER by Brooke Murphy

| Campfire spoon music, homemade whiskey, buffalo meatloaf and calico

bloomers turn a curiosity-seeker into a Rendezvous regular.

71ONE STEP AT A TIME by Laura Puckett | Reshaping our culture

may be a long haul; but dynamo Nordic ski coach and ultra-marathon

runner Duncan Callahan specializes in long hauls.

76MOUNTAIN MATRIMONIALS by Rachael Gardner |

Emily Post needs a new category to encompass Crested Butte’s

not-quite-by-the-book weddings.

81A TRIBE AND ITS TOTEM by Sandra Cortner | How a motley,

fun-loving crew created Crested Butte’s first interactive public arts

installment 37 years ago.

87BLUEGRASS IN PARADISE by Shelley Read | The Crested Butte

Music Festival gets grassy.

91A HOUSE OF MANY STORIES by Sandra Cortner | With its

energy innovations, reclaimed materials and design inspired by a miner’s

tale, the Tipple House goes for character and ingenuity over ostentation.

98 CALENDAR/PHOTO ALBUM

103 LODGING GUIDE

107 DINING GUIDE

112 PHOTO FINISH

5

4

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CrestedButteMagazine.com6 CrestedButteMagazine.com

Vol. XXXII, No. 1Published semi-annually by Crested Butte Publishing

PUBLISHERS | Steve Mabry & Christopher Hanna

EDITOR | Sandy Fails

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR | MJ Vosburg

GRAPHIC DESIGNKeitha Kostyk

PHOTOGRAPHERSDawne BelloiseNathan BilowSandra CortnerRaynor CzerwinskiDusty DemersonXavier FanéAlex FenlonPaul GallaherKevin KrillLuke Mehall

Brooke MurphyRob O’DeaKosmon ParranJames Ray SpahnTom StilloMike TittelBrooke WarrenRebecca Susan Weil

WRITERSDawne BelloiseSandra CortnerErin EnglishSandy FailsRachael Gardner

Luke MehallMolly MurfeeBrooke MurphyLaura PuckettShelley ReadGeorge Sibley

CrestedButteMagazine.com 7CrestedButteMagazine.com

VISIT OUR WEBSITE. Whether you live here, visit here or wish you were here, you

might enjoy wandering around www.crestedbuttemagazine.com. There you’ll

find the current magazine, archived issues, photo galleries, dining and lodging

information, staff bios and the editor’s blog. In the blog, I comment on life in

Crested Butte, including updates to some of the stories you’ll see in these pages.

I’d love to read your comments as well.

SEE THE PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS. The vivid landscape by Raynor

Czerwinski on the front of this issue was chosen from the Crested Butte Magazine

Cover Photo Contest held this spring. You can view some of the finalists in the

“Other Covers” photo spread. Our thanks to all who submitted their shots for the

contest. What amazing photographers we have in this valley!

May you enjoy these pages and the wonders of Crested Butte.

— Sandy Fails, editor

COVER PHOTO | Raynor Czerwinski

ONLINE | crestedbuttemagazine.com

E-MAIL | editor@crestedbuttemagazine.com

SUBSCRIPTIONSCrested Butte PublishingP.O. Box 1030, Crested Butte, CO 81224970-349-7511 • $8/year for two issues

ADVERTISING970-349-6211E-mail: advertising@crestedbuttemagazine.com

Copyright 2010, Crested Butte Publishing. No reproduction of contents without authorization by Crested Butte Publishing.

Editor’s noteKeeping in virtual touchI typically indulge in a little philosophy and awe in the editor’s note, but you’ll find

plenty of that in this issue’s new “Forum” section. Instead, I’ll raise a quick toast

to the fascinating people and stories this town holds and then pass on some

practical information.

photo > xavier fane

CrestedButteMagazine.com8

MysonOwenfirstheardaboutthe

legendofthebluestonesfromhisfriend

Kaiawhentheywerebothfiveyearsold.

ShehadhearditfromherfriendNori,

whohadhearditfromDylan,whohad

hearditfromEli,whohadactuallyfound

oneoftheelusiveturquoise-painted

stonesandshoweditoffatplaygroup.

Somekidsbelievedthebluestones

hiddenallaroundtheupperendofthe

valleybroughtgoodluck;othersbelieved

themtobeendowedwithmagicalpowers

somightyastobetheenvyofDumbledore

himself.Theyheardfromtheirfriendsthat

thestonesweredispersedbyfairiesor

leprechaunsorglitter-wingedangels.Some

saidthestonescamealiveatnightandslyly

hidthemselves.Somebelievedtheywere

fallenstars.Onepartofthelegendtheyall

agreedupon:thebluestonesweremeantfor

thechildrenalone;adultswerenottotouch

them,iftheywereabletoseethematall.

Owenbeganhisquestforabluestone

withaGalahadiantenacity.Hepeered

underElkAvenuebenches,crawledonhis

handsandkneesaroundthebaseofthe

bigpinebythepostoffice,pawedthrough

thepansiesinthedowntownplanterboxes.

OneafternoonasheandKaialeapedfrom

theswingsintheCrestedButteSouthpark

andracedtothetopoftheslide,Iheardit:

theunabashedthrilloffive-year-oldvictory.

“Treasure!”heshouted,holdinghisfist

triumphantlyabovehislittleblondehead,

tinypatchesofturquoiseglowingbetween

hisgrubbyfingers.Kaiasquealedwith

delightathissideasifhehadjustwon

Olympicgold.Owenshotdowntheslide

andintomyarms.Whenheunfurledhis

hand,thepaintedstoneread“Believe,”

writteninperfectlypenciledscript.He

beamedatmeasIreadthewordforhim,

absorbingthesentimentstraightintohis

preciousspongeofaheart.Treasure,indeed.

Ifyouwanttoknowwhatisspecialabout

aplace,askthechildren.Theyknowa

lotthatadultsdonot,proneasweareto

obliviousness.Aswerushdirectlyfrompoint

AtopointB,ourmindsatangleofpastand

plansandproblems,anykidwilltellyou,

we’rebypassingallthegoodstuff.Ihad

livedtwodecadesinCrestedButtewithout

noticingthebluestonesorbeingprivyto

theimaginativegeniusoftheirlegend.

Oncemysonandhisfriendstaughtme

abouttherocks,Ibegantomoreslowlyand

patientlywalkthroughtownwiththemso

thattheymightsearchnooksandcrannies.

Evenwhennottrailingatroopofkids,I

sometimesfindmyselfstrollingatthatcalm

paceandkeepinganeyeoutforflashesof

turquoise.Thebluestonessilentlylurking

allaboutandtheideathatamysterious

citizenpaintsandhidesthemtoaddatouch

ofmagictoourchildren’slivesremindsme

thatsmallactsofkindnessreallydomatter,

thatitisoftenthemostsimpleandheart-felt

gesturesthatbeautifytheworld.Anditalso

makesmelovethistownjustalittlebitmore.

Mysonissevenyearsoldnow,andhehas

acollectionoftenbluestonesdisplayed

artfullyinaplaceofhonoronhisbedroom

shelves.Someofhisfriendsbelievethe

legendrequiresthemtore-hideablue

stoneafteritisfound,butOwenbringseach

onehometobeadmiredandexhibited.

Hecanreadtheirwordsofwisdomnow—

“cherish”and“celebrate”and“represent”—

andcanrecalltheexactlocationofeach

gloriousdiscovery.Henolongerimagines

thestoneswereplacedtherebyleprechauns

orfairiesbutbelievessomethingfarmore

magicalabouttheirorigin.Whenasked

whyhisbluerocksaresospecialtohim,he

cupsoneinhispalmlikeagoldeneggand

replies,“Becauseofthekindnessoftheguy

orladywhopaintstherocksandhidesthem.

Thatpersonmakesalotofchildrenhappy.”

So,althoughIamagrown-upandI

fullygetthatit’snotreallyaboutme,I’d

neverthelessliketoaddatheoryofmyown

totheever-evolvinglegendoftheblue

stones.Ibelievetheyareindeedplaced

herebyanangel—morefleece-cladthan

glitter-wingedismyguess—senttomake

agreatplacetobeakidevenbetterand

toinspiretherestofustodothesame.I

don’twanttoknowwhoheorsheis,and

neitherdothechildren,soIhopenoone

willtell.ButIdowanttothankthatangelfor

thissmallactofkindness.Whatagiftitisto

knowthatinourtown,treasureabounds.

pho

to >

pau

l gal

lahe

r

Forum

CrestedButteMagazine.com 3

Grand TasTinGSaturday, July 24

2:00 - 5:00—at—

Adventure Park at Crested Butte Mountain Resort—for—

$70 advance / $80 day of event —as well as —

chef & restaurant events—for tickets, full schedule and lodging specials, call —

303.809.0404—or click —

crestedbuttewine•com —or visit crested butte land trust office at —

308 3rd sT crested butte

Proceeds from the Festival benefit the Crested Butte Land Trust, an organization whose mission is to protect unrivaled views, provide trails, and preserve wildlife habitat.

CrestedButteMagazine.com 11

Iwantedtoexperiencestandingon

somethingsohigh,Ilookeddownonthe

clouds.Iwasalreadyaclimber,soadd-

inghigh-altitudemountaineeringtomy

recreationalresuméwasonlyonestep

further.Aftertraining,thentravelingtoa

landbisectedbytheequator,Ifulfilledmy

wish.NotonlydidIplacefootstepsabove

theclouds;Iwatchedtheapexofthat

mammothmountain,Chimborazo,stretch

itspyramidalshadowthroughthelightof

sunrisetotheedgeofthehorizon.From

there,nothingbutspace.Fromover20,000

feetIcouldseethecurvatureoftheearth.

Ecuador.CostaRica.Nepal.Panama.

Alaska.Thailand.Ilivedandworkedinthe

borderlandsofMexico,theblueholesofthe

Bahamas,theGaspePeninsulaofCanada.

IntheEvergladesofFlorida,throughthe

slotcanyonsofUtah,overtheknobby

graniteofJoshuaTree.TheSmokiesand

Adirondacks,SanJuansandCollegiates.

Itwasoneclimacticexperienceafterthe

other.FornineyearsIlivedthelifeofthe

westerngypsy-theoutdoorvagabond.

ButIbegantowantabed,aplaceto

hangmyclothessotheyweren’trumpledin

abackpack—methegophereternallysift-

ingthroughmylifecrammedinthecamper

shellofmytruck,asprayoflongunder-

wear,trailmapsandcrustycookwareflying

outfrombehindme.Beingateacherand

burgeoningwriter,Icravedadeskwheremy

papersdidn’tflyoffinflockswiththewind.

ImovedtoCrestedButteinthesnowy

solitudeofaNovember,toalittleatticon

Whiterock.Ipulleddishesoutofstorage

boxesI’dforgottenIhadandsetuphouse.

Theinertiaoftravelingforsolongwas

strong.There,everythingwasawide-eyed

experience;goingtothemarketwasan

expeditioninitself.Here,Ijustwenttothe

store,pulledoutmyordinarygreenmoney,

paidandleft.Therewasnomarvelingwith

theclerkaboutourstrangenesstoeachoth-

er,nolaughingovermispronouncedwords.

Ihadtheconstantfeelingofmissingouton

something,thattheworldwaspassingmeby

andIwasn’tgrabbingeverylastpieceofit.

“WhathaveIdone?”Iworried.

ThefirstspringIdidn’tjointhemigration

ofanimalsparadingtosomewhereelse,I

walkedoutPeanutLakeRoad

intheslickgrayness.Itwascold

andsoggy,theweathergiving

ahalf-heartedattempttorain

andsnowatthesametime.

Thewinter’sbountystilllayin

heapsonthenorthsideofhills

andboulders.Therestofthe

earthwasaswirlingsoupof

mudanddecayingplantmatter

fromthevegetativeoppres-

sionofninemonthsofsnow.

Idesperatelycraved

warmth,blueskies,sunshine

onmyskin,flipflops.Instead,

itdumpedwet,heavysnowon

meuntilIthoughtIwasgoing

tocrawloutofmyowncasing.

SoIsetupthepracticeof

tryingtonoticeeverylittlede-

tailofspring–eachnewpiece

ofmelted-outground,abud

onawillowbranch,anewcrack

intheicegivingwaytoliquid–

thatdemonstratedtomethat

summerwould,eventually,arrive.Istarted

aphenologycalendar–recordingthefirst

bloomingflower,thefirstbirdsongofspring,

thefirsttimeitrainedinsteadofsnowed.

“April4,”Iwrote.“Sandhillcranesflew

overgoingnorthafewdaysago–three

flocksof50orsocalling.TheresaandIsaw

fivegreatblueheronsinholesontheice

aswewereskiingoutPoochesParadise.

Aspideriscrawlingonthescreenofmy

office.Snowstillhalfwayupthewindows.

It’sdoingthatbluebird-snow-springthing.

CoyotesyelpingupnearTrappers.”

“April22:Geeseandducksarefilling

PeanutLake.TheSlateismeltedout.The

willowsofthewetlandsarestartingtopeek

through.Beginningbudsonaspentrees.”

Itooksolaceintreasurehuntingforcolor

andfindingthefirstpasqueflowersupCe-

mentCreek.Glacierlilies,springbeauties

andbluebellsontheWoodsWalkinlate

April.ByMay,marshmarigoldsandbut-

tercups.Thedive-bombingwhirrofthe

firsthummingbirdasJuneapproached.

Theexerciseofnoticingandrecording

pho

to >

xav

ier

fane

Forum

Grand TasTinGSaturday, July 24

2:00 - 5:00—at—

Adventure Park at Crested Butte Mountain Resort—for—

$70 advance / $80 day of event —as well as —

chef & restaurant events—for tickets, full schedule and lodging specials, call —

303.809.0404—or click —

crestedbuttewine•com —or visit crested butte land trust office at —

308 3rd sT crested butte

Proceeds from the Festival benefit the Crested Butte Land Trust, an organization whose mission is to protect unrivaled views, provide trails, and preserve wildlife habitat.

CrestedButteMagazine.com12

clothing

jewelry

lingerie

gifts

star studded styler ight here in the but te

310 el k avenue crested butte 970 349 2107www.milkywayboutique.com

helpedtostaveofftheinsanityofoffseason.

Itwasalsoanexerciseoffaith,andhope.It

becameaninvestment.Ihadareasontodon

myknee-highrubberbootsandventureout

intothemuckinsteadofpacingaroundinside.

Perhapssomethinghadhappenedsince

yesterday–abladeofgrasspushingthrougha

mattedhummockorthemuskygreentasteof

theairthatcomesfromwarmedcottonwood

bark.Itwas,therefore,inthegrimslateofApril

andMay,wheneveryoneelseseemedtobe

frolickingonsouthernbeaches,thatIlearned

themostaboutlivinginmynewhome.

Inaplace,thisslowwalkofintimacygoes

beyondaconsciousnessofmountainsand

theirbeauty.Theprocessperhapsbeginsby

learningthenamesofthings–peaks,rivers,

valleys–fromscouringovermapsandque-

ryingfriends.Thenrealfootstepsclimbing

intospecificcirques,trundlingoverpasses,

splashingthroughthesmallcreekdrainages

thatcarvethewrinklesintheearth’sflesh.No

longeristhemountainaninterestingsilhouette

onthehorizon.Itsphysicalsubtletiesbecome

thehomeofmemoryandexperience.Tocall

ontheseplacesbyname,withtheircreatures

andplants,isapracticeofenduringfriendship.

Lifethenbecomesanintertwiningofplaces

andexperiences,findingandcreatingthe

connectivetissuethatbindsmehereandto

theotherhumanswalkingthesesamepaths.

NowIseethesnowypeakwheremyfriend’s

ashesarescattered,piecesofbonesand

tearsflowinginrivuletsinthespringmelt-off.

Thatglorious,lazyconversationaboutmen

andmothersonthetopof401,aswelayfor

hoursinthewaist-highwildflowers.Savor-

inglocalelk,harvestedfromthewoodsof

KeblerPass,cookedoutsideoverafireat

Irwin.Thesecretnookintheaspenscreated

especiallyforrollingaroundinashowerand

matofgoldencoins,beneathadaysoblueit

poureditselfoverourbodieslikeeffervescent

water.Theleavesthatnowresideinaglass

jaronthekitchentable,aremembranceof

passion,forgivenessandthefierceoptimism

inthelegendthatcatchingthesegilded

medallionsmid-airmadeforgoodfortune.

Theknowingisaslowletting,likethe

trickleofspring,piecebypiece—attimes

sotinyastobeimperceptible—untilall

atonceyoustandinsideofbrilliance.

CrestedButteMagazine.com 13

offering exclusive residential slopeside real estate in mt. crested butte

call 1.970.349.1349 for real estate opportunities

As developers of Wildhorse At prospect, our intention from the very inception of this project

was to create a place for memories.

Your investment of bringing family together has long term value. You are providing a special place where generations will share the great outdoors, the splendor of the mountains

and memories for many years to come.

Welcome home.

Ilikethe“ThinkLocalFirst”campaignby

theCrestedButte-Mt.CrestedButteCham-

berofCommerce.It’snot“Thoushaltnever

setfootinaWal-Mart”butsimply“Consider

localoptionsfirst.”

IntheeraoftheInternet,it’seasytoprice-

shoponline.ButtheChamberremindsusto

ponderafewfacts.

First,there’slocalservice.Youmightsave

afewbucksbuyingabicyclingcomputer

online.Butwho’sgoingtoinstallit,offer

instructionortroubleshoot?Whoonlineis

goingtotellyouwhichroadsaredryenough

topedalorinviteyoutoridesomeFriday

afternoon?

Thenthere’slocaleconomy:Ofevery$100

spentinalocallyownedstore,$68remains

inthecommunitythroughtaxes,payroll

andotherexpenditures.Onaverage,locally

ownedbusinessesgivethreetimesgreater

supporttoareanonprofitsthanchainstores.

Buyinglocallysupportsyourneighbors,

whosupportotherbusinesses.Themoney

getspassedamongus,notshippedoutof

town,andallowsgoodpeopletocontinue

livinghere.

Whenyoupatronizeuniquelocalbusiness-

es,youhelpkeepourtownfulloffascination

andcharacter.Thenfolkscancontinueto

chatwiththeHartiganbrothersoverlunch,

orgetNanLumbtohelpthemchoosejust

therightHolly’sHat,ordiscussapainting

withtheartistwhocreatedit.Target,Sports

AuthorityandMcDonaldshavetheirplacein

theworld,butit’snotonElkAvenue.

Localbusinessesaretunedintolocal

needs...likethenurserythatsellsplantsand

offersfreeadvicetailoredtoourenviron-

ment.

AtabrainstormingsessionforThinkLocal

First,otherideasemerged:encouraging

governmentstohirelocallyforconstruc-

tionprojects(andeducatingcontractors

inhowtogetthosejobs);interconnecting

ourresources,suchashelpingrestaurants

findnearbysourcesforproduce,meatand

eggs;and“keepingCrestedButtefunky”by

strengtheningourattributesratherthandrift-

ingtowardgenericblandness.

ImightoccasionallywanderintoWal-Mart

orbuyonline.ButIappreciatethechamber’s

remindertoconsiderlocaloptionsfirst.Asa

committeemembercommented,“It’sfalse

economytolookonlyatthepricetag.”

Forum

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31 Gold Link – Mt. Crested ButtePrime “top corner” location in Gold Link subdivision. This setting offers the best views and direct ski-in/ski-out access to the Homeowner’s trail and the Gold Link lift. $2,395,000.

Call Joel or Charlie of the Mountain Office Team at 970.349.6692.

758 Journey’s End – Crested ButteThis is a dream location on a 35 acre tract within a short walking distance to town. Very private and amazing views of Emmons, Mt. Crested Butte, Paradise Divide and the town of Crested Butte. $3,795,000.

Call Joel or Charlie of the Mountain Office Team at 970.349.6692.

25 Walking Deer – Mt. Crested ButteThis is the ultimate ski home in Mt. Crested Butte. Very easy ski-in/ski-out location adjoining Prospect lift. Amazing views of the East River Valley. Top-of-the-line finishes throughout this home. $4,950,000.

Call Joel or Charlie of the Mountain Office Team at 970.349.6692.

188 Bethel Road – Smith Hill RanchesEnjoy 35 acres of privacy within 10 minutes of the ski area and the town of Crested Butte. Both house/guest house are constructed with 100 year old custom logs featured on the exterior and interior. $4,750,000.

Call Joel or Charlie of the Mountain Office Team at 970.349.6692.

Site S141 SkylandGreat elevated golf course lot in the Back Nine towards the end of Country Club Drive. Fantastic views of town, Whetstone, and Mt. Crested Butte. $260,000.

Call Meg at 970.209.1210.

3 Black Diamond – Mt. Crested ButteThis extraordinary new home is a mountain master-piece, located slope-side in the exclusive Summit neighborhood of Mt. Crested Butte. This opulent ski-in/ski-out residence offers priceless views from every window and sun-drenched balconies. $3,500,000. Call Karen at 970.209.2668 or Darci at 970.596.4958.

Home Sites at LarkspurCrested Butte’s newest subdivision located less than two miles from downtown. Surrounded by majestic views of Whetstone, Mt. Crested Butte and Paradise Divide. Priced from $41,940.

Call Meg at 970.209.1210.

27 Treasury – Mt. Crested ButteBeautiful mountain home located near the base area, and within walking distance of the ski lifts. Quality home with brand new kitchen, convenient location, tremendous views and a great value. $775,000.

Call Bill at 970.209.5799. CB-RealEstate.com

63 Birdie Way – SkylandThis home is in excellent condition. It has been well maintained by the original owners, decorated per-fectly and comes furnished excluding some personal items. Quiet area with fantastic views of Whetstone Mountain. $649,000.

Call Dalynn at 970.596.3397.

830 Sopris – Crested ButteCharming home in historic Crested Butte enjoys a prime, spacious corner location at 830 Sopris Avenue on the sunny side of town. It is near the school, the town park and Elk Avenue shops and restaurants. $1,395,000.

Call Karen at 970.209.2668.

2 Silver Lane – Mt. Crested ButteGreat corner location in Gold Link Subdivision. This 5 BD home is just a short walk to skiing. Two living areas, two wet bars for entertaining, fireplace, 2-car garage and views! $1,395,000.Call Joel or Charlie of the Mtn Office at 970.349.6692.

Inspired Mountain Living

Inspired Mountain LivingInspired Mountain Living

You want to feel at home in Crested Butte before

you buy. You want regular communication and

unparalleled service by sales professionals who

live and work in the area that inspires you.

That’s where Prudential Becky Hamlin

Realty, Inc. comes in. Our sales professionals

have the knowledge and skills to make your

experience of home ownership a delight while

treating you to a Crested Butte only locals know.

Downtown Crested Butte 970.349.6691

Slopeside in Mt. Crested Butte 970.349.6692

CBProperty.com

Downtown Crested Butte 970.349.6691 – Slopeside in Mt. Crested Butte 970.349.6692 – CBProperty.com Downtown Crested Butte 970.349.6691 – Slopeside in Mt. Crested Butte 970.349.6692 – CBProperty.com

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31 Gold Link – Mt. Crested ButtePrime “top corner” location in Gold Link subdivision. This setting offers the best views and direct ski-in/ski-out access to the Homeowner’s trail and the Gold Link lift. $2,395,000.

Call Joel or Charlie of the Mountain Office Team at 970.349.6692.

758 Journey’s End – Crested ButteThis is a dream location on a 35 acre tract within a short walking distance to town. Very private and amazing views of Emmons, Mt. Crested Butte, Paradise Divide and the town of Crested Butte. $3,795,000.

Call Joel or Charlie of the Mountain Office Team at 970.349.6692.

25 Walking Deer – Mt. Crested ButteThis is the ultimate ski home in Mt. Crested Butte. Very easy ski-in/ski-out location adjoining Prospect lift. Amazing views of the East River Valley. Top-of-the-line finishes throughout this home. $4,950,000.

Call Joel or Charlie of the Mountain Office Team at 970.349.6692.

188 Bethel Road – Smith Hill RanchesEnjoy 35 acres of privacy within 10 minutes of the ski area and the town of Crested Butte. Both house/guest house are constructed with 100 year old custom logs featured on the exterior and interior. $4,750,000.

Call Joel or Charlie of the Mountain Office Team at 970.349.6692.

Site S141 SkylandGreat elevated golf course lot in the Back Nine towards the end of Country Club Drive. Fantastic views of town, Whetstone, and Mt. Crested Butte. $260,000.

Call Meg at 970.209.1210.

3 Black Diamond – Mt. Crested ButteThis extraordinary new home is a mountain master-piece, located slope-side in the exclusive Summit neighborhood of Mt. Crested Butte. This opulent ski-in/ski-out residence offers priceless views from every window and sun-drenched balconies. $3,500,000. Call Karen at 970.209.2668 or Darci at 970.596.4958.

Home Sites at LarkspurCrested Butte’s newest subdivision located less than two miles from downtown. Surrounded by majestic views of Whetstone, Mt. Crested Butte and Paradise Divide. Priced from $41,940.

Call Meg at 970.209.1210.

27 Treasury – Mt. Crested ButteBeautiful mountain home located near the base area, and within walking distance of the ski lifts. Quality home with brand new kitchen, convenient location, tremendous views and a great value. $775,000.

Call Bill at 970.209.5799. CB-RealEstate.com

63 Birdie Way – SkylandThis home is in excellent condition. It has been well maintained by the original owners, decorated per-fectly and comes furnished excluding some personal items. Quiet area with fantastic views of Whetstone Mountain. $649,000.

Call Dalynn at 970.596.3397.

830 Sopris – Crested ButteCharming home in historic Crested Butte enjoys a prime, spacious corner location at 830 Sopris Avenue on the sunny side of town. It is near the school, the town park and Elk Avenue shops and restaurants. $1,395,000.

Call Karen at 970.209.2668.

2 Silver Lane – Mt. Crested ButteGreat corner location in Gold Link Subdivision. This 5 BD home is just a short walk to skiing. Two living areas, two wet bars for entertaining, fireplace, 2-car garage and views! $1,395,000.Call Joel or Charlie of the Mtn Office at 970.349.6692.

Inspired Mountain Living

Inspired Mountain LivingInspired Mountain Living

You want to feel at home in Crested Butte before

you buy. You want regular communication and

unparalleled service by sales professionals who

live and work in the area that inspires you.

That’s where Prudential Becky Hamlin

Realty, Inc. comes in. Our sales professionals

have the knowledge and skills to make your

experience of home ownership a delight while

treating you to a Crested Butte only locals know.

Downtown Crested Butte 970.349.6691

Slopeside in Mt. Crested Butte 970.349.6692

CBProperty.com

Downtown Crested Butte 970.349.6691 – Slopeside in Mt. Crested Butte 970.349.6692 – CBProperty.com Downtown Crested Butte 970.349.6691 – Slopeside in Mt. Crested Butte 970.349.6692 – CBProperty.com

CrestedButteMagazine.com16

Whenthedevastating7.0earthquakestruck

thetinyCaribbeanislandnationofHaiti

onJanuary12,localbusinessownerand

EMTGregWinslowimmediatelycalledhis

brother,Mark,aDenverphysician.“When

arewegoing?”Winslowasked.Thebroth-

ersdiscussedthefinancialandpractical

obstaclesthatmadetravelingtoHaiti

impossible.“Yes,Iknowit’snotpossible,”

repliedWinslow,“butwhendoweleave?”

Aswasfeaturedinthewinter2007-2008

Crested Butte Magazine’s“FromParadise

toHaiti,”Winslowhasdedicatedsignificant

timeandresourcesoverthepastdecade

toprovidingmedicalcaretotheHaitian

villageofPetit-Bourg.TheHaitians’remark-

ablekindness,strengthandgenerosity

haveenrichedhisunderstandingofhis

ownlife’spurpose.Hesays,“Thepeople

therearenowpartofmyfamily,partof

whoIamasaperson.Icouldnotsithere

knowingsomanypeoplewereindistress,

knowingIcouldbedoingsomething.

Really,therewasnochoicebuttogo.”

Within24hoursaftertheearthquake,

Winslow,hispartnerBetsyFolkerthand

brotherMarkhadorganizedsevendoctors,

nursesandEMTsfromDenver’sChildren’s

Hospitalwillingtoaccompanytheminto

thecollapsedcapitalcityofPort-au-Prince.

Thegroupsolicitedandorganizeddonated

medicalsupplies,andWinslowbegan

figuringoutawayintothecountryviahis

Haitianconnections.SisterMaryofthe

still-standingMathew25Housemission-

aryhomeintheheartofthecityoffered

thegroupaplacetosetupamakeshift

hospital.NoneoftheChildren’sHospital

volunteersotherthanMarkhadbeentothe

thirdworldbefore.Winslow,buoyedbytrust

inthecorrectnessoftheirmission,prom-

isedhe’dgetthemthereandbacksafely.

“Wegotinwhenotherscouldn’t,”says

Winslow,“becauseweknewexactlywhat

weneededandwhereweweregoing.”

Sixdayspost-earthquake,theyarrived

afteraharrowingflighttofindSisterMary

downtoonebottleofTylenol,aboxof

band-aidsand5,000peopleinneedof

medicalcarecampingonhersoccerfield.

Another15,000patientsawaitedhelpin

anearbytentvillage.Withinanhourand

ahalf,Winslow’sgroupwasperforming

surgeriesonSisterMary’skitchentable.

Winslowdescribesas“brutal”thetwoma-

joraftershocksandtennearsleeplessdays

andnightsthatfollowed.Hesayswithboth

prideandlament,“Wecamehomeknow-

ingweprovidedlife-savingmeasuresforso

many,yettherewassomuchmoretodo.”

Thus,afterlittlemorethanamonth’s

respite,WinslowandFolkerthreturned

toHaitiinearlyMarchtoprovidemedi-

calcarefortheirbelovedPetit-Bourg,a

poornorthernvillageof85,000thathad

swelledtomorethan120,000asaresult

ofthequake.Theywereagainmetwith

overwhelmingneed.Inresponse,thepair

hasatleastfourmoretripstoHaitiplanned

thisyear.“Wewentfrom‘wecan’tpos-

siblyaffordtogo’togoingsixtimes,”

saysWinslow.“Whatelsecanwedo?”

Asever,Winslowisdeeplymovedbythe

resiliencyandspiritoftheHaitianpeople.

Incontrasttomediareportsofwide-spread

post-quakeviolenceandchaos,hecitesthe

manhewitnessedcradlinghischildwith

abrokenfemuryetinsistingthatamore

criticallyinjuredneighborbeattended

tofirst,orasix-year-oldboywhosipped

onlyafewdropsfromahard-wonbottle

ofwatersohecouldsharetheprecious

liquidwithall30childreninhisorphanage.

WinslowaidsthepeopleofHaitiwith

similarhumility.“I’mjustanaverageperson

workinginextraordinarycircumstances,”

hesays.Heasksonlyonethinginreturn:

thattheworldnotforgetHaitionceitis

outofthemediaspotlight,forrebuild-

ingthenationwilltakeseveralyears

andtheloveanddedicationofmany.

To learn more or make a donation to Winslow’s Haiti Relief Fund, visit www.teammatthew25house.com.

Worthy deeds

Heeding the call of HaitiGREGWINSLOWRESPONDSWHENHISBELOVEDHAITINEEDSHIMTHEMOST. ByShelleyRead

“WECAMEHOME

KNOWINGWEPROVIDED

LIFE-SAVING

MEASURESFOR

SOMANY,YET

THEREWASSO

MUCHMORE

TODO.”

Top>AftermathoftheearthquakeAbove>GregWinslow(thirdfromright)andfellowmedicswhoflewintohelp

http://www.crestedbuttemagazine.com/openx/www/delivery/ck.php?oaparams=2__bannerid=203__zoneid=0__cb=74f62ada26__oadest=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ohbejoyfulgallery.com%2F

CrestedButteMagazine.com18

It’snotaboutwarorpeace,rightorwrong.

It’saboutcompassion.FormerCrestedButte

residentandretiredpostalworkerMikeEh-

redthassetoutacrossthecountryonasolo

jaunttohonorthosewhohavefalleninthe

Iraqwar.AlthoughhelivesinHope,Idaho,

thesedays,ProjectAmericaRunwasbornin

CrestedButte.

“Itwasinthebreakroomatthepost

office.Iwouldsitthere,backin2005,and

readtheobitsintheDenver Post.Iraqwas

atitspeakoffatalities,”Mikeexplained.

Asaveteranhimself,hewassomovedby

theindividualprofilesthathewantedtodo

somethingpersonaltopaytribute.“Inever

servedinaconflict,butit’sallconnected

whetheryou’rebuildingbridgesoronthe

frontlines.There’sthisbondwhenyouserve

inthemilitary.”

Histribute:a4,300-milerunacrossthe

country,plantingaflageverymilebearing

thenameofanAmericansoldierlostinIraq.

HeemphasizedthatProjectAmericaRun

isnotapoliticalstatement.“Ihonorand

remember,that’sit.Idon’twanttotaintthe

purityoftheproject,ofwhatI’mdoing,to

talkaboutpolitics.”

RunninghasbeenpartofMike’slifefor

decades.Helaughsthatitallstarted37years

agoattheimpressionableageof12,taking

onabetfromaschoolmatethathecouldn’t

runfivemiles.Butitreallykickedinasachild

attemptingtogetoutofthehouse.

“Oneofmyearliestmemorieswaswhen

Igotgroundedbymystepdad,whosaidI

couldn’tleavetheyard.Imeasuredtheyard

andfiguredoutitwouldtakeme57lapsto

doamile.”Hechortled.“Itdrovemystep-

dadnutstoseethetopofmyheadpassing

bythewindoweveryminutewhilehewas

tryingtodrinkhisbeer.But,”headded,“I

stayedintheyard!”

Althoughhe

gothookedonrun-

ning,Mikerealizedhe

neededtobranchout.

“Ididn’twanttobeone

dimensional.Iwanted

toexperienceother

things–ski,mountain

bike,paddle,adventure

race.”Buthereturnedto

runningwhenhemoved

toCrestedButte,utiliz-

ingtheextensivetrail

systems.Hewasthen

introducedtohundred-

mileracesanddecidedthelongerthebetter.

Evencoasttocoast.

“Theconceptcametometoplacean

Americanflagattachedtoayellowribbon

withthenameofeachofthefallenservice

memberseverymile–onelife,oneflag,one

mile,”Mikesaid.Hehitontheideawhile

runninginthebittercoldnightinIdaho.

Theflagsarebeinglaiddowninreverse

chronologicalorder;thefirstflagplacedwas

Transcontinental compassion MIKEEHREDTISRUNNINGACROSSAMERICATOHONORTHOSEKILLEDINIRAQ.byDawneBelloise

Worthy deeds

CrestedButteMagazine.com 19

Creative Fashions • Stylish Jewelry • Holly’s HatsBamboo Clothing • Fair Trade Gifts • Handcrafted Cards

Home Decor • Art

418 Elk Ave. • Downtown Crested Butte • 349-1415

Susan Anderton draw

ing

themostrecentfatality.CarryingaGPSMike

isabletomeasureeverymile,photographand

registerthelocationofeachflagonGoogle

EarthfromhisiPhone.Thereareabout4,400

flagsand700yardsofhand-labeledyellowrib-

bonmarkedwitheachname,age,rank,home

andfatalitynumber.Theflagswerebundled,

putintoboxesof300andshippedtohosts

alongtheroute.

Mikehopestocoverapproximately30

milesaday.HestartedhisquestinMayfrom

Astoria,Oregon,atwater’sedge.Aftertouch-

ingthewaterwithhisowndogtags,heset

outrunning,focusingononemileatatime.

He’llfinishsometimeinOctoberatRockland,

Maine,touchinghistagstothewateronce

again.Thejourneywilltakeaboutfiveanda

halfmonths.

“PeopleIdon’tevenknowaretakingme

in,”Mikesaidoftheoverwhelmingsupport

he’sfoundforProjectAmericaRun.“When

welaidouttheroutewestartedcalling

organizations,chambersofcommerceand

lawenforcementagenciesandusingwordof

mouth.”Manyofthosewhorespondedhad

lostlovedonesinIraq.“Theyplannedbigdin-

ners,breakfastsandpotluckswheretheywant

metotalk.”Therun,hesaid,islinkingthose

whoareunitedbytheirlosses.

He’salsospeakingtomorethan30high

schoolcross-countryandtrackteams,deliver-

inganinspiringmessagetoyounghopefuls.

“I’lltellthem:don’tdoubtthatyoucan

accomplishyourgoals–youputitoutandgo

forit.”

Mikelaughedabouthowtheyoungpeople

mightperceivehim.“Whentheyseeanold

guywho’spushingfiftyandababystroller

filledwithflags,theymightjustthinkIhave

somethingIcansharewiththem!”

Asherunsacrossthemilesconnecting

townsandpeople,Mikeholdshisownimage.

“WhatIhadenvisionedinmyhead,fromwest

coasttoeastcoast,wasaholdingofhands

ofservicemembersfromonetotheother

stretchingacrossthecountryinanunbroken

band–anditrepresentedthediversityof

thecountryandofthepeople.Ifitmotivates

peopletomakeachangeintheirlife,todo

somethingmeaningfulforsomeoneelse,then

I’veaccomplishedmymessage.”

Follow Mike on Facebook or via

projectamericarun.com.

CrestedButteMagazine.com20

TowitnessBillMeierridinghorsebackis

puremagic.Hiseyesearnestandbright,

agentlesmilespreadacrosshislips,

hecirclesaroundtheCochetopaRanch

horsearenaatopWayne,a13-year-old

quarterhorse,withanairofcontent-

mentthatcalmseventhosewhowatch.

Attheageof17,Billexperienceda

traumaticbraininjurythatprofoundly

impactedhisshort-termmemory.Inorder

tolaterrecallthathehasgonehorseback

ridingwiththeAdaptiveSportsCenter

(ASC),hemustrefertohis“picturebookof

memories,”aphotoalbumchroniclinghis

manyASCoutdooradventures.Whether

heretainsthememories,hissisterElise

saystheridingprogramoffersherbrother

benefitsdifferentfromhisothersummertime

activities,suchasbiking,fishingorrafting.

“Beingabletocareforsomethingelse

issogoodforhim.Heisaverynurturing

personbynature,”saysElise.“Alotof

peoplewithdisabilitiesdon’tgetthejoy

ofthiskindofexperience.Theyareusu-

allycaredfor,notcaringforsomething.”

Nowinitssecondsummer,theASC’s

ridingprogramhasprovenahitforpar-

ticipantswithandwithoutdisabilities.Run

bylong-timelocalMikeFahrlanderand

ASCinstructorCaraBosco,withassistance

fromvolunteers,theexperienceincludes

anintroductiontobasicriding(arenaor

trailriding,dependingonabilitylevel),

grooming,andeffectivecommunication

withahorse.Half-dayandfull-dayactivi-

tiesareofferedJunethroughAugust.

“Physiologically,horsescanteachstu-

dentsbalance,postureandtrunkstabil-

ity,whileinherentlyrelaxingthemuscles

andincreasingmuscletoneandstrength.

Emotionally,thehorsesteachconfidence,

helpbuildself-esteemandestablishtrust,

withauniquebondbetweenhorseand

humanbuiltonthistrust,”Carasaid.

Inadditiontoridingskills,participants

getanintroductiontoranchlife.Mike’s

CochetopaRanchinGunnisonisserene,

withcottonwoodsrustlingbyasmall

creekthatwindsbehindthehouse,and

dogsnappinginthesun.Othertimes,it

isalively,playfulplacewithchickensand

ducksrunningamokandlaughterringing

fromafavoritelunchspot,thehaybarn.

“Itistimeless.Theequipmentisdifferent,

butthelifestyleismuchthesameasitwas

100yearsago,”Carasaid.“It’saworking

life.Manyofuswhovisitdon’tcomefrom

aworldwherewhatwedothatdaydirectly

impactswhatweeatfordinneratnight.”

LastsummerCaraandMikesawamixof

clients,includingvacationerswhowanted

tomaintaincontinuitywithatherapeutic

ridingprogrambackhome,families,lo-

calchildrenandindividualswithboth

physicalandcognitivedisabilities.The

integratedprogramisverysocial,with

participantsofallagesandbackgrounds

offeringeachotherencouragementand

sharingpleasuressuchashandfeeding

carrotstothehorsesattheendoftheday.

Thissummer,thetwoplantoincludearts

andcrafts,awiderrangeofskill-building

gamesandapresenceatCattleman’sDays.

Despitetheircombinedwealthofknowl-

edgeandexperience,MikeandCaraturn

thecredittotheranch’ssixridinghorsesfor

makingthefledglingprogramasuccess.

“Aslongaswekeepitsafe,thehorses

dotherestoftheworkforus,”Carasaid.For more information visit adaptivesports.org.

Just Renovated! Lovely Historic HomeTown of Crested Butte

$975,000

Luxury Home at Prestigious Treasury Hill Town of Crested Butte

$2,625,000

Exquisite Home in TownTown of Crested Butte

$949,000

Spectacular Mountaintop ResidenceMt. Crested Butte

$1,995,000

Exceptional Historic Home (Residential & Commercial Use)

Town of Crested Butte • $1,095,000

Stunning 360º ViewsStar Mountain Ranch

$399,000

Elegant Main Home & Renovated Smaller HomeTown of Crested Butte

$990,000 (2 homes; no deed restrictions)

Stunning Black Bear Lodge CondoMt. Crested Butte

$625,000

Pitchfork — A Distinctive Mtn. CommunityMt. Crested Butte

$795,000

Jim Barefield (970) 209-5858www.jimbarefield.comjim@jimbarefield.com

View Red Mt. Ranch, Hidden Mine, Danni Ranch & Roaring Judy Ranch acreage at www.jimbarefield.com

Real Estate that Fits Your Lifestyle

301 Third StreetCrested Butte CO 81224

Therapy in the saddle HORSESBECOMEMUCH-LOVEDTEACHERSINTHISADAPTIVESPORTSCENTERPROGRAM.byErinEnglish

Worthy deeds

Just Renovated! Lovely Historic HomeTown of Crested Butte

$975,000

Luxury Home at Prestigious Treasury Hill Town of Crested Butte

$2,625,000

Exquisite Home in TownTown of Crested Butte

$949,000

Spectacular Mountaintop ResidenceMt. Crested Butte

$1,995,000

Exceptional Historic Home (Residential & Commercial Use)

Town of Crested Butte • $1,095,000

Stunning 360º ViewsStar Mountain Ranch

$399,000

Elegant Main Home & Renovated Smaller HomeTown of Crested Butte

$990,000 (2 homes; no deed restrictions)

Stunning Black Bear Lodge CondoMt. Crested Butte

$625,000

Pitchfork — A Distinctive Mtn. CommunityMt. Crested Butte

$795,000

Jim Barefield (970) 209-5858www.jimbarefield.comjim@jimbarefield.com

View Red Mt. Ranch, Hidden Mine, Danni Ranch & Roaring Judy Ranch acreage at www.jimbarefield.com

Real Estate that Fits Your Lifestyle

301 Third StreetCrested Butte CO 81224

Here is a place where you can,

Live... On the green, near blue waters, with breathtaking views in every direction

Learn... From the pros, our friendly staff, your grandchild or next door neighbor

and Celebrate... New friendships, your best golf round, 4th of July fireworks under a starry sky...

Memories that will never be forgotten.

The only Club in Crested Butte to offer a Championship Robert Trent Jones II Golf Course, state-of-the-art fitness center, indoor pool, year round tennis program, Member events, casual indoor and outdoor dining and Nordic skiing, all within an established, peaceful community you will love to call home.

Membership Opportunities AvailableFor information on Membership, please contact Kate Simonson, Membership

Director at 970.349.6127 or via our website at www.theclubatcrestedbutte.com.

CrestedButteMagazine.com 23

Remembertheintrigueofchildhood

treasurehunts–buryingyoursibling’s

favoritetoy,makingamapandchalleng-

ingyourfriendstofindthehiddenbooty?

Nowyoucanrelivethatintriguealmost

anywherearoundtheworld,startingwith

cluespostedonlinethroughletterboxing

networks.Aglobalamusement,letterboxing

isacombinationoftreasurehunting,hide

andseek,crafting,puzzlesolvingandhiking.

Letterboxesareplentifulinourregion,

withaboutadozenboxesplacedthrough-

outGunnisonCountyandmoreinCure-

canti,BlackCanyon,theWestElkLoop

andeasttoMonarchPassandbeyond.

LetterboxinghasitsrootsinDartmoor,

Devon,England,in1854,whenwell-known

guideJamesPerrottputabottleatthere-

moteCranmerePoolforvisitorcards.Hikers

caughtontotheideaandstartedleavinglet-

tersandpostcardsaddressedtothemselves

insideaboxalongthetrail.Whoeverdiscov-

eredtheboxwouldthencollecttheposts

andmailthem.HencetheBritishnameoflet-

terbox,whichweAmericanscallamailbox.

Thesporthasbecomeapopularcurios-

itywithboxesplantedworldwide,

butitreallytookoffinAmericaafter

Smithsonian Magazinepublishedan

articleaboutitin1998.Traditionally

hiddeninthewilds,theletterboxis

locatedbythe“finder”afterdeci-

pheringcluesleftbythe“placer”of

thebox.Insidethewaterproofbox

isalogbook,ahand-carvedrub-

berstampandsometimestrinkets

pertinenttothestoryorplacer.The

finder,whocarrieshisownoriginal

stamp,inkpadandjournal,exchang-

esstampmarkingsinhisjournal

andtheplacer’slogbook,perhaps

leavingalittlenoteaboutthedis-

covery,thenplacestheboxandits

contentsbackintothehidingplace.

HereinColorado,asacross

America,anyonewithasenseof

adventurecaneasilygetstartedwith

afewtools.Asinanygoodmystery,

you’llneedtogetclues,whichrangefrom

complexandcryptictosimpledirections.

Somerequireacompass,mapandnaviga-

tionalskills,andthehikingdistancecanvary.

Someplacersincludecluestootherboxes

withintheirbox,butmostcluesandlocations

ofboxescanbefoundonthewebsitesat

atlasquest.comandletterboxing.org.Both

sitesgiveextensivehistoricalandpractical

information,suchashowtomakeapersonal-

izedrubberstamp,whichjournalstouseand

wheretogetairtightcontainerstoplace.

Amorehigh-techmodeoftreasurehunt-

ingwhichreliesonGPSuseiscalledgeo-

caching.Insteadofusingstamps,findersex-

changeobjectsoncethehiddentreasureis

unearthed,thentheexperienceissharedon-

line.TheGPSseekersaretoutedtobetheir

ownsearchenginesandproclaimthemselves

environmentallyfriendly,asdoletterboxers.

Youcanfindthemonlineatgeocaching.com,

andyes,thereareiPhoneinteractiveapps

todownloadforyourodyssey.NoiPhone?

ThesitewilldirectyoutootherusableGPS

devices.Ifyou’reoutcruisingaroundPeanut

LakejustoutsideCrestedButte,you’llfind

thatthebelovedGronksportsageocache.

Afteryougetthehangofreadingclues

andhaveyourlogbookplasteredwith

stampsfromboxesyou’vediscovered,you

mightfindyourselfwritingyourownclues

asaplacer.Anyonecanhideabox–from

Tupperware-typeplastictoammunitioncon-

tainers.Justmakeastampspecificallyforthe

hiddenbox,drawuptheclues,postthem

onlineandthenwaitforthefinderstostart

recordingtheirdiscoveryofyourtreasure.

MandyBennettofCarbondalehasplaced

123boxesthroughoutColorado.TheWest

ElkLoop,shesaid,wasbyfarthepretti-

estletterboxingtrailshedottedwiththe

hiddentroves.Herplacername(asort

ofalterego)isCameo.“Havingaplacer

nameisalotmorefunandinterestingand

itidentifiesyoumoreasaletterboxer.”

Tomakeyourboxinteresting,Mandysaid,

usehand-carvedstamps,acoollogbook

andcreativeclues,suchasstories.“Thefirst

interestingoneIfoundwasatDocHolliday’s

gravein

Glen-

wood

Springs.

The

stamp

wasan

image

ofDoc

holdinga

gun.The

logbook

had

alittlecastlehangingoffitandlittletrin-

ketsrelatedtohimlikeanaceofheartsfor

hisgambling.”Thecluesintheboxwere

intheformofastoryaboutanoldman

hikingandsearchingforsomething.“You

werecopyingthefootstepsasthoughit

wasarealperson.Thedetailsmadeitre-

allyfun.”Unfortunately,Doc’sboxisgone,

duetoweather,constructionortheft,to

whichmanyoftheletterboxessuccumb.

Here is a place where you can,

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Memories that will never be forgotten.

The only Club in Crested Butte to offer a Championship Robert Trent Jones II Golf Course, state-of-the-art fitness center, indoor pool, year round tennis program, Member events, casual indoor and outdoor dining and Nordic skiing, all within an established, peaceful community you will love to call home.

Membership Opportunities AvailableFor information on Membership, please contact Kate Simonson, Membership

Director at 970.349.6127 or via our website at www.theclubatcrestedbutte.com.

Letterboxing : HIDE&SEEKINPARADISEbyDawnBelloise

Letters & words

CrestedButteMagazine.com24

Thelatestlocallygrownzineisreadytoread

onpaperorcomputerscreen.The Climbing ZinefeatureslocalwritersGeorge

Sibley,GregPettys,Morgan

Fields,LisaGalterio,AlSmith,

TravisKuesterandLukeMehall.

Thezinecoversterrainranging

fromSibley’smountaineeringex-

ploitsintheArmyinthesixtiesto

GregPettys’affinityfortheartand

cultureofrockclimbing.Galterio

writesaboutaclimbingfriendthat

hasrecentlydiedandAlSmiththe

Thirdmakescomparisonsbetween

climbingandsex.Photosfrom

Mehallaccompanythestories.

It’sthesecondlocallyproduced

zine,followingGunnison Valley as Basecamp,whichwasreleasedin

2009.Azine,pronounced“zeen,”

isasmall-circulationpublication,

“withlittleemphasisonprofitand

astrongemphasisonhigh-quality,

thought-provokingcreativewrit-

ing,”saidorganizerMehall.

Copiesareavailabletopurchase

attheFirebrandinGunnisonor

forfreeviae-mail.ContactLuke

atlmehall@yahoo.comorAl

SmiththeThirdataldsmith3@

gmail.comtogetacopyor

contributetofuturezines.

&SHIPP SPEARB U I L D E R S

Joe ShippRalph spear

photo by james ray spahn

970.641.2279

quality experience service

daniel j. murphy architect, pc

Someplacerscreatelimited-edition

boxeswhichareoutforonlyaspecifictime,

whichmakesthosestampssomewhatrare.

Finderswilloftenupdatetheownerasto

theconditionofabox,whetherit’sbeen

ruinedortaken.Somefinderswilleven

replaceadamagedboxorafilledlogbook,

sendingtheoriginalbacktotheplacer.

Withhundredsofboxesscatteredin

Colorado,youcouldmakeasummerquest

ofsearchingoutthestate’streasures.Mandy

describestheexcitementofboththehunt

andthetrekitself:throughwildflowermead-

ows,coniferforests,rockformationsand

alpinevistas.“Someoftheboxeswefind

takeustoplacesweneverknewexisted.

Thefindingisliketheendoftherainbow.”

CrestedButteMagazine.com 25

TheEastRiverValleyteemswithwritersofeverythingfromsciencefictiontohistoryto

children’sstories...younameit,theywriteit.Halfadozengroupscritiqueeachother’swork.

ForthelastfewyearsmanyofthesewritershavetappedintotheCrestedButteWriters

Conference(June18-20thisyear)andReadersintheRockies(June19),whichbringauthors

andpublishingprofessionalstothevalley.Nowthere’sanewresource:theCrestedButte

Writers,anorganizationofwriters,readersandsupportersoftheliteraryarts.

Its30membersshareacommitmentto“aneducational,open,supportiveandcreative

writingcommunity…bondednotbylocation,butbytheloveofmountainsandthewrit-

tenword,”accordingtothewebsite,crestedbuttewriters.org.Bothwritersandreadersare

welcometojoin.

“Manyofourmembersarepublishedauthorslivingoutsidethevalley.Buttheylovethe

CrestedButteWritersConferenceandwanttobeapartofourwritingcommunity,”says

TheresaRizzo,whohelpsorganizetheconferenceandtheCrestedButteWritersalongwith

founderBarbaraCrawford.Inadditiontolocalauthors,theCrestedButteWritersmember-

shipincludessomepastconferencepresentersandwinnersoftheSandyWritingContest,

whichisheldinconjunctionwiththeconference.

A$10membershipfee(untilnextJanuary)getsyoudiscountsontheSandyWriting

ContestandCrestedButteWritersConferencefees,alistingonthemembers’pageofthe

websitewithlinkstoyour(oryourbook’s)website,andadmissiontotheCrestedButteWrit-

ersLoop.Annualrenewalsare$25.

ThroughtheCrestedButteWritersLoop,writersexchangetipsonbooks,blogsandweb-

sites;sendoutlinkstonewsitemsaboutthepublishingworld;

andshareinspirationalquotesorinformationaboutwriting

contests,gatheringsorclasses.Thissharingis,foronemem-

ber,thebestbenefitofCrestedButteWriters.“Sincewritingis

generallyasolitaryaffair,it’snicetohavea‘virtual’waytotrade

ideasandinspireeachother—whilewe’reallsittingaloneat

ourseparatecomputers.”

The word on flying wheels ManypeopleknowtheGunnisonValleyholdssomeoftheworld’sbestmountainbiking

butdon’trealizeoneofthesport’snotablepublicationsisbasedhereaswell.Mountain

Flyer,aquarterlymagazine,coversmountainbikeandotherbicycleracing,ridingand

equipment,particularlyintheRockyMountains.

“Mygutfeelingisthatourreadersarethepeopleyouseeoutthereridingallthetime,

peoplewhoareprettyinvolved,notweekendwarriors,”saideditorBrianRiepe.

Riepe,aprofessionalmountainbikeracerforfiveyears,in2004ponderedcreatinganews-

lettertocovercompetitionsinthisregion.SteveMabryandChrisHannaofCrestedButte

Publishingencouragedhimtouptheanteandpublishamagazine.Witha“snapshooter”

cameraandhismomasthegraphicdesigner,Riepepublishedhisfirstissuein2004.The

publicationfoundsuccessandpolish,becomingquarterlyin2008,whenHannaandMabry

joinedhimaspartners.Theynowdistribute15,000copiesnationally,withaconcentrationin

NewMexico,ArizonaandtheRockies.

“WecoverracingintheRockiesbutalsodolifestyleandgeneralcyclingstories,”Riepe

said.“We’refindingourvoiceinproductreviews,keepingthemin-depthandhonest.”

Thenextstepis“growingthewebsite,mountainflyer.com,”hesaid,sobikerscancatch

thelatestresultsandnewsfrommountainbikeracingandriding.

Realize Your Dreams

Charlie Farnan and Joel Vosburg, the Mountain Office team, have

helped hundreds of families realize their dreams of owning real estate in Crested Butte. Let them put their 50

years of combined experience to work for you.

Charlie & Joel

(970) 349-6692

Photo by Rob Pennie / Picture taken from: The Smith Hill Ranches

P.O. Box 5024The Mall at Crested Mountain Village

Mt. Crested Butte, CO 81225

MountainOffice.cominfo@mountainoffice.com

The Mountain Office

Becky Hamlin Realty, Inc.

A virtual meeting of mindsCRESTEDBUTTEWRITERSLINKSLOVERSOFWORDS.BySandraCortner

CrestedButteMagazine.com2 backattheranchfurniture.com

100 Spencer Avenue, Gunnison, Colorado 970-641-0727

CrestedButteMagazine.com 27backattheranchfurniture.com

100 Spencer Avenue, Gunnison, Colorado 970-641-0727

LastsummerfolksstrollingdownElk

Avenueafterbreakfastwereoccasionally

startledtohaveabearlumberby,nonchalant

asafellowdinerwalkingoffhispancakes.

Late-nightpartierspassedbearsintenton

theiralleygarbagehunts.Onegroggyman,

awakenedbyhisvehiclehornblaringat5

a.m.,stumbledoutsideandyankedopen

thecardoortofaceabearthathadtrapped

itselfinsideanddemolishedthedashboard

tryingtoclawitswayout.Crested Butte MagazinewriterDawneBelloisewascon-

ductingaphoneinterviewatherkitchen

tableoneafternoonwhenabearambledin

andheadedtowardtherefrigeratorlikea

hung-overhousemate.

InCrestedButte,2009wastheYearofthe

Bear.“Onatypicalsummernighttherewere

oneortwobearsaround,butonsomenights

wehadfourtosixbearsrunningaround

town,”saidCrestedButteChiefMarshal

TommyMartin.

Themarshalsgottoknowindividualbears.

Somebearsmoseyedthroughtownbrows-

ingforeasypickings;thetown’snewbear-

resistanttrashcontainersandDumpstersdid

theirjob,andthebruinsheadedbackout

tothewilds.Butforthehabituatedbears,

thetown’sbesteffortsatdeterringthemjust

presentednewandapparentlyinteresting

challenges.Beforelong,thecivilization-sav-

viestbearshadlearnedtoturnthenewtrash

receptaclessidewaysandjumponthelidsto

releasethecontents.

Veterantownbearsalsogrewbolder.

“Threeorfouryearsagoweshotthemwith

rubberballs,”Martinsaid.“Theloudnoise

scaredthem;they’drunallthewayoutof

town.Twoyearslaterthey’drun30feet.Now

theyjustlookatyou.”

ConnieandMichaelHellandusedtoyell

fromtheirsecond-floordecktochaseaway

thebearthatfrequentedtheirTeocalliAv-

enueyard.Butafterthebeardiscoveredthe

tastyapplepiefillinginthegaragefreezer

duringalate-nightraid,itgrewevermore

complacentabouttheirpresence.Itrepeat-

edlybrokethroughthesidegaragedoor,

rifledaround,andsometimespausedtonap

inoneoftheirtrees.

ThebetterCrestedButtestasheditstrash,

themoreingeniousthebearsgot.They

discoveredhowtoworkdoorknobsand

handles,enteringhomes,shedsandgarag-

es,andlearnedthatthebigwhiteboxinthe

kitchengenerallyheldthebestgoodies.At

onehome,abeartorethegaragedooroff

itstracktoreachthefragrantediblesinside.

Bearsalsofiguredouthowtoopencar

doorsorbreakintowindows,gettinginto

morethan200vehiclesoverthesummer.

Doingtheirearly-morningrounds,themar-

shalswouldcomeuponastreetwhereupto

halfadozencarshadtheirdoorsstanding

wideopen...evidenceofabruin’snocturnal

scavenging.Atleastthreetimesbearsgot

trappedinsidecarsorvans,badnewsfor

bothbearandupholstery.

Sincenoonewashurtbyabearin

CrestedButte,thestoriescharmedand

entertainedthetown.Itwaseasytoforget

thateachbear-personinterfacecarriedthe

riskofhumaninjuryandsometimesatragic

endforthebear.Lastsummersixbears

weretrappedandeuthanizedintheCrested

Butte-Mt.CrestedButteareawhentheygot

toohabituatedandassertive.Oneofthose

wasa“560-pound,beautifulmalebear,

seventoeightyearsold,thathadessentially

grownupinCrestedButte,”Martinsaid.“He

wouldn’tleavetown.Hewasintownevery

nightandsometimesduringtheday.”

Lastyear’sbearsituationwas“sosevere

partlybecausealatefreezeburnedthe

acorns”intheneighboringAspenvalley,said

ChrisParmeter,districtwildlifemanagerfor

theColoradoDivisionofWildlife.Several

ofthebearshangingoutaroundCrested

Butteboretagsorradiocollarsidentifying

themasAspenarearesidents.“Bearconflicts

areweatherdependent,”Parmetersaid;a

droughtoruntimelyfreezethatcompromises

thenaturalfoodcropdrivesmorebears

intocivilization.“I’mlookingforwardtoa

decreaseinconflictsthissummer,”hesaid.

Martinislesscertainwhatthesummerwill

bring.Oncethey’vetastedleftoversfrom

theTimberlineRestaurant,thebruinsarenot

alwayshappytoreturntoberriesandacorns.

Healsonotedthatlastyearsomebigboars

(malebears)lingeringintownprobablykept

sowsandcubsaway.Nowthatacoupleof

thosebigguyshavebeeneliminated,the

townmightseemoreprotectivemomsand

playfulcubsintown,apotentiallyvolatile

combinationwhenmixedwithcurioushu-

manseagerforphotoops.

“Thisisn’tazoowithabarrierbetweenyou

Wild things

Scare that bearTHOSECLEVERBRUINSSTAYHEALTHIERINTHEIROWNTERRITORY,NOTOURS.BySandyFails

CrestedButteMagazine.com28

Buying…. SellingWith23yearsofliving,playing&workinginCrestedButte,Ihavetheknow-howanddedicationtoprovideyouwithahassle-freerealestateexperience!

Maggie DethloffBroker Associate, Red Lady Realty

970.209.7880Maggie@RedLadyRealty.com

CrestedButteNow.com

anda500-poundwildanimal,”Martinsaid.

CrestedButte’sbruinsareofficiallyblack

bears,thoughtheycomeinmanycolors,from

cinnamontobrownorblack.Unlikegrizzlies,

thesebearsaren’ttypicallyaggressivetoward

humans.“There’sbearhabitatallaroundCrest-

edButte,”Parmetersaid.“They’realloverthe

woods,butwhenyouhikeyougenerallydon’t

seethem;theysmellusandgoawaybeforewe

getnear.Theyonlybecomepotentiallydanger-

ouswhentheygetaddictedtohumanfood,

whentheymoveintoourterritory.”

Bearsareluredintocivilizationbyfoodcrop

failuresorhumanenticements,hesaid.“The

numberonethresholddrugforbearsisbird

feeders;that’swhatbringsthemtoneighbor-

hoods.”Notoriousfortheirloveofsweets,

bearscansmellthesyrupyhummingbirdfood

fromfaraway.

HequotedthecommonDivisionofWildlife

saying:“Afedbearisadeadbear.”

Asecondsayingislessknownbutequally

importantwhenbearsventureintohuman

territory:“Ifyoucare,scareabear.”Humans

needtomakethebears“veryuncomfortable”

whentheycomeintotowns,neighborhoods

andyards,Parmetersaid.Whenpeoplewatch

adoringlywhileabearchowsdownonFluffy’s

catfoodonthedeck,thebearbeginstoloseits

fearanditsrespectforourterritory.

CommunitiesthroughoutthemountainWest

havetriedvariousdiscouragements,suchas

devicesthatemitpepperspraywhenbears

breakintotrashcans,butwithlittlesuccess.

“Nodeterrentshavebeen100%effective,”

Parmetersaid.“Themainthingistoprevent

accesstofood.”Hesaidthebearsareknown

fortheircleveradaptations.“InYosemite,the

bearsspecializeinmini-vans.Theyknowhow

toopenmini-vanlocksandlatchesorbreakthe

windows.”

InCrestedButtelastsummer,neighbors

sharedhomeremedies;theHellandsdraped

theirdoorknobswithkerosene-soakedrags.

Peoplelearnednottoleaveedibles(including

petfood)intheircars,tentsordecks.Residents

beganlockingtheirdoorsforthefirsttimein

years.

“Thesebearsaresmart,andthey’recreative,”

Martinsaid.

Perhapsmoreconsistenthumanscaretactics

willremindthebearstousethoseskillsinthe

wild,notdowntown.

CrestedButteMagazine.com 29

TheUpperGunnisonvalleyhas(knock

onwood)sofarbeensparedthemassive

infestationofbarkbeetlesthataredevastat-

ingthelodgepolepineandspruceforests

oftheRockiesnorthfromhereupthrough

Canada.Butouraspenshavenotbeenso

lucky;sincearound2004,largeswatchesof

theGunnisonBasin’sfavoritedeciduoustree

havebeensufferingamysterious“Sudden

AspenDecline”(SAD).

Aspensarethesignaturetreeofthe

SouthernRockies,thetreethatmarksour

seasons,fromthesoftlightgreenthatfloats

likeahazethroughthebuddingtreesinthe

spring,tothepsychedelicshowinthefall

asthegreentreesgotoyellows.It’seasy,

amongaspens,tofeelthatlife,afterall,

isprettygood.Andnowalotofthemare

declining,dying;forestpathologistssaythe

tollisapproaching20percentofouraspen

woods.

Aspensareanunusualtree;theygrow

bestasshootsfromacommonspreading

rootsystem.Thusallthetreesinaspecific

placeessentiallyconstituteasingleliving

organismcalledanaspenclone–probably

thelargestlivingentitiesonearth,some

ofthemaslargeasseveralhundredacres.

Aclonecanoftenbedistinguishedbythe

barkcolor,branchiness,heightorstraight-

nessofitstrees.

Sun-lovingtrees,aspensaremostlya

“transitionforest”inthehighcountry,com-

inginquicklyafteraspruce-firorpineforest

disturbancelikefireorlogging–thousands

ofsuckersspringingupintothesunfrom

anexistingclone’srootsystemthatwas

perhapsbeingkeptaliveundertheprevi-

ousconiferforestbyjustahandfuloftrees.

Gradually,overacenturyorso,shade-

lovingconiferswillgrowupunderthemand

graduallyreplacetheaspen.Therearegood

examplesofthisreplacementinvarious

stageshappeningonSnodgrassHillabove

theroadtoGothic.Thereareplacesinthe

GunnisonBasin,however,wheretheaspen

seemtohaveestablishedthemselvesas

thelong-term“climax”forest–newaspens

ratherthanconifersreplacingoldaspens.

ThewestsideofKeblerPasshassomeof

theworld’smostextensiveandbeautiful

“climax”aspen.

Wild things

SAD aspensWARMER,DRIERWEATHERMAYBEHARMINGOURTRADEMARKTREES.ByGeorgeSibley

Whatishappeningtotheaspens?

RoyMaskandJimWorrall,pathologistsfor

theForestService’sRockyMountainRegion,

basedinGunnison,havebeenworkingon

thatquestionsinceitwasfirstobserved

circa2004–alongwiththechallengeofthe

barkbeetlepandemic,alsopartoftheir

assignment.

Themostlikelyunderlyingansweris

climatechange.Theseveredroughtof2002,

cominginthemiddleofnearlytwodecades

ofwarmer,drierweatherthanthe20th-cen-

turynorm,weakenedtheaspens(likethe

pinesandspruce).Thatmadethemmore

vulnerabletothehostofgnawing,boring,

burrowingparasitesanddiseasesthatare

alwayspresentintheforestbutcanusually

beeitherflushedoutortoleratedbyhealthy

treestappingintodecentsoilmoisture.

Warmertemperaturesinthewinteralsofa-

vorthetreeparasites,allowingmoreoftheir

under-barklarvaetosurviveandmature.

MaskandWorrallsaytheproblemisnot

limitedtomaturetrees,asarethepine

andsprucebeetleattacks.“Rootsinsome

standsmaybemoribund,suggestingthat

clonesaswellasstemsmaybedying,”they

writeinapaperontheproblem.SADseems

tobehappening“atlowerelevationsand

onflatterslopes”andtends“tooccuron

southernandwesternaspectsatlowerand

middleelevations.”

Treestendtobeverysensitivetoclimate,

whichinthemountainsmeanstheirrange

movesupanddownasambienttempera-

turesovertimeincreaseordecrease.Aspen

clonesthatreallytookoffintheverywetfirst

quarterofthe20thcentury,andprobably

spreaddownintoloweraltitudes,arenow,

intheirmaturity,experiencingthechangeto

ahotteranddrierextreme.Thatisprobably

inpartcausedbyus,andtheloveof“Color

Week”thatgetseveryoneintheircarstogo

seethetrees,therebycontributingtotheir

demise....SADindeed.

CrestedButteMagazine.com30CARETAKING SERVICES • VACATION RENTALS

PO BOX 168, CRESTED BUTTE • 888.417.4766 • IRONHORSECB.COM

The timehas come

to expect

More...

Performing arts center DANCESTOTHEDRAWINGBOARD

TheCrestedButteMusicFestivalandseveralentitiesinMt.Crested

Buttearecollaboratingona500-seatperformingartscenterthey

hopetoopenasearlyas2012.

MusicFestivalorganizersbegantalkingwithtownofficialsfrom

Mt.CrestedButtelastyearafteranunsuccessfulsearchforsitesin

thetownofCrestedButte.“Awaywewent,”saidJoeFitzpatrick,Mt.

CrestedButtetownmanager.TheDowntownDevelopmentAuthority,

towngovernmentandCrestedButteMountainResortjumpedatthe

performingartscenteridea.

TheresortandtowncontributedlandatthecornerofGothicand

Treasuryroads(thenorthendoftheskiareaparkinglot),alowsection

oflandthatwillaccommodatetheestimated85-footheightofthe

building.

“ThisisaneconomicdevelopmentprojectforMt.CrestedButte

andreallyforthewholecounty,”Fitzpatricksaid.“Ourgoalisto

broadenandelevatetheartsinourcommunityandprovideagreat

amenity.ThiswillopenthedoorfortheCrestedButteMusicFestival

togrow.AnditwillanchorthedevelopmentofMt.CrestedButte.”

Thedesign,stillinprogress,callsfora500-seatauditoriumwitha

partitionablebalcony,sothespacecanfitsmallereventsaswell.The

buildingwillalsohouseapostalannex,smallcoffeeshopandother

tenants“tokeepthebuildingalive,”Fitzpatricksaid.Athird-floor

multipurposeroomandscenicoutdoorbalconywillhostmeetings,

receptionsordinners.Theauditoriumwillbeequippedwithaflyto

raisesets,allowingprofessionalcaliberoperaandtheater.Itwillalso

beacousticallytuneableforvoiceoramplifiedmusic.

DesignershopeforPUDapprovalbytheendofthissummer,fol-

lowedbyamajorfund-raisingcampaignbytheMusicFestival.

OfficiallycalledtheMt.CrestedButtePerformingArtsCenter

(MCBPAC),theprojecthasaboardofdirectorsmadeupofMusicFest

andtownappointees.Constructioncouldstartin2011,but2012is

morelikely,Fitzpatricksaid.

JennyBirnie,directoroftheCenterfortheArtsinCrestedButte,

applaudedtheMCBPACboardforitsopencommunicationwith

CrestedButte’sArtsAlliance.“TheMusicFestivalhasworkedinpart-

nershipwiththeCentertoensurethatthenewfacilitywon’tduplicate

serviceandfunctions,”shesaid.“TheCenterwillcontinuetobring

diverseartsexperiencestothevalley,offersubsidizedrentalforcom-

munitypresentersanduseitsgallerytoshowcaselocalartists.”

IN A TOWN KNOWN FOR EXCELLENT RESTAURANTS, THE WEEKEND WILL BRING EVEN MORE ATTRACTIONS FOR FOODIES:

FREEongoingdemonstrationsinanoutdoorVikingkitchen

$150FIVE-COURSEKICK-OFFDINNERwithpairedwinesat9380featuringthecelebratedDenverFIVE™(DenverFive.com)

TWOAFTER-HOURSEVENTSINMT.CRESTEDBUTTE:“Barbeque,BourbonandBeer”and“TheArtoftheMartini,”both$25.Thefirstwillhighlightvarioustastesofbarbequepairedwithliquorandhigh-endbeers.Atthesecond,attendeeswilllearnaboutandsamplefivedifferentmartinisandreceiveshakersandmartiniglasses.

Art scene

among the easels CrestedButteArtsFestivalfansare

usedtoElkAvenueturningintoavi-

sualfeast,with185top-notchartists

(juriedthisyearfrom690applicants)

displayingtheirwares,kids’activities,foodbooths

andliveentertainment.The38thArtsFestival,July

31-August1,willaddtheculinaryartstothatmix.

“Wewanttodrawinpeoplewithdifferentinterests,”

saidArtsFestivaldirectorDianaRalston.“Nowthere’s

trulysomethingforeveryone:childrencreatinginArtAl-

ley;artaficionadosshoppingandinteractingwithartists;

musicloversenjoyingliveperformances;aspiringartists

learningtechniquesthroughartdemonstrations;and

foodieswatchingcookingdemosandtastingsamples.”

Ralstonhopestoinvolvelocalrestaurantsandthe

FarmersMarketinthedemonstrations.Shehasse-

curedOskarBluesBreweryasthebeersponsor,and

DaleKatechis,founderandcreatorofDale’sPale

Ale,willbeonhandforseminarsandtastingsandto

showcasehiscraftedbeers.UnderdogWineGroup

willpairitsaward-winningwineswithchefsamples.

Thisyearwillalsobringanauctionofartdonated

byfestivalartists.Theinauguralauctionlastyear

raised$10,000,whichfundedartsprogrammingatthe

CrestedButteCommunitySchool.Ralstonhopesthis

year’sproceedswillhelppaylocalartiststoworkwith

CrestedButtestudents.TheArtsFestivalalsogrants

moneytolocalartsorganizationsthroughouttheyear.

TheArtsFestivalisapparentlyaspopularamongits

artistsasitisamongitsshoppers.Artistsrankedit35th

outofmorethan1,200festivalsinthemostrecentArt Fair Source Book.Foreachfestival,artistsanswerquestions

aboutsuchaspectsaslogisticalease,customertraffic,the

treatmentofartistsandfinancialsuccess.“It’ssortofthe

bibleforexhibitingartists,”Ralstonsaid.“Iwasthrilled.”

Forinformation,visitCrestedButteArtsFestival.com.

CrestedButteMagazine.com 7CARETAKING SERVICES • VACATION RENTALS

PO BOX 168, CRESTED BUTTE • 888.417.4766 • IRONHORSECB.COM

The timehas come

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THEMOUNTAINBIKEHALL

OFFAMEHONORSA

FUN-SPIRITEDSPORT.BySandyFails

Forviewerschucklingatthephotosinthe

MountainBikeHallofFameexhibit,it’seasy

toseewhathaschangedaboutthesport...

andwhathasn’t.Photosfromthe1970sshow

shaggy-hairedguysingrubbycut-offsand

sneakerspedalingtheir40-poundklunkers

aroundthetown’sdirtstreets.Meanwhile,

outsidethewindowsneartheexhibit,

modern-dayridersflydownFourthStreeton

feather-light,high-techmachineswearing

spendysport-specificclothingfromhelmets

tocleats.

Whatremainsthesame?“Youlookat

thoseoldphotosandseeabunchofgrown-

upsactingliketen-year-olds,”saidmountain

bikepioneerDonCook.“Mountainbiking

stillhasthateffectonpeople.”

Donandhiswife,KayPetersonCook,have

beenpartoftheevolutionofthesportsince

thoseearlydaysandcanstillholdtheirown

onCrestedButte’sgnarliesttrails.Thetwo

alsovolunteerhundredsofhoursayearas

co-directorsoftheMountainBikeHallof

Fame,whichhasthreecomponents.

,housedintheCrested

ButteMountainHeritageMuseum.“The

photostellathousandstories,”Donsaid,

followingthepath“fromCrestedButteto

MarinCounty,California,fromklunkering

tomountainbikingtoaworld-widesport.”

ThedisplayholdsprofilesofHallofFame

inductees,posters,pressclippings,aclassic

klunkerandsomelandmarkbikesinthede-

velopmentofthesport.There’saJoeBreeze

bikefromtheerawhenJoeproducedarun

ofsevenbikes...enoughtomeetmarket

demandfortheyear,Donsaid.

DonandKaygatherHallofFamenomina-

tionsfromwithintheindustry,thensendout

morethan200ballotstopreviousinductees

andcurrentHallofFamemembers.Three

tofourpeopleareinductedeachyearina

packedceremonyaspartofInterbikeinLas

Vegas.“It’squiteanhonor,buttheceremony

isaroast...alwaysfunny,”Donsaid.

mtnbikehalloffame.com.

Likethesport,thewebsiteisallaboutfun

andexploration.“Youcouldspenddays

wanderingaroundinthere,”Donsaid.The

sitegoesfarbeyondCrestedButte’scolorful

bikinghistory,backtoAugust1896,when

theBuffaloSoldiers,blackenlistedmen,

customizedandrodebicyclesfromMissoula,

Montana,toYellowstonetotestthebike

forpossiblemilitaryuse.Thesitecoversthe

VeloCrossClubParisienofthe1950sandthe

MarinCountygaragetinkerersinthe1970s.

And,ofcourse,thereweretheCrestedButte

hippiespilingtheirone-speedjunkersinthe

backoftheirpickups,haulingthemtothe

topofParadiseDivideandbombingback

down.“Youhadtothrowyourrearwheels

intherivertocoolthemdown,”Donsaid.

“Thoseguysweren’touttocreateanew

sport.Theywerejustgettingaroundtown

streetsthatwerenothingbutmud.”

TheMountainBikeHallofFameidea

grewfromdiscussionsin1987amongCarol

Bauer,TedRomanik,DaveLindseyandDon.

Astheywerere-tellingfavoritestories,Carol

commented,“Allthesepeoplearegoing

tobeforgottenifwedon’tdosomethingto

preservethishistory.”

Evenforriderswhowouldratherpound

thetrailsthanlearnabouttheirpredeces-

sors,theanecdotesandmemorabiliaofthe

MountainBikeHallofFamearegoodfor

somekicks.Newerriders,Donnoted,sel-

domrealizethatthefirstmulti-speedmoun-

tainbikeswerehandbuiltfromjunkyard

framesand“whateverpartswecouldscab

frommotorcyclesorbeg,borrowandsteal.”

Headded,“Oneofthefunniestthings

Iseenowispeoplespendingathousand

dollarsormoretobuildupone-speeds.Back

inthedaywewerespendinghundredsof

dollarstogetridofhavingone-speeds.”

Bike tracks

CrestedButteMagazine.com32

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Of Heaven & EarthCOLORADO’SLARGESTPUBLICTELESCOPE

OFFERSGLIMPSESOFOTHERWORLDS.ByErinEnglish

ArrivingattheGunnisonValleyObservatory,remoteandshrouded

indarkness,canfeelotherworldlyinitself.AfterturningoffHighway

50anddrivingafewmilespastHartmanRocks,visitorsparkandwalk

downadimlylitpathtoasmalldomedbuildingshelteredbyalight-

reducingberm.

TheobservatoryhousesColorado’slargestpublictelescope,a

30-inchreflectortelescopethatservesasalookingglassintoother

worlds:celestialobjects,galaxies,planetsandstarsystems.

Sinceopeningin2008,theobservatoryhasdevelopedathriving

lectureandviewingseries.EveryFridayandSaturdaynightinthe

summer,scientists,families,couples,studentsandvisitorsminglefor

stargazing,startingaroundsunset.Theall-volunteerstaffwelcomes

visitorstopeekintothetelescopeandgethands-onexperiencewith

theon-siteinstruments.

“We’llstayaslateasanyonewantstostay,”saysboardmember

KevinMcGruther.“Astronomyinvolvesaconsiderableamountof

patiencefortheskytodimenoughtoseethedeep-skyobjects.If

youcomelater,around10or10:30,itreallygetsgood.”

Eacheventfeaturesaguestlecturerleadingapresentationin

theobservatory’ssmallclassroom.Topicsrangefromhistoricalto

contemporary,suchasanoverviewofsunandenergy,aslideshow

aboutSaturn’sdisappearingrings,oralookattheworld’sfirsttele-

scope.Often,livelydiscussionsensue.

“Ireallygodowntheretogetanideaofwhatotherpeopleare

thinking.It’ssuchafar-outtopicandthereissomuchwedon’t

know,”McGruthersays.“Ifinditempoweringandenlightening.You

canlookataglobularclusterthroughatelescope,butthetheory

behinditiswhat’sfascinating,becausenoonereallyknows.”

Thesummerscheduleincludesothereventsaswell,suchasthe

world’sfirstastropoetryconferenceheldlastsummer,attended

byaroundadozenpeople.“Members-only”eventsaresprinkled

throughouttheseason,andprivateviewingsmaybescheduledin

advance.

Aswordspreads,theObservatoryisbecomingacommunity

pointofprideandapopularwaytospendtheevening,withupto

60peoplestoppingbyinanight.Thedomehasacapacityof15

people,necessitatingmultiplerotationsforthetelescopeviewing

andlectures.

BeyondGunnisonCounty,theobservatoryisgainingatten-

tionfromcuriousindividualsandhigh-profileagenciesthroughits

Internetpresence.“Wepullintrafficfromallovertheworld.Boeing,

LockheedMartinandintelligenceagenciesarepullingintotheGun-

nisonObservatorywebsite,”McGruthersays.“ItisputtingGunnison

onthemap.”For information, visit gunnisonobservatory.org.

Down south

WESTERN’SCAMPS,CONFERENCESAND

COURSESCOVERWRITINGTOWRESTLING.ByLukeMehall

Schoolmaybeoutformost,butthousandsofguestswillflockto

theWesternStateCollege(WSC)campusthissummer.

ThereturnofgraduatestudiestoWesternisonehighlight.

StartinginJuly,studieswillbeginforthemasteroffinearts(MFA)

increativewriting,withtracksinformalverse,screenwritingand

mainstream/genrefiction.Augustwilllaunchthemasterofartsin

education,withtracksinteacherleadership,readingleadershipand

educationaladministratorleadership.

Bothprogramsarelow-residency,meaningstudentswillcon-

veneforsummersessionsthendothemajorityofcourseworkfrom

abroad.Thissummer’swritingMFAsessionwillcoincidewiththe

popular“WritingtheRockies”conferenceheldannuallyontheWSC

campus.

SeveralothercampsandconferenceswillbringgueststoWest-

ern.Oneofthebiggest,the47thannualRockyMountainWrestling

Camp,ledbyconferencechampionshipcoachMilesVanHee,will

attractmorethanathousandwrestlersthisJune.Otherpopularcon-

ferencesincludetheSearchandRescueAcademy,theLawEnforce-

mentExplorerConference,andtheColoradoColumbineGirlsState

citizenleadershipprogram.

NewofferingsthisJulyincludethePeacefulWarriorsRockClimb-

ingCampwithlocalcoachAlecSolimeoandprofessionalclimber

ChrisLinder,aswellastheGunnisonUltraRunningExperience(GUE)

campwithWSCexerciseandsportsscienceprofessorScottDrum.

TheExtendedStudiesprogramwilloffer“WednesdaysatWest-

ern,”inexpensiveday-tripsforlocalsandvisitors,includingflyfish-

ing,ahistoricalTaylorParktour,aBlackCanyongeologytourandan

astronomyclass,allwithcollegeprofessors.Classesrangefrom$25

tofree.Information: www.western.edu.

CrestedButtemaybethemeccaforrec-

reationintheGunnisonValley,butHartman

Rockshasitsownmagic,asshowcasedby

threerunning,bikingandclimbingevents

overMemorialWeekend.

The8,000acresofrollingsage,fivemin-

utessouthofGunnisononBureauofLand

Managementpublicland,featuresgreat

singletrackforbikingandtrail-runningand

granitebouldersandcliffsforrockclimbing.

LowerinelevationthanCrestedButte,Hart-

mans(aslocalscallit)canbedryinspring

andfallwhenCrestedButte’strailsareburied

insnow.

ForyearsHartmans’bikinghasbeenhigh-

lightedincompetitionsliketheRageinthe

Sageandthe24HoursintheSagemountain

bikeraces.Recentlytherunningandclimb-

ingcommunitieshavecreatedeventsoftheir

own,andMemorialWeekendbringsperhaps

thelargesttrioofeventsthatHartmanshas

seen:theSageBurnerrunningrace,Gun-

nisonGrowlermountainbikerace,and24

HoursofGunnisonGloryenduranceclimbing

competition.

TheSageBurner’s25Kand50Keventsare

organizedthroughtheexerciseandsports

sciencedepartmentatWesternStateCol-

lege.ProfessorScottDrum,theracedirector,

said,“Ourraceshowcasestheamazingtrail

runningatHartmans.It’salsoanopportunity

toshowcasethesportsperformancesideof

ourcurriculum.”

Lastyearover200competitorsflockedto

Hartmansfortherace.Out-of-townersfound

thecourseextremelychallenging,hesaid.

“ThesingletrackatHartmansisveryrun-

able,butittendstosucker-punchyouwith

theunrelentingupsanddowns.”

ThethirdannualSageBurnerwillbeSatur-

day,May29.

AlsoinitsthirdyearistheGrowler.The64-

milerace(or32-mileHalf-Growler)onSun-

day,May30,takesadvantageofHartman’s

mountainbiking“thatjustblowspeople

away,”saidmountainbikelegendandrace

directorDaveWiens.

Thepopularrace,cappedat300riders,

soldoutinonedayinearlyJanuary.The

GrowlerraisesfundsforGunnisonTrails,an

advocacyorganizationWiensfoundedto

protectGunnisonareatrails.

ThethirdMemorialWeekendevent,the

24HoursofGunnisonGlory,startsSaturday

morningandistheonly24-hourclimbing

eventintheWest.

“Theformatissimple:completeasmany

climbsasyoucanin12or24hours,”said

AlecSolimeo.“Lastyearwasourfirstandwe

hadasolid40climbers;thisyearwe’rehop-

ingformore.”

ClimbingpresentationsinGunnisonwill

precedetheevent.Entertainmentduring

thecompetitionwillincludeacousticmusic,

yoga,andanatureawarenessworkshopfor

youth.

“THISISTURNINGINTOAGREATWEEKENDOFRECRE-ATIONFORTHEGUNNISONVALLEY,”SOLIMEOSAID.MoreinformationaboutHartmanRockscanbefoundat:www.gunnisoncrestedbutte.com/hartman-rocks.

Down south

ATRIOOFRUNNING,

BIKINGANDCLIMBING

EVENTSSPOTLIGHTSTHE

TRAILSANDBOULDERSOF

HARTMANROCKS.ByLukeMehall

CrestedButteMagazine.com 35

CrestedButteMagazine.com36

http://www.crestedbuttemagazine.com/openx/www/delivery/ck.php?oaparams=2__bannerid=107__zoneid=0__cb=914ba2e4af__oadest=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.artisanruggallery.com%2F

CrestedButteMagazine.com38

Notable locals

Renaissance teenTHEIVYLEAGUEBECKONSTO

LOCALARTIST,MUSICIAN,ATHLETE

ANDSCHOLARRICKYSANDOVAL.ByLauraPuckett

KidsinCrestedButtefacemanychoices:academics,

athletics,skiing,volunteering,thearts—therearedozens

ofwaystospendtheirtime,andit’shardtobegoodatall

ofthem.Unlessyou’reRickySandoval.

Agiftedartist,musician,athleteandscholar,Rickyhas

foundsuccessineveryarena.Astheheadhighschool

trackcoachattheCrestedButteCommunitySchool,I’ve

hadtheprivilegeofseeingRickyinaction.Morethanany

particulartalent,whatimpressesmemostisRicky’sbear-

ing.Heseemstonavigatethefrenzyofhighschoolwith

graceandcomposure,excellingmodestly,leadingquietly

andmovingsteadilyinthedirectionofhisdreams.

Perhapsitcomesfromhisvariedupbringing,with

Spanish,Apache,NavajoandCajunroots.Bythetime

Rickygraduatedthisspringhehadattendedeight

schoolsandlivedinfifteenhouses.Spendingtimealter-

natelywithhismomanddadhasmeantfrequentmoves,

butheappreciatestheperspectiveit’sgivenhim.

“I’veseenalotofdifferentsituations,”hesays,“the

fullspectrum,fromprivateCatholicschoolinLouisiana

tohugepublicschoolsinHoustontolittlefarm-town

schoolsinCenter[Colorado].”

WhenhemovedtoCrestedButtewithhisdad,Rich-

ardSandoval,Sr.,atthestartoffreshmanyear,hewas

resistanttothechange,butnowhe’shappytobehere.

InCrestedButte,“there’snotnearlyasmuchdramaasat

abigschool,”hesays.“I’mfriendswithprettymuchthe

wholehighschool.”

ThesmallschoolhasalsoenabledRickytomake

significantcontributionstosports.Withcharacteristic

modesty,Rickyseeshimselfas“goodhere,inCrested

Butte”wherethecompetitionisn’tassteep.Rickymay

notbedestinedtobeanationaltrackchampion,buthe’s

talented.Quickandagile,Rickyhassurprisedmeover

andoveragainwithhissprintingandjumping.Asforsoc-

cer,Rickyplayedforthefirsttimehissophomoreyearand

byhissenioryearwastheleaddefenseman.

“Rickydoesn’tbackdownfromanything,”sayscoach

ThanAcuff.“He’sgotasubtleself-confidencethatyou

don’tnoticeuntilyouseehimoutthereonthefield.It

doesn’tmatterwhohe’supagainstorwhatwe’reupSelf

po

rtra

itb

yR

icky

San

do

val

CrestedButteMagazine.com 39

againstasateam;hegivesit100%,noholds

barred.He’suninhibitedinagreatway.”

Thanrecallsthehighlightofadismalstate

play-offgametwoyearsago:“Basaltwas

wallopingus,somethinglike5-0.Itwason

somerandomplay,inthemiddleofthesebig,

physicalBasaltdefenders–thelandofthe

giants.Ricky(notabigguy)cameoutofno-

where,leapedatleastaheadaboveeveryone

elseandslammedthisshotthatcrashedoff

thecrossbar.Everyoneelsehadgivenup.But

Rickydidn’tcarewhatthescorewas;hewas

outthereplayingsoccer.”

Thecat-likeRickyalsoentertainedhisteam-

mates,attheirrequest,withhistrademark

“off-axisspin-jump,”Thansaid.Soccerprac-

ticesometimesstartedacoupleofminutes

late;“itwastoocooltowatchRicky.”

Thoughhe’snotatalkative,showyor“rah-

rahkindofguy,”asThannotes,Ricky’sunder-

statedconfidence,leadershipanddedication

wouldhavemadehimanassettoanyteam,

nomatterthesizeoftheschool.

Rickycarriedthesecharacteristicsintothe

classroomaswell.Hethrivedinthemost

difficultclassesinarigorousschool.“Hehas

astrongnaturalintelligence,”saysscience

teacherToddWasinger.“Hequicklyunder-

standscomplicatedideasandconcepts;his

scoreontheACTsubjecttestinphysicswas

throughtheroof.Butwithalltheseamazing

gifts,he’sunassuming,friendlyandrespectful

ofhisteachersandhisclassmates.He’sreally

remarkable,adelightfulperson.”

Giftedinalmosteverysubject,Rickyearned

particulardistinctionasanartist.HisAPart

teacher,BenMcLoughlin,describesRickyas

“focused,mature,andprofessional.”With

technicalmasteryandaneyefordetail,Ricky

hasspentthelasttwoyearscreatingan

impressiveportfolioofdrawingsinpenciland

charcoal.ThispastJanuaryhewonanunprec-

edentedtwogoldkeysintheColoradoScho-

lasticArtAwardcontest,inwhichstudents

fromColoradosendinworktobejudged.

Therearethousandsofentries,andonlythe

topworksaregivengold,silver,honorable

mentionorportfolioawards.Rickyentered

twopiecesandreceivedtwogoldkeys.

“He’soneofthemostskilledstudentsI’ve

evertaught,”saysBen,“buthe’shumble

aboutit.Hispeersadmirehim,butitdoesn’t

gotohishead.Hekeepshiscool.”

pms 187

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ManyofRicky’sdrawings,suchashiscarefulportraitsofmusiciansatworkordreaming,

areinfluencedbyanotherofhispassions:music.Hestartedplayingmusicatnineyearsold

whenhisdadgavehimaguitar.Afterlearningafewchordsfromhisfather,Rickywasoff

andrunning,teachinghimselfbyearandexperimentation.

“Ican’ttellyouthenameofachordorstringornote,”hesays,buthewriteshisown

songsandhasarepertoireofmusicinjustaboutallstyles.Heisinspiredandencouraged

byhisdad,whoplayedatonetimebutwasheldbackbylosingthetipsoftwofingersina

carpentryaccident.Rickyenjoysthepracticeandgetsantsyifhecan’tplayeveryday.

SovariedareRicky’sskillsthat“hispeersrefertohimasaninja,”Toddsays,“becausehe

standsoutateverythinghedoes.”Ashelookstowardcollege,thechallengeisputtinghis

intereststogetherinaprogramofstudy.

“I’vealwayswantedtodosomethingwithart,”Rickysays,“butit’ssohardtofindsome-

thingconcrete.”

Architectureseemedlikeamatchforhistalents,soafterbeingencouragedbyhisteach-

erstoreachhigherwithhiscollegesearch,Rickyappliedtothetoparchitectureprograms

inthecountry.Acrosstheboard,hewasaccepted,withsomeimpressivescholarshipoffers.

Aftervisitingseveralcolleges,hedecidedtoattendCornellUniversityinIthaca,NewYork.

RickyissoquietabouthisaccomplishmentsthatIwassurprisedtohearhegotaccepted

toanIvyLeagueschool.Butthesurprisegavewayquicklytoasenseofrightness.The

seamlesswayRickysettledintoCrestedButteandthesuccesshe’sfound,inwhateverhe

puthishandto,speaktoanadaptabilityandself-assurednessthathe’lltakewhereverhe

goes.

“Ithoughtabouthisbackground,”saysThan,“thencomingtoCrestedButte,andwhat

itwouldbelikeforhimtogotosomehoity-toitynortheastschool.ThenIthoughtabout

RickyandIfigured,itain’tgonnabeaproblem.”

Art

wo

rkb

yR

icky

San

do

val

CrestedButteMagazine.com 17

DAHL MONTROSE

1133 N. TOWNSEND AVE.MONTROSE, CO 81401

800.542.3245www.dahldesign.com

Visit Your Premier KOHLER® Showroom

CrestedButteMagazine.com42

RAYNOR CZERWINSKI HAS BEEN A STUDENT OF COMPOSITION MOST OF HIS LIFE,thoughthe

mediumhaschanged–frompounding

arockguitarandwritingsongsaspart

ofSeattle’sgrungescenetoseekinga

fleetingbeamoflightonamountain-

topthroughhisviewfinder.

“It’sthesamethingyou’retryingto

tapinto,whetherit’spainting,pho-

tography,cookingormusic.It’sgood

composition,”hesaid.

CzerwinskigrewupinTacoma,

Washington,thenSeattle,andspent

the‘90splayingwithhisrockbandFirst

TimeTomorrow.

Theyreleaseda

fewalbumsand

playedmore

than200shows.

Thebandfound

success,but

aftertenyears

Czerwinski

realized“that

wasn’tmygig

anymore.ButI

waswantingto

getbacktothe

mountains.”

Czerwinski’s

soul-searchingtookhimtoEurope,

whereherodehisbikeacross16coun-

triesoveralmosteightmonths.Europe

appealedtohimpartlybecause“it’sa

collectionofsmalltowns,”hesaid.So

hecamebacktotheU.S.setonfinding

afittingtownforhisnewhome.In2003

hesetoutfromSeattlebybike,pedal-

ingthroughJacksonHole(toobusyfor

histastes)toCrestedButte,intending

tohitTelluridenext.

“IgottoCrestedButteandwentno

farther;itwasexactlywhatIwaslook-

ingfor,”hesaid.

Hemethisfuturewife,SusanMarion,

whenhebegancookingatLeBosquet,

whereshealsoworked.Thetwonow

helprunJohnIngham’sartgallery,

whichgivesCzerwinskiahomeforhis

long-timefascination,photography.

Afterahobbyofshootingrockand

rollconcertsinSeattle,Czerwinski

switchedhisphotographicfocusin

CrestedButtetostudyingtheplayof

lightonalpinelandscapes.

“Ifounditaneasytransitionfrom

theaudioartstothevisualarts,”he

said.Ithelpstoliveinaplacewhere

hecanphotographstartrailsfromhis

mudroomwindowandcolumbinesjust

outsidehisfrontdoor.

Photography,henoted,“isalife-

longendeavor.“Likeapoemaphoto

becomesmorepowerfulasitbecomes

simpler.Hewatchesforstrongcom-

positionswithequallystronglighting:

“that30-secondbeamoflightinthe

middleofastorm.”

Stillamusicaficionado,Czerwinski

alsoexploresCrestedButte’soutdoor

wonderlandbymountainbikeorfoot.

Tocapturethatwonderlandthrough

photography,heisabandoninghis

moderndigitalequipmentinfavorof

filmcameras.Herecentlyboughtan

oldNikoncameraandlenssohecan

gobacktousingthesupersaturated

Velviafilm,atraditionalfavoriteof

landscapephotographers.Czerwinski’s

imagesaredisplayedintheIngham

Gallery,Camp4,theBrickOven,Le

Bosquetandhiswebsite,

www.lucidlandscape.com.

SUMMER 2010 COVER PHOTO CONTEST WINNER IS

Raynor Czerwinski. BySandyFails

CrestedButteMagazine.com 43

We just had to use

these cover photo

contest finalists

somewhere

the other covers

43

Alex Fenlon

CrestedButteMagazine.com44

Nathan Bilow

CrestedButteMagazine.com 45

Dusty Demerson

CrestedButteMagazine.com46

Nathan Bilow

CrestedButteMagazine.com 47

Alex FenlonAlex Fenlon

CrestedButteMagazine.com48

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New York immigrants TIM AND TERRY BONNEY DIDN’T

PLAN TO SHARE THEIR HOME WITH HORSES, MULES, LLAMAS, SHEEP, DOGS,

CATS AND BIRDS, BUT NOW THEY WOULDN’T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY.

How could you turn them away?

CrestedButteMagazine.com 49

Story by Rachael Gardner

Photos by Dusty Demerson

Dr. Tim & Terry Bonney at their home turned rescue ranch.

CrestedButteMagazine.com50

317 Elk Avenue, Crested Butte, CO • 349-5913 • 10am to 9pm Dailyzacchariahzypp.com

AT FIRST INTRODUCTION,

Dr. Tim Bonney, an obstetrician originally from

New York, appears an unlikely resident for

rural Gunnison County. In his role as doctor,

he is efficient and direct, handy behavior

for attending to pregnant women with wild

hormones coursing through their veins.

But take this doctor out of the hospital and

you’ll find a chatty, soft-hearted soul quietly

running a rescue ranch for some of the coun-

ty’s hardest workers. Pack mules, dude horses

and retired ranching stock can find safe haven

for their golden years at the Bonney rescue

ranch. This New York cowboy readily admits

he initially had no skill set for this endeavor

but is learning as he goes. One look around

the ranch shows that he is a quick study.

Tim Bonney is quick to confirm the saying,

“Behind every good man is a good woman.”

Every step of the way, and often a step in

front, is Terry Bonney, learning new skills,

conquering fears and making room for a new

animal in need.

A former Fulbright Scholar and accom-

plished concert pianist, Terry remains active

in the Crested Butte Music Festival, but her

passion has shifted partly from the piano to

the stable. She comments that caring for the

animals in recent years has taught her to slow

down. Still, an artist’s intensity lies just below

the surface, transforming into the energy that

drives this rescue ranch forward.

The air at the ranch is peaceful, but Tim

Bonney’s calm out-of-office demeanor wasn’t

automatic. He admits that he was wound tight

on his arrival in Gunnison, and learning to

relax has been a process. He recalls an early

encounter that started his change in thinking:

“I didn’t have cell service and couldn’t find a

payphone. The woman running the register

at Ace Hardware offered me the store phone.

Then she just walked away with the register

CrestedButteMagazine.com 51

open. I thought she was crazy.” It was the second event that day that

helped him understand his new home. “The stoplight had turned

green and I was getting so angry because the driver wasn’t moving.“

Then he followed the driver’s gaze to the sky and noticed a bald

eagle flying overhead. “That’s when it really clicked for me,” he said.

Tim and Terry now credit the horses with their transformation from

tense city-dwellers into more relaxed

individuals taking time to appreciate

their surroundings. With eight horses

and two mules in the barn, they either needed plenty of help with

that transformation or their care for the animals has become a bit

of an addiction. And it doesn’t stop with the equines. Tim and Terry

have also rescued seven sheep, two llamas, five dogs, four cats, two

finches (that have reproduced to 48), two lovebirds, two cockatiels

and a cockatoo. That doesn’t factor in the animals that have come

and gone.

Having no solid connection to the horse world, the Bonney’s first

horse was a rescue of circumstance, a gelding that was healthy but

homeless. Word traveled that this Gunnison couple was willing to

take in horses on a temporary basis. The result was an equine home-

less shelter of sorts, with animals coming and going at no charge.

Terry said that, while the animals were beautiful, she and Tim were

initially afraid to interact with the horses and just looked at them

from the other side of the fence. “We called them dinosaurs.”

The horse they consider their first true rescue and the animal that

helped them overcome their fear is a palomino named Yellow. They

passed him in a field and realized he was so lame he could not move.

Against the warnings of friends, Tim and Terry borrowed a horse

trailer and brought him home. The vet advised that there was only a

10% chance that Yellow would survive, but with almost constant care

he made a full recovery and has been on the ranch for five years. Yel-

low will not be ridden again due to the extent of his injuries.

Few of the Bonney’s horses can be ridden. Most were adopted

because, for one reason or another, their working days have come

to a close; in most cases the next stop was the sale barn. Terry even

adopted the first horse she ever rode, Maggie the Mustang. When

she heard Maggie had come up lame due to a bad rear hip, Terry

knew her days on a dude string were over. Maggie can no longer be

ridden, but Terry remembers well how Maggie treated her on that

first terrifying trail ride through hail and lightning on one of Crested

Butte’s summer afternoons. “I thought we were going to die,” says

Terry, but the storm passed, no one died and Maggie the Mustang

didn’t spook once.

The one animal on the ranch

that was not rescued is Tim’s prize

mule, Annabelle. At an auction with

friends but with no trailer or any other means to transport livestock,

Tim got caught up in the action and won a yearling mule. To say this

animal was “green broke” was a monumental exaggeration, but the

doctor didn’t know any better and the deal was done. The story has

a happy ending, with Annabelle, now six years old, saddle broke and

no longer tearing down fences every time her equine friends take a

ride off the property.

Although it has worked out well and Annabelle is clearly the apple

of the doctor’s eye, Terry feels it was unfair to the mule to purchase

her because they don’t have the skills to train her to full capability.

Not all is romance at the ranch, I begin to see from her comment.

Tim and Terry explain how each animal found them and brought

amazing changes to their lives. These changes have allowed them

to embrace other sides of their personalities and instilled a sense of

responsibility to help animals that cannot help themselves. “If you

have the space, the means and the time, how do you turn any animal

away?” Tim offers as justification for their growing herd.

As I tour this rescue ranch and listen to the animal anecdotes, it is

obvious each one has a special place in the hearts of the Bonneys.

I meet Otis and Elvis, the sibling llamas that could not bear to be

separated when one could no longer work. The sheep Sophia and

Francesca arrived for some rest and rehab but are now here to stay.

Jesse and Ali, two Australian Shepherd littermates, were abandoned

in an outdoor pen. The list goes on, and I wonder when the Bonneys

will run out of space and how they will be able to turn any animal

away. When I ask the question, it is clear that Tim and Terry, far from

their big-city roots, will continually work to make room for their

friends in need.

“We called them dinosaurs.”

The animals continually teach the Bonneys.

CrestedButteMagazine.com52

A light snow is falling, and the famed Taylor River catch-and-release area is desolate on this weekday in mid-winter, but

for two hardy souls from Crested Butte, Greg Smith and Justin Howard. It’s high noon and a relatively warm and windless

28 degrees. The pair is decked out in camouflage, and Smith’s head and face are swathed in numerous layers of fabric,

including a buff, ball cap and warm knit hat.

Smith is five casts in when his rod bends sharply. He peers out over the water and spots his fish flopping around in the

charcoal-colored waters below. A few small chunks of ice float by.

“Oh yeah! Right in the mouth!” he exclaims.

Smith lumbers down the four-foot-high snowbank where he’s been perched, hastily tosses his fingerless gloves aside into

the snow, and reels in his fish: a gorgeous, 17-inch rainbow trout. Less than 30 seconds later, the fish is gently released from

his net back into the water. Smith yells out the name of the winning fly triumphantly to Howard—who nods appreciatively—

and then clambers back up out of the river, preparing to do it all over again.

Smith and Howard are among the many individuals living in our valley who admit to a full-on obsession with fly-fishing.

The weather conditions are clearly no deterrent for these two. Smith cheerfully admits to de-icing his line a handful of times

already, and notes that while his reel isn’t frozen solid at this point, it probably should be. It’s all a part of the experience.

TO THE VALLEY’S FANATICS, FLY-FISHING IS SCIENCE, ART, EVEN RELIGION.

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CrestedButteMagazine.com 53

With countless waters to fish in Gunnison County, our neck of the woods is a veritable fly-fishing paradise, especially in the summer, but

virtually year-round. Those who fly fish 100 to 150 days or more a year, and there are many who do, wax poetic about their favorite sport in a

way that is hard to understand by those who don’t.

“The outdoors and the river, that’s where I go to church, and it’s where I find myself,” says John Bocchino, manager of Willowfly Anglers

and certified fanatic. “I feel like I can recharge my batteries when I am doing it. It feeds my soul, I absolutely love it.”

For Bocchino, it’s not actually catching a fish that draws him; it’s the process by which the fish is caught. It’s both a science and an art from

start to finish, he says: reading the river, tying and selecting flies, casting, reeling in the fish and closing the deal. Fishing off a boat, with a

worm dangling from a regular fishing pole, just wouldn’t evoke the same feelings. He’s a die-hard who “fishes his butt off” from November

to March, and will carry gear out on snowshoes in the freezing cold to a prime spot without hesitation.

“For me, fly-fishing feels like a direct connection to what is happening in nature. You are imitating nature [with your fly] and when you hook

up on a fish, it’s like you are now part of everything that just happened in nature. I’ve never felt that way with anything else,” Bocchino says.

Melissa Hobkirk doesn’t bat an eye when asked about her first foray into fly-fishing. She remembers not just the year, but the month and

day: May 22, 2006. Previously from Denver, Hobkirk moved to Crested Butte in mid-November of last year, not for the ski season but for the

fishing. Her obsession rivals that of any other fanatic in the area.

THEIR

By Erin English

CrestedButteMagazine.com54

PO Box 2751Crested Butte, Colorado

highmountainconcepts.com

970-349-5261

Highest Standards of Excellence

CrestedButteMagazine.com 55

“There were a few times I’d leave my night job at 3:30 a.m. and we

would drive to a river and go fishing, and then sleep all day,” Hobkirk

said. “Living in Denver, it was a treat to fish and something you had to

plan for. Now that I am living here, it’s not that fishing is a treat; it’s a way

of life. Fishing is what I should be doing, and I’m doing it.”

She adds, “I spend a lot of time looking at bugs, with my head con-

stantly down, digging in the dirt. And I keep track of insects’ mating

seasons—that’s a little weird.”

For Hobkirk, it’s not the number or the size of the fish that captures her

imagination; it’s the therapeutic benefits of being on the water. She is

perfectly content fishing the smallest streams in the area, catching five-

inch “brookies” and being in the moment. Her outings are recorded with

painstaking detail in a well-worn fishing journal.

“Fly-fishing instills patience. You are being eaten alive by mosquitoes;

you are up too early and out too late. It’s work, but it’s fun work. It’s an

escape from the pressures of the things you have to do in daily life,” she

says.

Roark Kiklevich, who has spent 30+ years guiding in the area, offers his

take on the sport’s allure. “It totally absorbs you, and there’s never really

an end to how good you can become,” he says. “Every stretch

of water, every pocket, every run…fish are there. You have to

think about where the fish live, you have to make casts that

deliver a bug that looks like the bugs that are there. It’s a total

puzzle.”

For anyone with the slightest interest in fly-fishing, Gun-

nison County makes it easy, with many fly shops and guide

services, spectacular waters (some of which are designated as

Gold Medal) and beautiful scenery, dozens of remote, pristine

streams and mountain lakes. There is variety and solitude for

new and seasoned fishers.

Brook trout, cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, brown trout and

Kokanee salmon are in abundant supply here, with endless op-

portunities to catch them.

“Some people think we look down our noses at other people

who fish differently,” Bocchino says. “We go out there and

Amy Beth Salley casts away on the Taylor River.photos > nathan bilow

CrestedButteMagazine.com56

A Professional Custom Home, Remodel and Historic Renovation Company

Johnny Biggers ~ General Contractor970-349-5990 | cbbuilders@crestedbutte.net

405 3rd Street, Suite E / Crested Butte, CO 81224

1880’s Cabin Restoration | Maroon Avenue, Crested Butte

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llCRESTED BUTTE SAVINGS & LOAN501 Elk Avenue / P.O. Box 1535 / Crested Butte, Colorado / 81224

www.gunnisonsl.com / cbsl@gunnisonsl.com

A Branch of Gunnison Savings & Loan Association

970-349-7207

Purchase • Construction • RefinanceExperienced, Personal Service

Competitive Rates

People arrive here calling it a visit...

...we help them call it home.

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Each depositor insured to at least $250,000Temporarily increased from $100,000 to $250,000 through 12/31/2013

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freeze our butts off and put all the fish back.

And then we go catch them again. A lot of

people don’t understand why we do it.”

The understanding seems to come only with

participation, or from observing an individual

who is completely enamored with the sport.

There is pleasure written all over the faces

of Smith and Howard, who say there is really

nowhere else they’d rather be on this brisk

winter day.

“You have to catch one to know, and then

it’s all over,” Smith says reverently. By the end

of the day he will have caught – and released

– four fish total, an afternoon well spent.

“THIS IS WHERE DREAMS ARE MADE,” he adds, gesturing to the Gold Medal waters

below. And then he’s off, heading with intent

down the bank of the Taylor River 20 yards or

so from where he caught his last fish, his mind

already wrapped around the puzzle of catch-

ing another one.

A Professional Custom Home, Remodel and Historic Renovation Company

Johnny Biggers ~ General Contractor970-349-5990 | cbbuilders@crestedbutte.net

405 3rd Street, Suite E / Crested Butte, CO 81224

1880’s Cabin Restoration | Maroon Avenue, Crested Butte

Phot

o : B

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CrestedButteMagazine.com12

Skyland Lodge, #402 • $109,000Newly remodeled kitchen!

Enjoy spectacular views of WhetstoneMountain from your south facing

balcony. Just across the street from thegolf course club house. Great value!

San Moritz Condo • $369,900Great value for Mt. Crested Butte ski-incondo. Remodeled inside and out. Only

$278/ square foot! Lowest price per sq. ft.for ski-in condo! All inclusive complex with

hot tubs, saunas and private shuttle.

SKI-IN/SKI-OUT

SUPER EFFICIENT

OVERLOOKING GOLF COURSE

West Elk CenterUnit 102 - 428 sq. ft. - $199,000Unit 103 - 357 sq. ft. - $166,000

Commercial space with great access,good traffic count, visibility and parking.

Spacious common area and restrooms.

COMMERCIAL CRESTED BUTTE

110 S. 12th Street • $209,500This Gunnison property is 11,500 sq. ft.with 3 buildings and 2 sheds. Building

1 is a residential home/commercial1,375 sq. ft. building. Building 2 is a

300 sq. ft. retail space. Building 3 is adetached 322 sq. ft. garage.

COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTIAL

189 Shavano • $345,000This 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath spacious town

home with garage is offered for less than$174 per sq. ft. Recent remodel hasopened the kitchen to capture the

amazing views! Solar exposure makethis home super efficient.

IN TOWN LIVING300 Belleview #6 • $199,000

Great 1 bedroom, 1 bath 594 sq. ft.condo in town. Short bike ride to

shopping, restaurants and the skishuttle stop! Great views of

Red Lady from your living room!

WWW.PREMIER-MOUNTAIN-PROPERTIES.COM

EXQUISITE MOUNTAIN LIVINGMAJESTIC MOUNTAIN RETREAT

20 Glacier Lily • $1,125,000This 3,616 sq. ft. Post & Beam featuresan open floor plan and magnificentprotected views. Oversized two bayattached garage includes an apartment.Situated on oversized 1.58 acre lot andborders 3 acres of open space.

$50,000+ RENTAL INCOME

550 L. Highlands Rd. • $1,248,000Perfect retreat nestled in the aspens on15+ acres with well and water rights.Spectacular views of mountain sunsets.Features granite slabs, stone tile, vaultedceilings, large loft, expansive decksand outdoor hot tub.

93 Meridian Lake Dr. • $535,0003 bedroom, 2 bathroom with garageis on a .49 acre lot bordering openspace. Protected unobstructed views,tennis courts and fishing rights too!

83 Alpine Court • $545,000Beautiful 3 bedroom, 3.5 bathhand-crafted home features woodfloors, granite, custom wrought-ironrailings and tile. Affordableopportunity! A must see!

FISHING RIGHTS

ENJOY THE SERENITY

210 N. 12th Street • $399,000This home was originally built in1883 and is in the final stages ofa complete restoration. Featuring3 bedrooms, 2 baths and a spaciouskitchen. Brand new two car garage.

HISTORIC GUNNISON HOME

“I was buying a $30,000 property and Mindy treated me like I was a milliondollar client!”

Holly Hicks • Almont, CO

“Mindy did an outstanding job through our entire purchase. On a scale of 1to 10, I would rate our experience with Mindy a 10. Mindy and the team atPremier Mountain Properties provided outstanding service and experiencebefore, during and after our purchase."

Greg and Becky Carver • Dallas, TX

“I have been investing in real estate for over 30 years and Mindy Sturm isthe best agent I have ever worked with.”

Bob Lordon • Seabrook, TX

“A friend of ours referred us to Buck at Premier Mountain Properties, andnow we see why! In particular, we appreciated Buck’s real estate expertise,knowledge of the market, and diligence in helping us find the perfectinvestment properties to suit our needs. We will definitely continue thispartnership for years to come and refer him without hesitation.”

Derek and Rebecca Steele • Houston, TX

CONDOS AND TOWNHOMES

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY

MAJESTIC MOUNTAIN RETREAT

$50,000+ RENTAL INCOME

FISHING RIGHTS

ENJOY THE SERENITY

HISTORIC GUNNISON HOME

SKI-IN/SKI-OUT

SUPER EFFICIENT

IN TOWN LIVING

OVERLOOKING GOLF COURSE

COMMERCIAL CRESTED BUTTE

COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTIAL

96 Chestnut Ln. • $100,000Owner financing possible. Next toopen space with grand valley viewsof Mt. Crested Butte, Whetstone andParadise Divide! Build your dreamhome here!

BORDERING OPEN SPACE

LARGE LOT

MOST AFFORDABLE LOT IN CB

341 Blackstock Dr. • $99,000This oversized HOME OR DUPLEXsite features much desired greenspace and a seasonal stream.Immense southern exposure offersgreat solar opportunities.

323 Larkspur Loop• $32,982Panoramic views in all directions fromthis spectacular home site. Enjoynearby stocked ponds, tennis courtsand public parks. Financing availablefor qualified buyers.

FINANCING AVAILABLE

SKI-IN/SKI-OUT

LARGE LOT ON RUNWAY

31 Ruby Road • $185,000This premier Mt. Crested Butte ski-inlot is the perfect alpine setting foryour mountain retreat. Numerousmature pine and aspen trees.Financing available with competitiveinterest rate- no closing costs!

ON FENCE LINE 734 S. Avion Dr. • $150,000The best lot in Brookside, offeringbiggest views and immense Southernexposure! Located just minutes fromCrested Butte and skiing!

4 Lapis Lane • $585,000Located in the coveted Gold Linkneighborhood on a private cul-de-sacthis .34 acre lot has easy ski-in/ski-out access! Enjoy mountain views!There is no HOA, therefore no HOAfees. Owner financing possible.

424 N. Avion Dr. • $397,000Fly to Crested Butte and enjoy yourmountain home! Rare opportunity topurchase a spectacular 1.43 acrerunway home and hangar site.Panoramic mountain views.

BORDERING BLM LAND40 Acres • Gunnison • $125,000Easy year round access borderingBLM land. Includes a seasonalwatering hole and a flat grassy areaperfect for a barn or trailers. Bringthe horses and ATV’s. Great price!

FISHERMAN’S’ DREAMRainbow Acres • $119,500River front subdivision with privatefishing rights on the Gunnison River.Lot 12 has a well and offers unobstructedriver and valley views. You will enjoythe convenience to Gunnison.

HIDEAWAY ON THE RIVER129 County Road 11 • $239,500Charming cabin tucked away on itsown little hideaway on the GunnisonRiver. Unique opportunity with somany possibilities. Just under threemiles to downtown Gunnison.

COZY LOG CABIN 1 Irwin Avenue • $299,0002 bedrooms, 1 bath, 1,163 square foothome has a well, new water heater,south facing deck, detached workshopand solar power. This home is locatedat the base of the West Elk range andoffers fishing at Irwin Lake.

Premier Mountain Properties’ office located at 318 Elk Avenue, Suite 15 inhistoric downtown Crested Butte provides the following services to clients:

• Wireless Hotspot • Phone Services• Conference Facilities • Printing, Copying and Faxing• Federal Express and UPS Delivery

All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Let our teamhelp you Unlock Paradise.

BUILD YOUR DREAM HOME

RECREATIONAL RETREATS

EXCLUSIVE CLIENT SERVICES

“Mindy’s enthusiasm and detaileddescription of how she would bemarketing my property helped me tochoose Premier Mountain Propertiesas my listing broker. Mindy was greatto communicate with and I could tellshe always had my best interest atheart. I am honored to recommendany perspective client to the Team atPremier Mountain Properties forfuture real estate needs.“

Ryan Thrush • Delta, CO

WWW.PREMIER-MOUNTAIN-PROPERTIES.COM970.349.6114 • 318 Elk Avenue • Box 1081 • Crested Butte, Colorado 81224Buck Sturm 303.249.2606 • Mindy Sturm 970.209.0911 • Melanie Swaine 970.275.0589 • Brian Cooper 970.275.8022

BORDERING BLM LAND

FISHERMAN’S’ DREAM

HIDEAWAY ON THE RIVER

COZY LOG CABIN

FINANCING AVAILABLE

SKI-IN/SKI-OUT

LARGE LOT ON RUNWAY

ON FENCE LINE

BORDERING OPEN SPACE

LARGE LOT

MOST AFFORDABLE LOT IN CB

SOLD!

CrestedButteMagazine.com 13

Skyland Lodge, #402 • $109,000Newly remodeled kitchen!

Enjoy spectacular views of WhetstoneMountain from your south facing

balcony. Just across the street from thegolf course club house. Great value!

San Moritz Condo • $369,900Great value for Mt. Crested Butte ski-incondo. Remodeled inside and out. Only

$278/ square foot! Lowest price per sq. ft.for ski-in condo! All inclusive complex with

hot tubs, saunas and private shuttle.

SKI-IN/SKI-OUT

SUPER EFFICIENT

OVERLOOKING GOLF COURSE

West Elk CenterUnit 102 - 428 sq. ft. - $199,000Unit 103 - 357 sq. ft. - $166,000

Commercial space with great access,good traffic count, visibility and parking.

Spacious common area and restrooms.

COMMERCIAL CRESTED BUTTE

110 S. 12th Street • $209,500This Gunnison property is 11,500 sq. ft.with 3 buildings and 2 sheds. Building

1 is a residential home/commercial1,375 sq. ft. building. Building 2 is a

300 sq. ft. retail space. Building 3 is adetached 322 sq. ft. garage.

COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTIAL

189 Shavano • $345,000This 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath spacious town

home with garage is offered for less than$174 per sq. ft. Recent remodel hasopened the kitchen to capture the

amazing views! Solar exposure makethis home super efficient.

IN TOWN LIVING300 Belleview #6 • $199,000

Great 1 bedroom, 1 bath 594 sq. ft.condo in town. Short bike ride to

shopping, restaurants and the skishuttle stop! Great views of

Red Lady from your living room!

WWW.PREMIER-MOUNTAIN-PROPERTIES.COM

EXQUISITE MOUNTAIN LIVINGMAJESTIC MOUNTAIN RETREAT

20 Glacier Lily • $1,125,000This 3,616 sq. ft. Post & Beam featuresan open floor plan and magnificentprotected views. Oversized two bayattached garage includes an apartment.Situated on oversized 1.58 acre lot andborders 3 acres of open space.

$50,000+ RENTAL INCOME

550 L. Highlands Rd. • $1,248,000Perfect retreat nestled in the aspens on15+ acres with well and water rights.Spectacular views of mountain sunsets.Features granite slabs, stone tile, vaultedceilings, large loft, expansive decksand outdoor hot tub.

93 Meridian Lake Dr. • $535,0003 bedroom, 2 bathroom with garageis on a .49 acre lot bordering openspace. Protected unobstructed views,tennis courts and fishing rights too!

83 Alpine Court • $545,000Beautiful 3 bedroom, 3.5 bathhand-crafted home features woodfloors, granite, custom wrought-ironrailings and tile. Affordableopportunity! A must see!

FISHING RIGHTS

ENJOY THE SERENITY

210 N. 12th Street • $399,000This home was originally built in1883 and is in the final stages ofa complete restoration. Featuring3 bedrooms, 2 baths and a spaciouskitchen. Brand new two car garage.

HISTORIC GUNNISON HOME

“I was buying a $30,000 property and Mindy treated me like I was a milliondollar client!”

Holly Hicks • Almont, CO

“Mindy did an outstanding job through our entire purchase. On a scale of 1to 10, I would rate our experience with Mindy a 10. Mindy and the team atPremier Mountain Properties provided outstanding service and experiencebefore, during and after our purchase."

Greg and Becky Carver • Dallas, TX

“I have been investing in real estate for over 30 years and Mindy Sturm isthe best agent I have ever worked with.”

Bob Lordon • Seabrook, TX

“A friend of ours referred us to Buck at Premier Mountain Properties, andnow we see why! In particular, we appreciated Buck’s real estate expertise,knowledge of the market, and diligence in helping us find the perfectinvestment properties to suit our needs. We will definitely continue thispartnership for years to come and refer him without hesitation.”

Derek and Rebecca Steele • Houston, TX

CONDOS AND TOWNHOMES

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY

MAJESTIC MOUNTAIN RETREAT

$50,000+ RENTAL INCOME

FISHING RIGHTS

ENJOY THE SERENITY

HISTORIC GUNNISON HOME

SKI-IN/SKI-OUT

SUPER EFFICIENT

IN TOWN LIVING

OVERLOOKING GOLF COURSE

COMMERCIAL CRESTED BUTTE

COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTIAL

96 Chestnut Ln. • $100,000Owner financing possible. Next toopen space with grand valley viewsof Mt. Crested Butte, Whetstone andParadise Divide! Build your dreamhome here!

BORDERING OPEN SPACE

LARGE LOT

MOST AFFORDABLE LOT IN CB

341 Blackstock Dr. • $99,000This oversized HOME OR DUPLEXsite features much desired greenspace and a seasonal stream.Immense southern exposure offersgreat solar opportunities.

323 Larkspur Loop• $32,982Panoramic views in all directions fromthis spectacular home site. Enjoynearby stocked ponds, tennis courtsand public parks. Financing availablefor qualified buyers.

FINANCING AVAILABLE

SKI-IN/SKI-OUT

LARGE LOT ON RUNWAY

31 Ruby Road • $185,000This premier Mt. Crested Butte ski-inlot is the perfect alpine setting foryour mountain retreat. Numerousmature pine and aspen trees.Financing available with competitiveinterest rate- no closing costs!

ON FENCE LINE 734 S. Avion Dr. • $150,000The best lot in Brookside, offeringbiggest views and immense Southernexposure! Located just minutes fromCrested Butte and skiing!

4 Lapis Lane • $585,000Located in the coveted Gold Linkneighborhood on a private cul-de-sacthis .34 acre lot has easy ski-in/ski-out access! Enjoy mountain views!There is no HOA, therefore no HOAfees. Owner financing possible.

424 N. Avion Dr. • $397,000Fly to Crested Butte and enjoy yourmountain home! Rare opportunity topurchase a spectacular 1.43 acrerunway home and hangar site.Panoramic mountain views.

BORDERING BLM LAND40 Acres • Gunnison • $125,000Easy year round access borderingBLM land. Includes a seasonalwatering hole and a flat grassy areaperfect for a barn or trailers. Bringthe horses and ATV’s. Great price!

FISHERMAN’S’ DREAMRainbow Acres • $119,500River front subdivision with privatefishing rights on the Gunnison River.Lot 12 has a well and offers unobstructedriver and valley views. You will enjoythe convenience to Gunnison.

HIDEAWAY ON THE RIVER129 County Road 11 • $239,500Charming cabin tucked away on itsown little hideaway on the GunnisonRiver. Unique opportunity with somany possibilities. Just under threemiles to downtown Gunnison.

COZY LOG CABIN 1 Irwin Avenue • $299,0002 bedrooms, 1 bath, 1,163 square foothome has a well, new water heater,south facing deck, detached workshopand solar power. This home is locatedat the base of the West Elk range andoffers fishing at Irwin Lake.

Premier Mountain Properties’ office located at 318 Elk Avenue, Suite 15 inhistoric downtown Crested Butte provides the following services to clients:

• Wireless Hotspot • Phone Services• Conference Facilities • Printing, Copying and Faxing• Federal Express and UPS Delivery

All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Let our teamhelp you Unlock Paradise.

BUILD YOUR DREAM HOME

RECREATIONAL RETREATS

EXCLUSIVE CLIENT SERVICES

“Mindy’s enthusiasm and detaileddescription of how she would bemarketing my property helped me tochoose Premier Mountain Propertiesas my listing broker. Mindy was greatto communicate with and I could tellshe always had my best interest atheart. I am honored to recommendany perspective client to the Team atPremier Mountain Properties forfuture real estate needs.“

Ryan Thrush • Delta, CO

WWW.PREMIER-MOUNTAIN-PROPERTIES.COM970.349.6114 • 318 Elk Avenue • Box 1081 • Crested Butte, Colorado 81224Buck Sturm 303.249.2606 • Mindy Sturm 970.209.0911 • Melanie Swaine 970.275.0589 • Brian Cooper 970.275.8022

BORDERING BLM LAND

FISHERMAN’S’ DREAM

HIDEAWAY ON THE RIVER

COZY LOG CABIN

FINANCING AVAILABLE

SKI-IN/SKI-OUT

LARGE LOT ON RUNWAY

ON FENCE LINE

BORDERING OPEN SPACE

LARGE LOT

MOST AFFORDABLE LOT IN CB

SOLD!

CrestedButteMagazine.com60

HANG-GLIDERS AND PARAGLIDERS SOAR WITH THEIR WINGED BRETHREN IN THE EVER-CHANGING SKIES AROUND CRESTED BUTTE. by Dawne Belloise

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CrestedButteMagazine.com 3

Childhood fantasies of flight begin from the time we run against the wind and feel the tug of the string as our first kite launches aloft into the day. Even as we grow older, we dream

CrestedButteMagazine.com62

RENTALS | SALES | SERVICE | APPAREL | ACCESSORIES | MAPS & Friendly Local Advice

The Full Service Shop in Crested Butte

new location207 Elk Avenue

970.349.0515

bigalsbicycleheaven.com

of soaring above the earth, communing with

birds and tickling the clouds... liberated from

gravity and the mundane.

Here in Crested Butte many of us are still

pursuing our childhood pleasures with grown-

up toys. Starting in the late 1970s, self-pro-

claimed pilots began launching themselves

from Crested Butte Mountain with the help of

wings, called hang-gliders. The sport was rela-

tively new throughout the U.S. and much more

challenging in the ever-changing weather

conditions of the mountains.

Not to be confused with those hucksters of

base-jumping who throw themselves off cliffs,

opening tiny parachutes behind them, hang-

gliders, and more recently paragliders, now

have to engage in strict certification through

education. They must practically become

micro-meteorologists. And since the ‘70s, their

equipment has evolved for optimum flight

through better technology and design.

Hang-gliding utilizes a structured wing while

paragliding uses a cellular canopy whose

tubular pockets fill with air to transform it into

a wing. Hang-gliders are suspended from the

airframe in a harness, flying like Superman,

head forward and bodies stretched prone

behind. They shift their body weight to control

the wing’s direction and head off searching

for thermals – updrafts of heated air which will

carry them to higher altitudes, allowing them

to fly for hours.

Paragliders fly suspended in a harness be-

CrestedButteMagazine.com 63

low their fabric wing, also known

as a ram-air airfoil or parafoil,

which is shaped by air pressure

entering the tubular vents that

form a row of cells in the front.

Since the cells are only open in

the leading edge, the incom-

ing air keeps the wing inflated,

maintaining its shape. While para-

chutes are designed for descend-

ing only, paragliders can also ascend.

The birds you often see circling overhead are flying in thermals.

Paraglider and hang-glider pilots often observe birds to know where

the thermals are. Thermals are created when the sun warms up the

ground and then warms up rock outcroppings even more, which

sends warm air rising into the sky. Pilots, like birds, center themselves

in the core of the thermals, circling to maximize lift and gliding from

one thermal to the next. Thermals are also identified by cumulus

clouds, which mark the top of a rising column of warm, humid air as it

reaches dew point and condenses to form a cloud.

Scott Yost is one of Crested Butte’s newest hang-gliding pilots and

a recent member of the Crested Butte Soaring Society (CBSS), a club

formed almost 35 years ago. He knows first hand that the weather

here is unique. “Flying in the Rockies is the most exciting and the

most difficult for soaring flight. At midday in a CB summer, it’s pos-

sible to catch thermals and ride up two thousand feet a minute. You

just hang on! That’s really what you’re going for,” Scott says of the

thrill. “It will mellow out as you get higher.”

Always searching for thermals since they have no motorized power,

hang-gliders need to rise 200 feet per minute just to maintain flight

against the pull of gravity. Gliders can soar up to 18,000 feet by Fed-

eral Aviation law. Scott’s personal high was 16,500 feet.

Up where birds rule, the feathered flyers have a curiosity about

the strange brethren hovering around their thermals. “They look

at you, they come to you, they’re really curious about you.” Most

pilots share stories similar to Scott’s. “I’ve flown with bald eagles,

ravens, kestrels, and they are the ultimate in thermaling. I’ve gotten

in thermals with birds five or ten feet below me and can see every

feather and their talons.” He still sounds awed. “I’ll be doing my best

to climb in the thermal and the birds will core through me!” (“Core”

means to get into the center of the thermal.)

The early days of hang-gliding defined it as a dangerous, daredevil

sport; equipment design was in its experimental phase and training

wasn’t as extensive. The accident rate has been dramatically de-

creased by training, well-designed modern wings and an emphasis

on safety; pilots know more about the weather and when to

come down or not go up at all.

Ben Eaton, another CBSS member, pilots a paraglider

and says he spent his first four years hiking the mountain

and launching off. He’s also flown from Anthracite Mesa

above Pittsburgh, the caves up Cement Creek, and Willow

Creek, a soaring site overlooking Blue Mesa Reservoir.

“Recently we’ve been allowed to fly off Mt. Crested

Butte.” Ben expressed his appreciation of Crested Butte

Mountain Resort for granting the club permission to use

ski resort property. “We’ve gone from being in the dark to

being very visible on an open ski area.”

Ben has had his own rapturous experiences in the air.

“There are a couple of falcons who live on Crested Butte

peak and they come out and play with us. The two will play

with one another and if we’re soaring above the peak they’ll

start toying with us, definitely curious.” He laughs. “They’ll

come close enough to touch their wingtips to ours,” he

says of the sort of handshake, “more of an acknowledge-

ment of your presence. They want to check you out. It’s

pretty obvious who’s dominant in the sky... they are.” Ben recalls another moving moment from the air. “The coolest

thing I’ve had happen was when I was flying with my wingman Bo

Thomsen [pilots generally fly with a buddy for safety]. We were flying

from Anthracite Mesa and we were having a really good thermic

flight when the forest underneath us started moving.” He paints an

image of a dark mass separating from the trees. “There were about

300 head of elk that you could only see from directly above. We fol-

lowed them for about five miles towards Cloud City. They saw our

shadows and that had spooked them.” He’s still enchanted with the

memory.

Tony Brown is one of the originals, flying hang-gliders since 1979.

He first flew Crested Butte in ‘81. “We get really close to birds dur-

ing migration. That’s a great force of nature that we’re tapping into

that the world can’t see... feeling the pulsing of the atmosphere and

pushing us upward,” Tony says. He also describes golden autumn

days, warmly crisp and sunny. “In the fall, sometimes the aspen

leaves get pulled up into thermals,” like a great sunlit spiral, thou-

sands of dancing gold specks being sucked upwards into the bright

blue heaven.

On the warmest days of summer, pilots will be dressed as though

they’re going skiing because it’s much colder at altitude. “Our Cam-

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elbaks usually freeze,” Tony adds, “but when you get up there at cloud base, you can

skim the clouds.”

His personal high was 24,000 feet at a Telluride Airmen’s Rendezvous, which had

received special FAA permission to exceed the altitude limit. “Not only getting high but

getting far is every pilot’s desire... to fly cross-country,” Tony said. “I’m always looking to

take long flights. I think our potential has barely been tapped here.” His longest flight

was 111 miles during a meet in California. He adds, “I’ve had three flights of almost one

hundred miles from Crested Butte and once ended up at Green Mountain Reservoir,

north of Dillon, crossing I-70,” where he was first witness to a forest fire. He’s flown east

to Florissant and also to the Sand Dunes.

Flying cross-country was first done from Crested Butte by Tommy Boylon, a.k.a. Cap-

tain Rainbow. In the late ‘80s he was the first to fly across the Continental Divide, landing

a little below the Monarch ski area... almost not making it. Tony, who is known among his

pilot peers as the local who can pull off cross-country excursions, explains, “Sometimes

I fly out and zone out, and watch the birds (for thermal indicators). It feels like an instant

entry into another reality, a type of wildness... everything changes. Even if it’s easy flying,

it’s the kind of thing that always takes a lot of focus and keeps your mind off mundane

things. Sometimes you can float around like you’re in a boat on a pond... but you always

keep a little scan going. Other times it’s completely taxing to use all your faculties to

keep in a thermal and stay out of your friends’ way. Sometimes you kind of get smacked

around in the sky. Sometimes you can just drive your glider around the sky. The chal-

lenges are always unique and ever changing.”

Scott Yost summarizes what most of us can only imagine: “It’s the boyhood dream of

flying, and most people will agree that hang-gliding or paragliding is the purest form of

human flight. There’s nothing closer to being a bird.”

Dawne Belloise is a freelance writer, photographer, traveler and musician living with a large cat in a tiny cottage on an alley at the end of the road in Crested Butte’s paradise. Her writing, musings and photography are published in various mags and rags. Contact dbelloise@gmail.com, rubysroad.com.

CrestedButteMagazine.com 65

Crested Butte Printing, in business in CrestedButte since 1985, hasmergedwithGrand Junctionbased Colorado Printing Company (CPC). Thenewentitywilloperate inCrestedButteunder thename“CrestedButte/CPCSolutions.“SteveMabryandChrisHanna, former owners ofCrested ButtePrinting, andKeithaKostykwill continue to servetheircustomers. Mabryexplained,“ByteamingupwithColoradoPrintingCo.,we can give our customers the samepersonal service that they are used to, but with agreatlyexpandedmenuofproductsandcapabilities.Those capabilities include access to high-volume,four-color printing, and digitally driven, variabledataproducts.Inaddition,wewillintroducetoourcustomersawholenewconceptofintegratingprintwiththeinternet.” According to Mike Antonucci, president ofColorado Printing, “Our goal is always to bringthemostsophisticatedmarketingtechniquestoourcustomers. In today’s world that is not just print,but much more. Our services range from creativeconsultation,design,copywritingandemailblasts.Wetrytocombineallthetechnologiestogetthemostmarketingbangforeachcustomer.WeareexcitedtobeworkingwithSteve,Chrisandtheircustomers.” CrestedButtePrinting’sdecisiontopartnerwithCPC comes after a long debate over purchasing anewpressandfinishingequipment.“Ourequipmentcouldn’thandleoursalesvolume.Thereweretimesof the year where our sales volume far exceededour capabilities, which forced us to out source asignificant amount of work. Moving forward wehadtomakeadecision,spendatremendousamount

ofmoneyonanewpressandfinishingequipmentor partnerwithCPC to utilize and offer the latesttechnologiesinprintingandmarketing,”saidMabry.“Itwasatoughdecisionbutclearlythebestmoveforourcompany.” With theCrested Butte Printing side dissolvedDecember 1, 2009, Crested Butte Publishing, stillowned by Mabry and Hanna, will operate as italwayshasandremainsunchangedwiththemerger.Hannaelaborated:“Withourmanufacturingoffsite,ithasgivenusabreathofnewenergytofocusonthetitleswehave and to improve them.”PublicationssuchasTheCrestedButteMagazine,The In-RoomGuide and The Map of Crested Butte and Mt.Crestedarealreadygettingmoreattention.“WehaveafantasticnewwebsiteforCrestedButteMagazine(crestedbuttemagazine.com) and we have justofficiallypartneredwith thechamberof commercetomakeourmapitsofficialvisitor’smap.Therearegoodthingsgoingonhere.” With today’s economy impacting companiesnationwide, Mabry stressed, “We did not go outof business nor was this a decision based on theeconomy.Infact,we(CrestedButte/CPCSolutions)haveneverbeenstronger.Ourpricing,theproductswecanofferandourturntimehaveallimproved.WearereallyexitedtoprogressasCrestedButte/CPCSolutions. Of course none of this would be viablewithout our amazing client base.We are fortunatetohavesuchgreatcustomerswhohavebeenpatientandwillingtogrowwithusthroughthistransitionandwelookforwardtoseeingeveryoneatournewcreek side location, on Elk Avenue behind RyceRestaurant.”

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“FIRE IN THE HOLE”There is something to be said for waking up to black powder can-

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bagpipes. I open my eyes to see the shadows of a ponderosa pine

dancing on the walls of a canvas tent. Smoky, a long-time participant

of Mountain Man Rendezvous, says he is happier here than when

he wakes up in a room with painted walls that don’t shift under the

weight of wind. The shadows remind me of walks in the woods with

my mother; holding my hand, she would let me close my eyes and

walk beneath the cracks of sunlight as they danced on my eyelids.

I have to pinch myself to remember that it was just one year

earlier that I visited my first Mountain Man Rendezvous. It was a

Saturday in August, and the sky was overcast and threatening to

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rain when I left my house. Instead of brows-

ing the booths at the Crested Butte Arts

Festival, I found myself turning west off

Highway 135 onto Washington Gulch Road.

An inconspicuous wooden sign with yellow

lettering leaned on the street sign, offer-

ing a tentative welcome to passersby.

EAST RIVER FREE TRADERSMOUNTAIN MAN RENDEZVOUS

PUBLIC WELCOME

I drove slowly, avoiding the cattle grazing

placidly on both sides of the road. I could

almost touch their noses. Clouds of dust fol-

lowed my car, and I watched for the Rendez-

vous site around every corner of the dirt road

until I saw the designated parking area. Adja-

cent to the road, a plastic port-a-john stood in

contrast to the painted teepees and triangular

canvas tents of the camp, where costumed

men, women and children milled about.

Drawn to the explosive sounds of black

powder rifles, I ventured into the high grasses

where the shooting competition was under-

way. An angular, long-mustached man knelt on

one knee scrutinizing his competitors as they

took turns on the targets. I sat cross-legged

in the sharp grass, jotting notes and trying to

ignore the questioning gazes of the riflemen.

When I left that day, as the afternoon

rain began to fall, I knew I would return to

the Rendezvous. Smoky and Tuck enticed

me with their fantastic stories of road-kill

stew, homemade whiskey called apple pie,

and “counting coups” on their Rendezvous

neighbors. By the next summer, I had rounded

up a few makeshift outfits and planned to

attend five Rendezvous throughout Colo-

rado. “Welcome home,” Tuck said every time

he greeted me at the Rendezvous sites.

Once, on the way to Rendezvous, we

stopped at a grocery store to pick up last-

CrestedButteMagazine.com 69

minute items, and I marveled at my

reflection in the store window… dressed

in colonial whites, cinched at the waist by

a thick, braided leather belt, with shin-

high moccasins a size too wide and my

hair in two long braids. I grabbed some

matches and vegetables for Smoky’s

Dutch oven buffalo meatloaf and blushed

when the clerk smiled at my attire.

Historically, Mountain Man Rendez-

vous were pre-planned gatherings of

fur trappers who had survived another

winter in the wilderness collecting beaver

pelts. Men from fur-trading companies

also arrived on horseback and were

eager to obtain furs in exchange for

supplies, booze and gifts for the fur

trappers’ Indian brides. At camps with

hundreds of tents, people spent their

days socializing and remembering

friends who never materialized again.

Rendezvous was a time of great

celebration and an opportunity for mountain men to take a

short hiatus from the dangers they faced every day. The days

and nights were lively for these men reveling in their reprieve

from the threats of wild animals, hypothermia, starvation and

the Indians, who were rightfully wary of the white man.

Between 1800 and 1840, there were fewer than 40 Rendez-

vous in the territory that is now Colorado. These popular events

disappeared with the mountain men when the beaver popula-

tions shrunk and silk hats from Europe became fashionable.

During the 1970s when characters like Jeremiah Johnson and

Grizzly Adams became popular figures in American culture,

and when back-to-the-landers sought refuge in the wilderness,

Rendezvous reappeared. Men and women began gathering at

living history encampments wearing “period-appropriate” at-

tire and creating campsites of teepees and military tents used

during early exploration of the West. Here, people traded for

goods that would have been available at Bent’s Old Fort or Fort

Robidoux and competed in muzzleloading and bow and ar-

row contests and, occasionally, a good wrestling match.

Typically, when we arrived at Rendezvous, dozens of cars, trucks,

vans, and Airstream trailers were parked haphazardly in the grass.

Out of the truck, I pulled teepee poles accompanied by large,

heavy canvases and well-made wooden boxes that held clothes,

food, domestic and recreational tools, as well as trading goods.

Smoky and I unfolded and situated the canvas tent on the ground.

We kicked old, dried cowpies from the perimeter of the tent, lined

up the poles and unfolded woven ropes at each corner. As soon

as the truck was empty, I reparked it in the parking lot; all vehicles

were removed from the camp until the weekend was over.

Today’s Rendezvous begins calmly after the morning cannons re-

mind everyone where they are. Burly and bearded men arise and don

their “capotes”— long, hooded coats fashioned out of genuine Hud-

son Bay Company or Whitney Point wool.

Coffee, consisting of unfiltered grounds

and water, is made on an open fire,

and no one comments if I pluck coffee

grounds from my teeth during breakfast.

There is a considerable level of au-

thenticity at these events. One’s years at

Rendezvous are apparent in the quality

of costume and camp. A common joke

is that everyone must leave Rendez-

vous and go back to work so they can

afford to come back to Rendezvous!

Smoky adorns himself with his best

beaded belts, bags and necklaces and

remarks, “Where else does a guy get to

decide what jewelry to wear today?”

I learn the meaning of “camp dog-

ging” for breakfast: showing up with

a spoon, an empty wooden bowl and

coffee mug, so the generous host fills my

belly with a meal of eggs, vegetables,

fruit, toast and strong black coffee. I watch

a young boy throw a hatchet at a target while his parents social-

ize. Later that summer, I’ll witness the “naming ceremony” where

he takes the moniker “Buffalo Chips,” having been successfully

dared to put some of the dung in his mouth. Fortunately, I’ll make it

through a summer of Rendezvous without acquiring a camp name,

which is assigned according to “something stupid” the person has

done (although I was threatened with the name “Long Winded”). Later in the morning, I walk with Tuck down Trader’s Row, stop-

ping to visit with friends and peruse the displayed goods. I ad-

mire the strands and boxes of beads, handmade leather bath kits,

New Mexican woven belts and cast iron pots and pans. I purchase

calico-patterned bloomers, and Tuck treats me to a baby blue

felt hat that is later adorned with a feather by another friend.

In the evening, we gather around a grand campfire and lis-

ten to tall tales about adventurous, wise and wily mountain men.

These are heroic stories of historical fur trappers and traders

like Jim Bridger and Kit Carson, who explored the frontier be-

fore Native Americans were removed and before miners rushed

to the West in search of gold, silver, coal and hard rock.

Bottles of whiskey are passed as well-dressed mountain men

and women pull harmonicas and spoons from their “possibles”

bags and make music together. There are several balladeers

on the Rendezvous circuit, and they inevitably perform a score

of the most familiar songs and stories. I tap my palms on my

knees and watch the people around me bow their heads, close

their eyes and bounce with the rhythm of the instruments.

When I leave the fire and walk back to the tent, the cool, dark air

is highlighted by a stunning moon shining through high, splotchy

clouds. Oil-lit lanterns light campsites; soft voices and laughs drift

from every direction. So this is what Rendezvous feels like, I think.

Living history events are often misunderstood. One imagines

Civil War re-enactors dressed as Yankees or Rebels charging across

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fields with bayonets poised. It’s a common

assumption that re-enactors are escap-

ing reality. But I like to think that bare-

foot children chasing butterflies through

camp are a legitimate part of my reality.

In film, literature and truth, the mountain

men of the fur trade era experienced North

American soil as unspoiled and untouched.

It was the land of Native Americans, who

took only what they needed, gave praise

for what was afforded them and roamed

a great and varied landscape. The Indians

taught the mountain men their traditions

as well as the routes of their best guides.

In the years to come, mountain men would

show these routes to explorers and set-

tlers as civilization expanded west.

Every now and then, I try to channel those

mountain men. I walk quietly through the

wilderness wearing moccasins. I dance around

the fire to ward away coyotes howling from

the darkness. Rendezvous challenges me to

understand a time when the land was freer

and wilder. That time was less comfortable,

but also less distracted. I feel this connec-

tion during manual labor, like gardening,

shoveling snow and stacking firewood.

I catch a glimpse of that era when hiking

up Snodgrass or Gothic Mountain, dipping

into spaces where pine trees cover the sky. I

imagine what a mountain man felt when he

rode horseback up Paradise Divide, sur-

rounded by wilderness and healthy rivers

full of profitable beavers. When I moved

to Crested Butte five years ago, I didn’t

fully understand this land. But thanks to

Rendezvous, now I can see Paradise.

CrestedButteMagazine.com 13

RESHAPING OUR CULTURE MAY BE A LONG HAUL; BUT DYNAMO NORDIC SKI COACH AND ULTRA-MARATHON RUNNER DUNCAN CALLAHAN SPECIALIZES IN LONG HAULS.Story by Laura Puckett

Photos by Rob O’Dea Photography

A lanky runner from the Gunnison Val-

ley doesn’t sound like a poster child for

revolution, but that is, indeed, what Duncan

Callahan is all about. As an accomplished

ultra-marathon runner and head coach of

the Crested Butte Junior Nordic Ski Team,

Callahan is undertaking his revolution primar-

ily through running and skiing, but his vision

supersedes any one sport. It’s all about goals.

“My personal mission statement is to set a

goal, work toward it, tweak it, keep an eye on

it, achieve it, and teach or inspire others to do

the same thing. That’s why I’m here,” he says.

So whether he’s winning the Leadville 100

trail run, as he did in 2008, or teaching a sixth

grader how to skate ski, Callahan strives to

fulfill this mission one mile, one kid, one goal

at a time.

It’s surprising to find this confidence and

sense of purpose in someone 27 years old,

but they are evident in Callahan’s every move

and word. He walks into a room with his head

high, his stride strong. He speaks clearly, his

gaze unflinching.

“I’ve seen so many people with all the re-

sources in the world, or without any resources,

across the board, sitting. Sitting. Being bored,

not knowing what to do, not knowing how

to move forward,” he says. “We’re humans;

we’re supposed to do something bigger than

sit around playing XBox.” Striving for goals,

he believes, is the key to changing our culture

that “as a whole has become too complacent,

too tired, too lazy, too negative.”

CrestedButteMagazine.com72

Only in the last few months has he been

able to state his mission so distinctly. Previous-

ly, he was driven more by his passion for pure

sport. Growing up in Glens Falls, New York, he

found success as a Nordic skier and wanted to

continue on at the NCAA level, which brought

him to Western State College. After graduat-

ing from Western in 2005, he continued to

pursue skiing as the head coach in Crested

Butte. He began to focus on running at a new

level, too.

“Running resonated with me right away,” he

says. “I liked it. The rhythm of it, the exces-

siveness of it, the competition of it.” In high

school he posted better results as a skier, but

“I’ve always had a passion for volume,” he

says. One dry December day while the Nordic

coach taught the beginner skiers on a thin

patch of snow, Callahan was told to go for a

training run; 31.6 miles later he wrote in his

training log, “I want to run an ultra.”

With the encouragement of local runners

Scott Drum and Jake Jones, Callahan attained

this “ultra” (26 miles or more) goal in 2007

when he completed a 50-kilometer race in

Moab. That same summer he ran a 50-mile

race in Fruita and his first Leadville 100. A new

phase of his life had begun. In 2008, Callahan

earned his greatest title to date as the Lead-

ville 100 champion, completing the arduous

CrestedButteMagazine.com 73

course in just over 18 hours. The summer of 2009

Callahan garnered sponsorships from companies like

Vasque, Sport Hill and Vespa Amino Acid Supple-

ment and stepped up his racing schedule, compet-

ing in nine races and finishing in the top ten every

time (and in the top three all but twice).

Running is clearly one way Callahan embodies his

life mission. To complete one 100-mile running race,

let alone a dozen, requires enormous dedication and

determination. He wants people to understand it’s

not instantaneous: he’s had to go through the process. “You can’t see what happened in

my mind when I was on my four-hour run. But you can see ‘Duncan was seventh that year,

he won this year. Duncan’s time was 21 hours that year, 18 hours this year.’” He hopes

others will say, “I’m pretty inspired by that. I’m going to go do the same thing.”

The second half of his mission, to inspire and teach others how to set goals, fits

perfectly with ski coaching. His evolution from athlete into coach hasn’t been seamless,

though. At age 23 he took charge of the Crested Butte Junior Nordic Program and two

winters later decided to step away. He’s frank that during his first two years of coaching

he was excited about skiing around with kids, but that the other aspects of the job—

fundraising, relationships, administration—were more challenging. A year off changed his

perspective, and when he was given a chance to come back for the 2008-2009 winter, he

launched a new era.

Callahan took his second shot at coaching to enact a lesson he learned from his father.

“My dad has always said, ‘I don’t care who you are or what you do. I don’t care if you’re

the trash guy, I don’t care if you’re a CEO. You have one little thing, and you become an

expert, or you move towards becoming an expert, in it. In that process, you gain confi-

dence. When you have confidence, you’ve got the ability to try other things or to accept

criticism.’”

Callahan’s Leadville victory helped bring him to a place of greater confidence. Return-

ing to coaching, he could reflect on his strengths and weaknesses without feeling threat-

Duncan Callahan crosses the finish line as the 2008 Leadville 100 champion.

CrestedButteMagazine.com74

it’s about the land

Photograph by: Rebecca Weil

Crested Butte Land Trustwww.cblandtrust.org

970.349.1206

CRESTED BUTTE

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ened. “I’ve been more open to and willing to accept dialogue from these other families,

and they’ve poured out into me. There’s been a lot of giving of emotional energy, mental

energy, logistical support, financial support, you name it. When you get that kind of sup-

port coming in from people, you’ve got no choice but to give back.”

Giving back he’s done in force. “I think of my parents as the rocket that boosts the

orbiter into space. They instilled vision, dreams, ideas and knowledge into me. Well, now

that I’m in orbit, I’d better do something so that rocket-ship’s mission wasn’t in vain.”

To launch his young athletes, Callahan meets with the Nordic team two mornings and

six afternoons a week during the winter, and two to five days a week all summer.

“It’s scary in some ways,” he says. “Their goals become your goals, their successes

become your highs, their failures become your lows. A year ago I had a really good

relationship with one kid and one family; now I have committed relationships with six,

seven, eight kids and families.” While he’s thrilled with the increased dedication among

the team members this year, he hopes to grow the program still more. Having twelve to

fifteen junior athletes and six to eight college athletes would make the team self-sustain-

ing, both financially and energetically, but would keep it small enough for quality control.

It’s a long-term vision, but, true to character, he has set the goal and is working toward it.

Callahan acknowledges that he may get a bit extreme with the “mission” theme at

times. “I like things in excess,” he says.

With more drive than most people can fathom, Callahan realizes it’s unique to “wake

up at 4:15 in the morning, buzzing to go run. I come back from my run and write down all

these notes and thoughts and ideas that I had.”

These days most of his ideas are for his athletes or his training. With five ultra mara-

thons, including three 100-milers, on Callahan’s docket for 2010, staying consistent,

healthy and balanced will be as important as podium finishes.

Wherever Callahan focuses his energy in the future, one thing’s a safe bet: he’ll ap-

proach it wholeheartedly and tirelessly, full of ideas and plans, buzzing.

CrestedButteMagazine.com 17

CRESTED BUTTE

MOUNTAIN RESORT

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Inspire your passion.TMInspire your passion.TMInspire your passion.

Take a chair lift ride and hike to spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and valley. Demo a Specialized mountain bike to explore our huge network of biking trails. Try the disc golf course or spend an afternoon on the bungee trampoline, playing mini golf, and climbing at the Adventure Park. To book activities call (970)349-2262 or (800)847-6877.

*Bring this ad to the Adventure Center, and get one FREE child (17 and under) summer lift ticket with the purchase of one adult summer lift ticket. Offer good through Labor Day, 2010.

WHERE THERE’S ADVENTURE ATEVERY TURN*Bring this ad to the Adventure Center, and get one FREE child (17 and under) summer lift ticket with the purchase of one adult summer lift ticket. Offer good through Labor Day, 2010.

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CrestedButteMagazine.com76

EMILY POST MIGHT NEED A NEW CATEGORY TO ENCOMPASS CRESTED BUTTE’S NOT-QUITE-BY-THE-BOOK WEDDINGS.By Rachael Gardner

Many of us who plan weddings for a living

have read Emily Post’s Wedding Etiquette

more times than we care to admit. According

to Emily, all the weddings in the world fall into

exactly three categories: formal, semi-formal

and informal. The informal and semi-formal

weddings should be given their due respect,

but it is the formal wedding that holds special

attraction for most ladies – even in Crested

Butte, a decidedly informal town.

We dance to the beat of a different drum

here in the mountains, so I decided to

revisit the rules of etiquette and determine

if a formal Crested Butte wedding was even

possible. Had I been misleading formally clad

couples down an informal aisle all these years?

Emily’s formal wedding designation is

determined by four criteria: time of day, attire,

size of the wedding party and location. Armed

with this information, I reviewed past wed-

dings to see if they met Ms. Post’s standards.

Emily makes it clear that while an elegant

wedding can take place at any time of day, a

formal wedding takes place in the evening.

As anyone in Crested Butte knows, evening

is the most sensible time for a wedding. This

is to avoid the afternoon rain showers that

can wreak havoc on an outdoor ceremony. An

evening wedding also enables the groom (or

bride) to bike 401 and finish in plenty of time

to shower and dress. Was the practicality of

an evening wedding the true driving force or

just a happy coincidence? At any rate, Emily’s

time-of-day criterion was an easy one to meet.

Second on the list of requirements is attire.

Tuxedos, gowns, dark suits, cocktail dresses

and other forms of finery are mentioned as

acceptable dress code for a formal wedding.

Many couples in Crested Butte don a tuxedo and traditional white dress to exchange

vows. Just because they hike off into the woods to exchange those vows doesn’t

make the dress any less formal. As for the guests, peel away layers of work clothes and

athletic gear, and you’ll find that residents of Crested Butte not only know how to dress

for a formal occasion; they relish the rare opportunity to wear something other than

denim.

Mountain Matrimonials

CrestedButteMagazine.com 77

Then my mind settled on the dogs. A Buttian is seldom without his or her dog; to get married without one’s canine companion would

be unthinkable. I could scarcely recall a Crested Butte wedding that didn’t have the family dog acting as ring bearer. If the humans dress

in formal attire but the ring bearer goes unclothed and bare-pawed, does that still qualify as a formal wedding? I wasn’t sure what Emily

would say, but I imagined you could put a tuxedo tie on the dog (floral wreath for the females) and present a fairly solid argument for a

formal wedding designation.

The third criterion states that the size of the formal wedding party should be between four and ten attendants each for the bride

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and the groom; a couple needs at least eight

people to participate in their wedding cer-

emony. Between traditional bridesmaids and

groomsmen, readers, musicians, friends serv-

ing as amateur officiants, dogs (Emily did not

specify that the attendants must be human),

flower girls and ring bearers of the two-legged

variety, eight was an easy number to reach.

Sometimes, in fact, it takes a village to marry

a couple, not just raise their children. Could a

couple get extra credit in one category to be

applied to another? I considered an evening

wedding in which the white-gowned bride

paused throughout the processional to greet

specific friends and each time was handed a

flower as that individual fell in step behind her.

When the bride reached the minister, her wed-

ding bouquet had been created from the flowers passed to her by

friends. During the recessional, the newlyweds again paused every

few feet, this time to collect a friend with a musical talent. When this

wedding party reached the end of the aisle, the attendants turned

and performed a song for the guests, written by the couple.

Could the abundance of the wedding party make up for the random

pair of not-quite-formal khakis that showed up in its midst? The

criteria count was three formal, one semi-formal, but I wasn’t sure the

rules of etiquette were subject to the democratic process. And mov-

ing on to the fourth criterion only muddied the waters.

According to Emily, a formal

wedding ceremony usually takes

place in a house of worship, a

large home or a garden. She says

little about the reception, prob-

ably assuming that venue choice

would complement the formal as-

pects of the ceremony. This is not

a safe assumption in Crested Butte. I remembered a very formal and

traditional Jewish wedding with a reception on the Brick Oven deck

CrestedButteMagazine.com 79

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and a bride who could not wait to shed her

designer wedding dress in favor of blue jeans

and cowboy boots. I’d have to adopt a “don’t

ask, don’t tell” policy when it came to Emily

and Crested Butte’s wedding receptions.

As for the ceremonies themselves, many

Crested Butte weddings take place in gardens

and churches, meeting the fourth criterion for

a formal event. However, just as many take

place in other outdoor locations sacred to the

couples. My mind swam with ceremony spots

– couples who exchanged vows in Coal Creek,

on the Woods Walk, at a favorite fly-fishing

spot on Cement Creek, at the top of Paradise

Divide, amid wildflowers below Mt. Crested

Butte; the list stretched on and on. Perhaps

I could expand the definition of “house of

worship” to include these areas that inspired

personal and spiritual reflection.

With a little leniency, I decided that all the

weddings I had labeled as formal would hold

up to the Emily Post standard, even with their

dearth of mansions and ballrooms. But on

a last stroll down memory lane, I started to

remember the tiny details I’d glossed over.

I thought of the formally dressed couple who

stood alone at the evening altar but recog-

nized their would-be wedding party by provid-

ing each with a townie bike and riding as a

group from the ceremony to the reception. Is

it still a wedding party if they pedal beside the

couple instead of standing beside them?

What about the beautiful wedding at which

all were asked to go barefoot? Is a suit still

considered formalwear in the absence of

shoes?

And what to do about the minister who

wore white buckskins while the wedding party

stood in tuxedos and long gowns?

The incidents of Crested Butte style adorn-

ing otherwise traditional weddings could fill a

book. Each quirky detail served as a significant

factor in the couple’s wedding and couldn’t be

overlooked, but they challenged Emily’s tidy

nuptial demarcations.

Then I realized that Emily Post, being the

champion of etiquette, would want things to

be pleasant and properly ordered. Most likely,

were she to spend some time in our little

town, she would simply add a new category:

Crested Butte Formal.

CrestedButteMagazine.com 81

Visitors wandering through mid-town Crested Butte might be puzzled to encounter a two-story wooden totem pole, more fitting for the tribal lands of the Northwest than a former coal-mining town in the Colorado Rockies. But to those who know Crested Butte, with its madcap characters and penchant for whimsy, the totem pole seems right at home. Especially for me, since I photographed and wrote about its creation 37 years ago. George Sibley, the 1973 director of the Festival of the Arts, wasn’t content with just artists’ booths on Elk Avenue; he planned to steer the festival toward interactive art, with demonstrations and workshops. Over beer, local woodcrafter Denny McNeill expanded the vision: “There oughta be a 50-foot spruce log with people carving on it all at once.” After more meetings over more beers, Sibley challenged McNeill to spearhead the project. He took $50 from the Art Festival’s meager budget to local sawmill owner Joe Rozman, who delivered a 30-foot-long, three-foot-diameter spruce tree he felled near Lake Irwin. On August 6, the Monday of Art Festival week, I photographed McNeill and Barbara Kotz Sibley (then George’s wife) biting into the bark with whining chainsaws, roughing out their designs. Woodcrafters Bill Folger, Phil McKay and Jim Cazer joined them. Chips flew as their tools spit resin-scented

sawdust into the rocky lot near Third

Street and Maroon Avenue.

HOW A MOTLEY, FUN-LOVING CREW CREATED CRESTED BUTTE’S FIRST INTERACTIVE PUBLIC ARTS INSTALLMENT 37 YEARS AGO. Story and photos by Sandra Cortner

A Tribe & Its Totem

CrestedButteMagazine.com82

TOP LEFT: Denny McNeill & Barb Sibley make their first cuts in the log soon to be a totem pole. BOTTOM LEFT: Jim Cazer & Denny McNeill chainsaw the bark off. TOP RIGHT: Bill Fol-ger attaches branches (horns) to his buffalo head. BOTTOM RIGHT: George Sibley checking it all out. Do you see the resemblance?

CrestedButteMagazine.com 83

I ran the picture on page one of my Crested Butte Pilot newspaper and, because my office was just up the alley,

often dropped by to photograph the noisy progress.

Each carver worked a five-foot section of the trunk, with neither written plan nor detailed sketches — just an

agreement to finish by Sunday. Six days hence, it would be, in McNeill’s words, “Something fun for everyone to look

at.” Crested Butte’s first collaborative public art project was on its way.

Today, the totem pole remains one of the most momentous events of Art Festival annals. Yet recollections of its

creation vary, and my newspaper articles and photos only nicked the surface. Even the artists can’t agree. However, it is

a touchstone of collective memories of the 1970s, from when we were certainly a tribe of our own.

So, what really happened that summer, from top to bottom?

Recently, via e-mail, McNeill described the head he created on the top of the totem that I’d always thought was a

caricature of George Sibley. “It was originally supposed to be a face that was mostly nose and ears, resembling an elephant

somewhat. But the vertical nature of the log segment made that idea unworkable.”

The way McNeill tells it, a girl approached him during his handwork and asked

if he was carving Sibley. Struggling with his figure, McNeill replied in frustration,

“Yes, that’s George,” starting the persistent rumor. Recently, wanting to set the

record straight, he wrote, “It was a caricature of someone from the movie ‘King of

Hearts.’ Steve Glazer ran it every year at the Princess Theater. There was always a

masquerade party at Frank and Gal’s afterwards. The thing under the chin is a

bow tie.”

Barb Sibley still believes McNeill meant to caricaturize George, but admits that

chainsaw carving was new to them all, so their designs evolved along the way. “We were all winging it. In fact it was, for me, a

week’s seminar in how to keep a chainsaw running.”

Barb, who carved the second and third figures, started her woodworking business, the Alphabet, in 1969. After mostly

crafting plates, bowls and signs, she became enamored of trolls, creating them in all sizes — the largest one for the totem

pole. Realizing the space was too long for just the troll, she added the eagle beak and wings design, wanting “to stretch in

more ways than just filling allotted space.”

She recalled, “Billy Folger carved the mushroom at the foot of my troll and about gave Denny apoplexy as he was cutting

in narrower and narrower, in the very middle of the pole!”

Folger, who ski patrolled in the winter and carved in the summer, depicted a buffalo head below the troll. The week

after the Art Festival, he scaled a tall ladder, which was in place for staining, to secure the horns — three-foot tree branches.

Through the years the horns were lost. Folger, now of Hotchkiss, has remained a perennial exhibitor at the Art Festival.

Phil McKay, the only non-local totem artist, was visiting his friend Jim Cazer and carved a turtle going up one side and

down the other. At least that’s what I’m told. I have since discovered I’m not the only one who has to squint to figure it out.

Recently, I studied the pole anew, puzzled by the doubled-sided figure with paddle-like feet. Barb sounded less impressed by

McKay’s turtle than by his skill in operating his chainsaw in a trouble-free manner. “When his saw ran out of gas, he sat on the

tailgate of his truck and completely dismantled, thoroughly cleaned and gassed up his saw.”

You would expect the top of the tree to be the top of the totem pole log. However, it’s reversed, explained McNeill.

Semi-rotted wood comprised the slender treetop, which became the bottom of the totem. The misfortune wasn’t

discovered until Jim Cazer began work near the ground level and ended up with the short, or in this case skinny, end of the

stick.

Judging from my photos, he appears to have successfully carved a face with a ski jump nose, big jowls and buggy eyes

anchored by a row of five toes. At the time, he said it represented President Nixon. The local lore (reflecting the anti-war

sentiment of the time) was that Cazer knew dogs would be lifting their legs on his effigy. Later, a tongue sticking out was

added. A female friend claims it was a genital appendage and McNeill thinks it was the nose. Folger believes the figure was

a dog. Just as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so too is meaning.

Recently Cazer said, “I would have to say that my carving really didn’t represent any individual or animal except

what I would call ‘Low Man (on the …)’ While that position has traditionally been looked at as the least desirable… I

was actually quite proud to be selected for it. The Low Man is the one who supports the whole shebang, and when he

finally gives out, all of the other higher beings hit the dirt.”

As McNeill predicted, it was “fun art,” not fine art. Its creators figured the totem pole might remain upright for

five years or so.

what REALLY happened that summer, from

top to BOTTOM?

CrestedButteMagazine.com84

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Raising the totem pole became another “interactive workshop,” as townspeople joined the woodcarvers on the final day of the festi-val, August 12, 1973. A local contractor dug an eight-foot hole with his backhoe. While a crowd watched and I photo-graphed, the patrol leader for the ski resort, who loaned a crane in return for a six-pack of beer, maneuvered the boom to hoist the pole into place, its belly protected by old tires. A team of bare-chested, long-haired hippies, commanded by McNeill, steadied guide ropes as the pole entered its place of honor, facing Elk Avenue. McNeill swung from the crane in rope rigging and crowned the top with an eagle weather vane forged by metalsmith Jim Wallace. A painter donated the stain/oil and sprayed the whole log. The oiling was not enough to protect the pole during the ensuing years. It cracked and then, top heavy, became our “Leaning Tower of Totem.” On June 22, 2006, the Town’s Totem Pole Committee (as Cazer calls it) lifted it down with a crane, oiled it and then en-circled it with four metal bands to stabilize the fissure wounding its right side. They cut off the decomposed bottom of the pole, along with the head of McKay’s turtle and Cazer’s rotting Low Man/Nixon. A metal housing was inserted into the log, screwed onto a rod in the ground, and encased in concrete. Now the totem faces slightly off the original center among picnic tables and benches in the manicured “vest-pocket park” that people call Totem Pole Park. The original carvers have discussed re-convening in Crested Butte to create another totem pole together. Or to feed the original one to a ceremonial bonfire before passing the torch, literally, to the next crew of artists.

“It might be time for a new generation of

Buttians to carve their own totems,”

Cazer said.

185 Juried ArtistsCulinary Demo Tent

Art Demo Tent

Festival Art Auction

Childrens Art Alley

Musical Entertainment

After Hours Events A non profit organization, the CBAF

enhances community life with art education and outreach programs throughout the year and

by providing artists and art organizations financial assistance through our annual grant cycle.

community outreach

38th annual crested butte arts festival

saturday

july 31 sunday

august 1

visual · performing · culinary arts

Peter Karner · Ceramics

new this year

The CBAF incorporatest h e c u l i n a r y a r t s i n 2010 with a variety of gastronomic indulgences.Join us for a very special

kick-off dinner featuring five of Colorado’s hottest chefs, FIVE™ (www.denverfive.com) and enjoy five courses and five phenomenal wines on Friday, July 30th. The culinary arts permeate the festival with unique seminars like “The Art of the Martini” and “BBQ, Bourbon & Beer” plus FREE chef demonstrations and tastings in our state of the art outdoor kitchen, complete with Viking appliances and equipment.

www.crestedbutteartsfestival.org

originalityhigh

altitude 20

10

Tate Hamilton · Painting

Larry Fielder · Mixed Media

art alley festival - historic elk avenue

Dusty Demerson photo

Sandra Cortner authored “Crested Butte Stories…Through My Lens” and ran the Art Festival during its tamer, less imaginative phase. To add your recollection, e-mail scortner@crestedbutte.net.

185 Juried ArtistsCulinary Demo Tent

Art Demo Tent

Festival Art Auction

Childrens Art Alley

Musical Entertainment

After Hours Events A non profit organization, the CBAF

enhances community life with art education and outreach programs throughout the year and

by providing artists and art organizations financial assistance through our annual grant cycle.

community outreach

38th annual crested butte arts festival

saturday

july 31 sunday

august 1

visual · performing · culinary arts

Peter Karner · Ceramics

new this year

The CBAF incorporatest h e c u l i n a r y a r t s i n 2010 with a variety of gastronomic indulgences.Join us for a very special

kick-off dinner featuring five of Colorado’s hottest chefs, FIVE™ (www.denverfive.com) and enjoy five courses and five phenomenal wines on Friday, July 30th. The culinary arts permeate the festival with unique seminars like “The Art of the Martini” and “BBQ, Bourbon & Beer” plus FREE chef demonstrations and tastings in our state of the art outdoor kitchen, complete with Viking appliances and equipment.

www.crestedbutteartsfestival.org

originalityhigh

altitude 20

10

Tate Hamilton · Painting

Larry Fielder · Mixed Media

art alley festival - historic elk avenue

Dusty Demerson photo

CrestedButteMagazine.com86

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THE CRESTED BUTTE MUSIC FESTIVAL GETS GRASSY.By Shelley Read

Listen to the breeze on any Crested Butte

summer’s eve, and you are apt to hear the dis-

tant lilt of bluegrass music mingling with bub-

bling rivers and birdsong. Picking-circle gather-

ings so beloved to Butte bluegrass devotees

spill onto front porches, back yards, riversides

and campfire rings. Anyone with a stringed

instrument or melodic voice is welcomed to the

circle; children and friends dance nearby in the

dust; elders clap and tap along from their lawn

chairs. Bluegrass plucks at the center of your

joys and sorrows, or as bluegrass “founding fa-

ther” Bill Monroe said, it’s music that is “played

from my heart to your heart”-- and like all things

bursting with such soul and sass, Buttians simply

love it.

So when organizers of the celebrated Crested

Butte Music Festival pondered how to diversify

their offerings for the 2010 summer season and

incorporate a “festival within a festival” feel,

CBMF artistic and managing director Alexander

Scheirle sensed adding more bluegrass was the

answer. To some, the addition of a major blue-

grass festival to the CBMF may seem an unusual

choice. Since its 1997 inception, the CBMF

has been known more for its Italian operas,

chamber orchestras, jazz quintets and sympho-

nies than its spattering of bluegrass. However,

Scheirle saw an opportunity for the CBMF to

please locals and visitors alike by celebrating

the musical genre with such a strong local fan

base.

“This town really thrives on bluegrass,” says

Scheirle. “It’s more than an artistic style of music

to people here; it’s a whole culture. I started

wondering, why on earth has no one started a

bluegrass festival here?”

Thus was born the first annual Bluegrass in

Paradise, set to debut in Mt. Crested Butte this

July 9 and 10. pho

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CrestedButteMagazine.com88

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ADVENTURES FOR KIDSADVENTURES FOR KIDSADVENTURES FOR KIDSADVENTURES FOR KIDSADVENTURES FOR KIDSADVENTURES FOR KIDSADVENTURES FOR KIDSADVENTURES FOR KIDSADVENTURES FOR KIDSADVENTURES FOR KIDSADVENTURES FOR KIDSADVENTURES FOR KIDSADVENTURES FOR KIDSADVENTURES FOR KIDSADVENTURES FOR KIDSADVENTURES FOR KIDSADVENTURES FOR KIDSADVENTURES FOR KIDSAges 3–4, 5–8, and 9–14.

A German native and former principal cellist of the Bavarian

Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra, Scheirle had never heard of this

American roots music when he moved to the United States in 2001.

“I grew up with no bluegrass, so when I came here and heard it for

the first time, I thought, ‘well, that’s fun,’ but it wasn’t until I really

started listening to it carefully that I came to appreciate it.” He now

happily embraces the irony of a classically trained European musician

going grassy and chuckles, “I may be the first and only German to be

running a bluegrass festival.”

photos > paul gallaher

Local musical legend Drew Emmitt will host

the inaugural Bluegrass in Paradise in July.

CrestedButteMagazine.com 89

With Scheirle’s limited knowledge of the genre, he looked to local

bluegrass marvel Drew Emmitt for assistance designing Bluegrass in

Paradise.

“Of course I always knew about Drew Emmitt, that he lives here in

Crested Butte and is one of the better known bluegrass musicians,”

says Scheirle. “I hadn’t met him before, but I knew there was no way

I would consider doing a big bluegrass festival without including him

in some way.” Scheirle offered Emmitt “whatever role he desired to

play,” which evolved into Emmitt becoming the main consultant and

official “host” of the 2010 Bluegrass in Paradise,

as well as one of the headline performers.

“I am so excited and honored to be a part of

this festival,” says Emmitt, who is best known as

founding member and mandolin player of the

widely acclaimed Left Over Salmon as well as

for his popular solo ventures, the Drew Emmitt

Band and the Emmitt-Nershi Band. “Bluegrass is

the perfect addition to the Crested Butte Music

Festival, and this beautiful and inspiring place is

the perfect setting.”

Emmitt and Scheirle put their heads to-

gether to create a festival that would reflect

Crested Butte’s character. Scheirle desired the

new festival to be “very personal and a good

match for the town,” as is his goal with all CBMF

events. Rather than competing with Aspen and

Telluride, they agreed on “a more low-key and

down-to-earth feel” for Bluegrass in Paradise. “We want locals to proudly say, this is our bluegrass festival, our

lifestyle,” says Scheirle.

Once the vision was in place, the pair went to work creating the

best mix of bands for the festival. Topping that line-up is the legend-

ary Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys. Affectionately

known as “Dr. Ralph,” Stanley has been pickin’ his banjo and singing

bluegrass tenor for 55 years, has played on over 170 albums and

influenced countless young musicians, Drew Emmitt among them.

Also welcomed to the stage will be Bill Nershi of The String Cheese

Incident, playing alongside Emmitt and other musicians from the

Emmitt-Nershi Band’s celebrated 2009 release New Country Blues.

The weekend rounds out with Grammy nominee Blue Highway, Tel-

luride Band Contest winners Bearfoot, singer/songwriter Shannon

Whitworth and local favorite Spring Creek Bluegrass Band.

The eclectic line-up reflects Emmitt’s love for the elasticity of the

bluegrass genre. Known for his innovative styles of “newgrass,” Em-

mitt values the wide variety of ways traditional bluegrass music can

be interpreted.

“One reason I love bluegrass is because it’s wide open,” says

Emmitt. He points out the importance of learning from the original

greats like Monroe and Stanley, but believes “once an artist has that

solid foundation, there are so many ways to approach bluegrass,

from traditional to progressive.” Bluegrass in Paradise will offer a

“nice cross section” of styles.

Scheirle and Emmitt also knew that no true-Butte festival would be

complete without two other local passions: kids and group camping.

CrestedButteMagazine.com90

The Bearfoot Bluegrass Kid’s Camp, led by members of the Alaskan band Bearfoot,

will run July 6-8 for all levels of stringed instrument musicians, ages 6-17. The camp

culminates with a “Fiddlin’ Kids” performance on July 8 at the base area outdoor stage.

Bearfoot has taught bluegrass and folk lessons integrated with games, square dance, vo-

cals, art and youth jam sessions to thousands of kids worldwide, including a 2007 camp

in Crested Butte. Scheirle is particularly pleased with Bearfoot’s return for the inaugural

Bluegrass in Paradise. “Education is such an important part of the CBMF’s mission,”

he says. “In fact, I wouldn’t be doing the festival at all if there wasn’t going to be a kid’s

camp included.” Kids aged 12 and under will also be welcomed to all Bluegrass in Para-

dise concerts free of charge.

Plenty of camping will be provided for festival attendees on 17 acres adjacent to the

Mt. Crested Butte town park. Emmitt suggested the two-day festival be accompanied

by three days of camping to immerse festival-goers in the upper valley’s rousing setting

as much as possible. The camping experience, he noted, with its easy camaraderie and

spontaneous picking circles, is an integral part of any successful bluegrass gathering.

“No other musical genre really has the same phenomenon as bluegrass because of all

the picking that goes on,” says Emmitt. “With bluegrass, musicians speak such a com-

mon language musically and culturally. They’ll sit around the campfire all night and play.

Different musicians will come and go. The first time I experienced this, it blew me away.

There’s nothing quite like it.”

This summer, if you detect a jovial tempo in the wind or hear a long, lonesome twang,

you’ll know a circle of friends has gathered somewhere to speak from their hearts

through bluegrass music. No need to just sit back and wonder what it’s like to get grassy.

If the Crested Butte Music Festival can do it, so can you. Grab your instrument and your

lawn chair, sing along or kick off your shoes and dance. Bluegrass in Paradise invites

everyone to the circle.

Large Selection

of Beer, Wine

& Spirits

Domestic and

Imported

Open Monday throughSaturday 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Sunday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

349-5709

Across from theClark's Grocery

bus stop.

CrestedButteMagazine.com 91

WITH ITS ENERGY INNOVATIONS, RECLAIMED MATERIALS AND DESIGN INSPIRED BY A MINER’S TALE, THE TIPPLE HOUSE IS A SHOWCASE NOT OF OSTENTATION BUT OF CHARACTER AND INGENUITY.

By Sandra Cortner

This storybook house begins

with a story. Imagine a mining

claim high in the Rockies back

in the gold rush days.

The prospector builds a

cabin to live in, a shed for stor-

age, and a tipple to dump the

ore. A hundred-plus years later,

three people with a shared pas-

sion for history create a home

at Prospect, high on the north

side of Crested Butte Moun-

tain, based on the imaginary

tale.

They call it the Tipple House

for its distinctive mining-tip-

ple architectural feature,

and they finish it partly

with boards, metal

roofing and even

nails reclaimed from

an old mine bunk-

house. But in its energy

efficiency, the home is state of

the art.

It all started after contrac-

tor Corbin Marr and architect

Jennifer Hartman collaborated

with Diane and Tim Mueller

on their barn remodel south

of Crested Butte, turning it

into an energy-efficient home.

“We had so much fun working

together, we decided to do

another project,” said Diane.

Corbin shared his dream

of incorporating history into

a green spec house using pho

to >

jam

es r

ay s

pah

n

CrestedButteMagazine.com92

antique materials. In March 2007, Corbin, Diane and Jennifer found a perfect location for

the home, a treed meadow in the Muellers’ Prospect subdivision that boasted 300-degree

views out to the Elk Mountains.

Their goals for the home, Diane said, were honoring the valley’s past of mining, ranch-

ing and skiing, making it energy efficient, and embodying the distinctive character of

Crested Butte.

“We wanted to do something different with the architecture,” explained Corbin. “It’s all

about the details—doing more with less. Diane was important in this vision: how to make

a property speak to something beyond being a beautiful home. Jennifer was more than a

designer; she had a perspective on what people would want in a home.”

In creating the house, the team “started out with a story,” Jennifer said. “The property

is a mining claim, the garage is a shed or root cellar and the tipple is part of the mine. We

wanted a sense of authenticity.”

While Jennifer designed, Corbin began seeking antique lumber and old recyclable

buildings, a quest that generated its own stories. After looking at buildings locally, Corbin

struck pay dirt in a casual conversation with his electrician, who said, “Hey, I think my

neighbor up Gold Creek above Ohio City is looking to get rid of a building.”

The structure turned out to be the bunkhouse of the Gold Links mine, which had been

family owned since 1880. Gold mining ceased in 1942 as the miners left to become part

of the war effort. The Federal Government wanted the stamps from the mill—the heavy

iron used to crush the ore—to melt down and use for making war armaments. During the

extraction, the surrounding buildings were dynamited, devastating the property owners.

In the last few years, though, they’d realized that the remaining structures were deteriorat-

ing, so they were open to Corbin’s offer.

However, just a check and a simple contract weren’t enough to convince them that

Corbin wasn’t going to wreak more havoc. First he had to pass muster with the matriarch,

95-year-old Eudora, who still summered off the grid in the old mine office. “She looked

me up and down, and they checked on my reputation and required references.” She knew

the weathered bunkhouse was a dilapidated liability, yet hadn’t forgotten the horror of

finding the dynamited mine ruins in 1943.

The 30- by 70-foot bunkhouse had a hallway down the middle and rooms on either side.

A nearby outhouse could “seat” about 50 miners, estimated Corbin. The bunkhouse was

in excellent condition except for rot where the drip line met the log foundation -- and the

stink of the resident rodents. “My big concern was how to get rid of

the smell,” he said.

First, he had to get the building from Ohio City to Prospect, more

than an hour away. Throughout September 2007, during a brilliant

Indian summer, “We had a tent city up there with five or six guys

who had hauled up equipment and a generator, so they could spend

nights while they disassembled the building board by board, saving

the nails,” said Corbin. A large truck ferried wood out and supplies

in. Another crew gathered granite chunks from around the mine.

Crews labeled and stored about 35,000 board-feet under a giant

tarp at Riverbend. “We had a treasure map made by my ironworker

Brent Strauss. We’d use the map when we had to hunt under the tarp

to find what we needed,” Corbin said.

The bunkhouse was an uninsulated balloon frame construction.

On both sides of the frame, there were two layers of one-by boards

covered with tarpaper. Builders “turned the bunkhouse inside out,”

Corbin said, using wood from inside the old building as the exterior

board and bat siding on the new Tipple House. The rough-sawn

wood still has traces of black from the tarpaper.

All of the wood detailing, interior doors and framework of the

Tipple House came from the bunkhouse. Rusty roof tin became

wainscoting, cabinet doors and ceilings. The fireplace, entry and

some walls are made of granite from the mine. Corbin found other

reclaimed wood and beams to match the look of the bunkhouse

after searching through 8,000 board-feet in Idaho; some came from

the old Weyerhaeuser logging mill in Coos Bay, Oregon.

In the master suite, with its “miner’s cabin” feel, bunkhouse siding

comprises the high ceiling with its fragile dark patina. The upper

walls are covered with wood from the interior of the old balloon

frame. Below is conventionally framed laminated veneer lumber

sandwiched between layers of antique chinked-log slabs from a mine

site in Idaho. The suite sits at the end of a low, narrow, rock-walled

hallway, reminiscent of a mineshaft. The walls display gold-laced

rock that had been secreted inside the

bunkhouse walls and a historical photo of

the Ohio City mill under construction.

A “living roof” covers the rock-walled

garage, giving it the “root cellar” look

the designer wanted. Corbin scattered

wildflower seed on the dirt roof last fall

and expects to plant more flowers this

summer.

The tipple, built on site, houses a stair-

way to a cozy, glassed sitting room on

top, allowing views to the north side of

Crested Butte Mountain, its granite peak

a twin of the garage’s rock exterior.

“We wanted to make the tipple read

all the way to the ground, even the lower

bathroom with its interior rock wall in the

shower,” Jennifer explained.

The intimate scale of the four bed-

rooms (plus an office) and accompanying

bathrooms is both true to history and true to current trends. “Smaller

spaces are becoming the newer standard,” Diane said.

All the old wood is unsealed and unpainted. As Jennifer pointed

out, “It’s lasted 100 years already without paint. The dryness helps to

maintain the wood. Corbin was careful to use it where it won’t be too

exposed and it’s protected by overhangs.”

And the smell? A chance discovery in Wyoming of a handcrafted

beeswax and turpentine wood-finishing product, using centuries-old

techniques, did the trick. The hand-buffed wood is fragrance-free

and “soft as a baby’s head,” said Diane.

“In another hundred years, our hope for the Tipple House is that it

looks like the bunkhouse did when it was a hundred years old,” said

Corbin, “handsomely weathered with a place in the landscape.”

CrestedButteMagazine.com 93

architectural photos > james ray spahn

CrestedButteMagazine.com94

THE ADAPTIVE SPORTS CENTER’S

DINNER · DANCING · AUCTION · GOLF TOURNAMENTii

AUGUST . 1 & 2 . 2010FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 970.349.5075 EXT. 104 OR VISIT WWW.ADAPTIVESPORTS.ORG

CRESTED BUTTE, COLORADO

IN ADDITION TO USING MATERIALS RECLAIMED FROM RELATIVELY NEARBY SITES, THE TIPPLE HOUSE INCORPORATES OTHER ENERGY-SAVING FEATURES, WHICH ARE BECOMING THE NORM FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION AS FINANCES ALLOW. Some of the home’s green highlights.... Two heat-recovery ventilator systems. Insulation of two-pound closed-cell spray in the exterior envelope. The interior is recycled blue jeans denim. The insulation exceeds County requirements.

Laminated veneer engineered lumber. LED lighting.

Efficient heat. Each room’s temperature is regulated with natural gas, hydronic in- floor heat. The home is wired and plumbed for future evacuated-tube, thermal solar panels.

Walls are finished with natural straw embedded American Clay and are naturally pigmented.

No paint, stain or VOC polyurethane is used.

Most work was done on-site and/or by local craftsmen.

Prospect regulations allow a home up to 8,000 square feet; this one is just under 5,000.

Reduction of on-site waste: everything is recycled. Employees burn the wood scrap for heat in their homes.

All wood windows are double paned, of managed European spruce forest.

As builder Corbin Marr says, “It’s not the fancy home on a promontory that screams out, ‘I am king of the mountain.’ It’s built to last with low maintenance.”

HONORING THE PAST, BUT GREEN

FOR THE FUTURE

CrestedButteMagazine.com 95

Diamond Blue Pool & SpaDiamond Blue Pool & Spa

Diamond Blue Pool & Spa

Also offering Connelly Billiards & Accessorieswww.connelly.com

329 Belleview Avenue, Crested Buttewww.d1.com • www.aquaticfitnesssystem.com

Energy Efficient Hot Tubs • Maintenance Contracts • Supplies & Repairs

970.349.6202

CrestedButteMagazine.com96

Professional Interior Design ServicesNew Construction & Remodels

Kitchen & Bath DesignCabinetryLighting

P.O. Box 1815, 313 Elk Avenue, Crested Butte, CO. 81224

970-349-5352 store • 970-349-5395 faxinteriorvisionscrestedbutte.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE THINK LOCAL FIRST CAMPAIGN (CREATED BY THE CRESTED BUTTE/MT. CRESTED

BUTTE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE), SEE CBTHINKLOCALFIRST.COM.

ENJOY the extra service and expertise that comes from a locally owned business.

SUPPORT your neighbors (who might also support you).

KEEP your dollars circulating around your own backyard, strengthening your local economy.

HELP keep Crested Butte full of character by preserving shops and services that are unique to our town. photo > dusty demerson

CrestedButteMagazine.com 97

YOGA FOR EVERYONE! Come to us or we’ll come to your specal event!yogaforthepeaceful.org • 114 Elk Avenue • 349.0302

YOGA • DANCE • MEDITATION • BOUTIQUE • COMMUNITY

* Everyday Gifts

* Souvenirs

* Unique Seasonal, Home & Garden Décor

* Rustic Home Accessories

* Candles

* Antiques & Collectables

* Lionel Trains

and of course...

* Everything Christmas!

135 N. Main, Gunnison, CO 970-641-7456

REALTOR®

jesse@cbproperty.com970-901-2922

Find Your Dream Home At:www.jesseebner.com

©2009. An independently owned and operated member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc.

GO WESTMercantile Shop of Mountain Mel’sWestern Homemade Artwork Goods

327 Elk Avenue • PO Box 2380 • Crested Butte, CO 81224gowestmountainmel@yahoo.com • awearts.org/melharper

Mel Harper970.275.5181

CrestedButteMagazine.com98

Sum

mer

Hig

hlights JUNE

1-30June in the Rockies, valley-wide events

5National Trails Day: local trail work day with CB Mountain Bike Association

12Summer Variety Show, Crested Butte Mountain Theatre

18-20Crested Butte Writers Conference, Elevation Hotel & Spa

19Readers in the Rockies, Elevation Hotel & Spa

24Art Walk Evening, galleries in Crested Butte

23-27Crested Butte Fat Tire Bike Week

24-27,30“Guys & Dolls,” Crested Butte Mountain Theatre

25-27Wildflower Rush cross country and downhill bike races, Mt. CB

13,20,27CB Farmers’ Market, Elk Avenue and First Street

26Bicycle Tour of Colorado ends in Gunnison

26,27Bridges of the Butte (24-hour townie tour) for Adaptive Sports Ctr.

27Alpenglow free concert in Town Park, Center for the Arts

CrestedButteMagazine.com 99

JULY

1,2,3“Guys & Dolls,” Crested Butte Mountain Theatre

2CB Mountain Heritage Museum’s Black and White Ball

3-aug.5Crested Butte Music Festival concerts and events

4Independence Day events in CB & Mt. CB

4,11,18,25Farmers’ Market, Elk Avenue and First Street

5,12,19,26Alpenglow free concerts in Town Park, Center for the Arts

12-18Wildflower Festival, based at Crested Butte Nordic Center

8,15,22,29Live! From Mt. CB free concerts on Red Lady Stage

7,14,21,28Public Policy Forum of Crested Butte

10-18Gunnison Cattlemen’s Days

15,16CB Land Trust Caddis Cup Fly-Fishing Tournament

15,22,29PowerAde Pinnacle Race Series (mountain biking, Mt. CB

17,18Rocky Mtn. Plein Air Painters National Show, Oh-Be-Joyful Gallery

22-25Crested Butte Land Trust Wine and Food Festival

22,24,2529,30,31“Charlie Cox Runs With Scissors,” Mtn. Theatre

29Art Walk Evening, galleries in Crested Butte

31-aug.1Crested Butte Arts Festival on Elk Avenue

clockwise starting from top left > alex fenlon > nathan bilow > alex fenlon > nathan bilow > xavier fane > rebecca weil > nathan bilow > tom stillo

CrestedButteMagazine.com100

Sum

mer

Hig

hlights AUGUST

1Crested Butte Arts Festival on Elk Avenue

1,2Crested Butte Open golf tournament/dinner, for Adaptive Sports

1-5Crested Butte Music Festival

1,8,15,22,29Farmers’ Market, Elk Avenue and First Street

2,9Alpenglow free concerts in Town Park, by Center for the Arts

5,12,19,26Live! From Mt. CB free concerts, Red Lady Stage

4,11,18,25Public Policy Forum of Crested Butte

26Art Walk Evening, galleries in Crested Butte

710th Summit Hike to benefit Living Journeys.Mt. CB

26-29“The Robber Bridegroom,” CB Mountain Theatre

5,12PowerAde Pinnacle Race Series (mountain biking), Mt CB

27-29Aerial Weekend (hang-gliding, paragliding), CB Soaring Society

27-29Offroad Handcycling Championships, Mt. Crested Butte

285th Annual Butte Bouldering Bonanza, Skyland Boulders

CrestedButteMagazine.com 101

SEPTEMBER

1-30September Splendor in the Rockies, valley-wide

2-5“The Robber Bridegroom,” CB Mountain Theatre

4,5The People’s Fair (arts, crafts & more) on Elk Avenue

5,12,19,26Farmers’ Market, Elk Avenue and First Street

11Fall Festival of Beers & Chili Cook-Off, Mt. Crested Butte

11,1233rd Annual Pearl Pass Mountain Bike Tour

12,13Wooden Nickel Fall Golf Classic, Club at Crested Butte

23-26,30“Moon Over Buffalo,” CB Mountain Theatre

19CB to Gunnison MountainAir Marathon & Half Marathon

25Taste of Caring Dinner for GV Health Foundation, Marchitelli’s

26CB Fall Colors Classic (1/2 marathon) by GV Health Foundation

20-25Vinotok Fall Harvest Festival

30ArtWalk Evening, galleries in Crested Butte

clockwise starting from left > dusty demerson > alex fenlon > rebecca weil > nathan bilow

CrestedButteMagazine.com8

Reverse the signs of aging at Colorado Laser SpaThe premier laser skin therapy in the Gunnison Valley

• Microdermabrasion

• Dermal Fillers

• Botox Cosmetic®

• Chemical Peels

• Laser Skin Rejuvenation

• Eliminink™ Tattoo Removal

• Obagi® Skin Care Line

Conveniently located in the heart of downtown Gunnison, you’ll never have to leave the

valley to get the skin care you desire.

From creating younger looking skin by minimizing wrinkles and age spots to removing

unwanted tattoos, CLS is the most sophisticated cosmetic medical practice in the state,

providing a complete line of skin treatments using state-of-the-art technology to provide

you with beautiful, younger looking and healthier skin at little to no downtime.

Let us help you look 5 to 15 years younger.

For more information or to schedule a consultation, call us at 970-641-0149

www.coloradolaserspa.com

Before After

CrestedButteMagazine.com 103

106ALPINE GETAWAYS Vacation Rentals510 Elk Avenue, Crested Butte

Crested Butte’s premium vacation rentals. We work with each cli-ent to provide the perfect vacation -- arranging accommodations, activities, tours and more.

1.800.260.1935alpinegetaways.com

104CRISTIANA GUESTHAUSBed & Breakfast Hotel621 Maroon Ave, PO Box 427, Crested Butte

Cozy B&B inn with European ski lodge charm. Hearty homemade Continental breakfast served fireside. Hot tub with mountain views. Private baths. Near free shuttle; walk to shops & restaurants.

1.800.824.7899 cristianaguesthaus.com email: info@cristianaguesthaus.com

104213 GOTHICRustic Log Home Crested Butte

Beautiful 7-bedroom, 8-bathroom home. An ideal vacation home and great location for the whole family. Sleeps 19.

1.970.209.6376 keithpayne@yahoo.com 213third.com

106PEAK PROPERTY MANAGEMENT & SALES Rental HomesPO Box 2023, Crested Butte

Specializing in one to four bedroom private vacation home rentals in historic downtown Crested Butte, Mt. CB & the Club at Crested Butte (country club).

1.888.909.7325peakcb.com email: kat@peakcb.com

31IRON HORSE PROPERTY MANAGEMENTRental HomesBox 168, Crested Butte

Specializing in highly personalized property management and vacation rentals. Expect more.

1.888.417.4766ironhorsecb.com

106PR PROPERTY MANAGEMENT Rental Homes350 Country Club Dr., 110A, Crested Butte

Large variety of private, luxury rental homes in Crested Butte, Mt. Crested Butte, the Club at Crested Butte and Meridian Lake.

1.800.285.0459prproperty.com

105THE NORDIC INN14 Treasury Road, PO Box 939 Mt. Crested Butte

Allen (your host since 1969) and Judy Cox welcome you to this Scandinavian-style lodge. Rooms with two double beds & private baths. Within walking distance of the ski mountain.

1.800.542.7669nordicinncb.com email: acox@nordicinncb.com

42THE RUBY OF CRESTED BUTTELuxury Bed & Breakfast624 Gothic Ave, PO Box 3801, Crested Butte

Luxury B&B with full breakfast, private baths and concierge in his-toric Crested Butte. Also pampers pets with in-room dog beds, crates, home-made treats and dog-sitting service.

1.800.390.1338therubyofcrestedbutte.com

106OLD TOWN INNHotel & Family Inn708 6th Street, Crested Butte

The warmth of a family inn; value, convenience & amenities of a hotel. Home-made afternoon snacks, yummy breakfast. Rooms with two queen beds. On shuttle route, stroll to shops, restaurants & trailheads.

1.888.349.6184oldtowninn.net email: info@oldtowninn.net

ESTABLISHMENT DESCRIPTION RESERVATIONS AD PAGE

104ELK MOUNTAIN LODGE Bed & Breakfast Lodge129 Gothic Avenue, Crested Butte

Historic inn located in a residential neighborhood of downtown Crested Butte. Just two blocks off the “main street.” 19 rooms individually decorated. Some with balconies.

1.800.374.6521 elkmountainlodge.net email: info@elkmountainlodge.net

105CB VACATIONSLodging and Vacation PackagesMt. Crested Butte

One-stop shopping for all of your adventures. Crested Butte Vaca-tions can book your lodging, airfare and services for the perfect mountain vacation. The Mountain concierge at the Adventure Center can book all of your valley-wide activities.

1.800.847.6877970.349.2222skicb.com

104PIONEER GUEST CABINSRustic CabinsCement Creek, South of CB

Established in 1939, situated inside National Forest, but only 12 min-utes from town. 8 clean and cozy cabins, with Cement Creek running through the property. Cabins feature fully equipped kitchens, comfy beds, fireplaces and more. Dog friendly, open year round.

970.349.5517pioneerguestcabins.compioneerguestcabins@gmail.com

pho

to >

xav

ier

fane

CrestedButteMagazine.com104

Inside the National Forest but only 12 minutes from Crested Butte with

Cement Creek winding through the property.

8 adorable cabins with fully equipped kitchens, comfy beds, fireplaces

and more!

Snowshoeing, xc skiing, fishing, mtn. biking and hiking trails right

from your cabin door.

View cabins inside and out at pioneerguestcabins.com

970-349-5517

OPEN YEAR ROUND

Pooches Welcome

Perfect Vacation Rental

* 7 Bedrooms, 8 Baths, Sleeps 22* Complete Gourmet Kitchen* Steps to Free Shuttle to Crested Butte Mountain Lifts* Stunning Views, 1 Block to Center of Town of CB* Sunroom, Steam Room, Library, Internet & Wireless* Location is perfect for walking to Shops, Restaurants, and the Historic Center of Town

970-349-0445www.213third.com

E-mail: rita@213third.com

CrestedButteMagazine.com 105

CRESTED BUTTE

CRESTED VACATIONS Inspire your passion.TM

The Mountain Concierge in the Adventure Center can book valley-wide activities.

Let us help you fi nd your next adventure.

Inspire your passion.TMInspire your passion.TMInspire your passion.

We do it all, from rafting trips, horse trailrides, fishing trips, golf, tennis, and spa services, to taking care of any travel needs like lodging, airfare, car rental, and ground transfers.Our local experts are ready to help you get the most out of your Crested Butte vacation.

(970)349-2222 ridecb.com

Phot

os: T

om S

tillo

CrestedButteMagazine.com106

CrestedButteMagazine.com 107

$7-399380 PRIME • 251-3030 Elevation Hotel, Mt. Crested Butte

This slopeside restaurant features 2 dining venues: 9380, the casual choice, and Prime for fine dining. 9380 is your breakfast, lunch and apres-ski spot, with convenient firepit and outdoor bar. Prime opens at night for contemporary dining.

BreakfastLunchDinner

ttt t tt t109

BACCHANALE • 349-5257209 Elk Ave. Downtown

Italian. Delicious, casual Italian cuisine with marvelous entrees such as veal parmigiana, fra diavolo, or cannelloni for your main dish. Many meatless selections. Extensive appetizer menus and kid’s menu. Happy hours with tapas.

$12-32 DinnerBakery

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LIL’S • 349-5457321 Elk Avenue, Crested Butte

Sushi bar & grill. Crested Butte’s original sushi bar serving great seafood, steaks and surf & turf entrees, as well as options for the little ones. In Historic Downtown.

$4-28 Dinner ttt tt t 111

LOBAR • 349-0480Downstairs at 3rd & ElkCrested Butte

Eclectic dining. people rave about our sushi, but we’ve intro-duced a new casual bistro menu, fish tacos to crack fries! Free kids’ meals 5-6 p.m. On weekends, the Lobar transforms into CB’s only nightclub with live music, karaoke, DJs & more.

$8-32 Dinner ttttt tt t111

DJANGO’S • 349-7574Courtyard of Mountaineer Square, Mt. Crested Butte

Now gaining national attention, this culinary adventure introduces guests to a seasonal menu of globally inspired small plates. With an extensive wine list, courtyard dining and weekly live music, you won’t want to miss it.

$6-19 BrunchDinner

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MARCHITELLI’S GOURMET NOODLE • 349-7401411 Third Street, Crested Butte

Italian. Offering generations of family recipes in a cozy, relaxed atmosphere. The menu features unique pasta-sauce combos, traditional and regional Italian, seafood, veal and elk. Reservations recommended.

$6-30 Dinner ttt t tt108

DONITA’S CANTINA •349-66744th & Elk in Crested Butte

Mexican. Down-to-earth eatery specializing in good food, ample portions, fun service. Fabulous fajitas, enchanting enchiladas, bueno burritos. Local favorite for over 30 years; casual atmosphere.

$4-24 Dinner tt tt t 109

MAXWELLS • 349-1221226 Elk Avenue, Crested Butte

Fine Dining. CB’s newest steakhouse. HDTVs for watching the games. Hand-cut steaks, seafood, pastas, lamb, pork, burgers, salads, appetizers, kids’ menu. Extensive wines & beers.

$7-31 Dinner ttt t t ttt109

EASTSIDE BISTRO • 349-9699435 6th Street, Crested Butte

Fine Dining. Upscale casual neighborhood bistro. Our menu evolves seasonally & represents the eclectic, creative, sophisticated visions of our passion for food, using locally fresh ingredients & prepared with innovative, contemporary style.

$10-35 BrunchDinner

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MCGILL’S • 349-5240228 Elk Avenue, Crested Butte

Old-Fashioned soda fountain. With malts, shakes, sundaes, banana splits, libations; home-cooked breakfasts and lunches prepared to order. Historic locale, casual atmosphere.

$4-15 BreakfastLunch

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SLOGAR • 349-57652nd & Whiterock, Crested Butte

Skillet-fried chicken and steak dinners served family-style. The toughest part is deciding what tastes the best: mashed potatoes, fresh biscuits, creamed corn, chutney, steak, chicken.

$16-26 Dinner ttt tt t111

LAST STEEP • 349-7007208 Elk Avenue, Crested Butte

Sandwiches/soup/salads. Casual family dining, relaxing atmosphere. Affordable menu with Caribbean island flair; Cajun chicken pasta, curry shrimp & coconut salad, artichoke-cheddar soup in bread bowl.

$5-16 LunchDinner

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WOODEN NICKEL • 349-6350222 Elk Avenue, Crested Butte

Steaks, prime rib, king crab. Known for the best steaks in town. USDA Prime cuts of beef, Alaska King crab, ribs, pork and lamb chops, grilled seafood, burgers, chicken fried steak and buffalo burgers.

$7-40 Dinner ttttt t 95

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ESTABLISHMENT CUISINE PRICE COURSE

GINGER CAFE • 349-7291425 Elk Avenue, Crested Butte

Using only the freshest local organic produce & natural meats to bring you the finest, tastiest Pan-Asian cuisine. Specialty cocktails include our mango-ginger mojito & fresh ginger martini with house infused vodka.

$7-20 LunchDinner

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RYCE ASIAN BISTRO • 349-9888120 Elk Avenue, Crested Butte

Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, and Japanese dishes along with pre-mium vodka and sake concoctions in our full bar. Born from more than 40 combined years of restaurant experience, Ryce brings the best of the far East to the high country.

$5-20 LunchDinner

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Dinner Nightly349-7401 Downtown Crested Butte

Irresistibly Italian

CrestedButteMagazine.com 109

9380 is the slopeside breakfast,

lunch, and dinner dining destination.

The sundeck is the perfect place

for lunch or après hiking and biking.

SLOPESIDE – ELEVATION HOTEL & SPA

(970)251-3030

Phot

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CrestedButteMagazine.com110

Italian DiningWild Pacific SalmonLocal Organic Steaks

Homemade Italian Specialties,Soups, Salads & Desserts

Nightly SpecialsProgressive Wine List

Large Groups WelcomeTo Go Menu &

Take Away Dinner Parties

Dinner NightlyHappy Hours 5-6 & 8-9pm with Tapas & Drink Specials

Come check out our NEW bakery!

209 Elk AvenueDowntown Crested Butte

349-5257www.bacchanale.net

BEST outdoor patio, serving the FRESHEST food + most INNOVATIVE cocktailsyou can find in town.

OPEN 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.EVERY DAY

425 ELK AVENUE970 349 7291reservations recommended

CrestedButteMagazine.com 111

DINNER NIGHTLY 5 PM TO 9 PM

RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED (970) 349-5765LOCATED AT

2ND & WHITEROCK

Family Style Chicken & Steak Dinners

Your Dinner Menu:Assorted Relish Tray

Fresh Baking Powder BiscuitsSavory Sweet & Sour Cole SlawHomemade Mashed Potatoes

Whole Kernel Corn in Cream Sauce Hearty Chicken Gravy

Honey Butter

One-half Skillet Fried Chicken, Steak or Vegetarian Entree

Home Style Ice CreamCoffee, Tea or Milk

CrestedButteMagazine.com112

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WHETSTONE WOODWORKS

Custom Residential & Commercialcabinetry | furniture | doors

970.349.9663

They protect. They pour. They partake. They are the many and the only New Belgium Beer Rangers. We salute their efforts in the field with the extra-hopinary Ranger IPA. Three pounds per barrel of Simcoe, Chinook and Cascade hops make this 70 IBU brew a thing of natural beauty. Seek out the Beer Ranger in your territory at newbelgium.com.

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