G U N N I S O N • C R E S T E D B U T T E • MT. C R E S T E D B U T T E • A L MO N T • L AK E C I T Y
LAND RICH WITH LEGACY INSIDE:
Calendar of Events • Dining & Lodging Guides COMPLIMENTARY
The Gunnison Country is still filled with wide open spaces
Welcome to the Gunnison Country! Own Your Own Ponderosa
Pristine, 160 acres, fenced & completely surrounded by National Forest. Home, guest cabins, equipment shop, riding arena and much more. 45 minutes from airport, year round mountain retreat for the avid outdoors family. Oered at $1,650,000.
Gunnison River Home
Ohio Creek V alley
Phenomenal Gunnison River 2.28 acres, 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom, one-level home plus 780 sq. ft. log garage with guest quarters! Incredible price at only $595,000!
35 acre home site provides this spectacular view & more, irrigated hay meadow, tall cottonwood trees, & ďŹ shing rights on Ohio Creek. Great for horses and families! Now oered at $389,000.
Creekfront Custom Home & Barn On 8.8 acres, 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths with over 3900 sq ft, & huge barn. No covenants & only 15 minutes to Gunnison! Now priced at $775,000.
Tomichi Creek Home Sites Que Qua Condo 3 bedrooms, 3 baths & attached 1-car garage with room for golf cart. Tastefully remodeled with new paint, carpeting, and lighting throughout. Oered at $275,000.
Tucked beneath Hartman Rocks 20 new home sites oer access to Tomichi Creek & Dos Rios Golf Course. Underground utilities, roads, ponds, and individual irrigation to each site. Introductory pricing from $129,500.
Prime Developement Property Fronting Highway 50, corners the Front 9 at Dos Rios Golf Course, prime, 2.3 acre parcel has tall cottonwoods & underground utilities.
t XXX .JOEZ-BOE DPN
Mountain Meadows Mall 4 commercial retail units oering 4300 sq ft all part of a 3 building, 17 unit retail complex located in a high traďŹƒc area next to City Market. With an excellent rental history and two long-term lease tenants, this is a great opportunity. Oered at $750,000.
Mt. Crested Butte Home Site Year-round .67 acre home site. Surrounded by million dollar homes, very close to the ski area, in Elk Run Subdivision, and isolated from the road. Oered at $390,000.
Three Rivers Resort & Outfitting “The Gateway to Taylor Canyon”
Whitewater and Scenic Raft Trips
Riverfront Cabins • Vacation Homes • Lodge Rooms
Fly Fishing Trips
Cabins for Sale! Visit our web site or office to find out how you can own a cabin in the Rockies.
Duckie Trips and Kayak Lessons
• Year Round Use • Protective Covenants • Rental Management • Access to Resort Amenities
Visit our General Store for: Groceries, Gift Shop, Paddle Shop, Fly Fishing Shop, Restaurant
Let us book all of your vacation activities: Horseback Riding, 4WD Tours, Rock Climbing and more!
Our Smokehouse offers homemade food and BBQ from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Three meals a day plus beer and wine served on our fun outdoor patio! Watch for live entertainment on the patio.
Located 10 miles north of Gunnison on Cty. Rd. 742 in Almont (970) 641-1303 or 1-888-761-FISH (3474) www.3riversresort.com
F
Connected by a love of this land
or me, there’s nothing more rejuvenating and uplifting than spending a little — or a lot — of time being outside recreating. Away from the computer. Not thinking about the news of the day. The controversy of the moment. The tasks of tomorrow. I also am heartened by what I see as a unifying quality those outdoor pursuits have on us as a community. And I don’t just mean for those of us fortunate enough to call Gunnison Valley home. That also goes for the broader community of visitors and part-time residents who come here to spend some time — those of you who remind us what a special place this is. As I see it, a love of the Gunnison Basin — be it the high peaks, the open spaces, the trails or the trout-filled streams and lakes — is truly a common denominator that we all share. It connects us. Sure, we all have our differences. The Gunnison Basin is, like most communities, made up of people of very different backgrounds and who have disparate priorities. We too have stark political divisions. But when we exchange the board rooms for the backcountry, those differences tend to melt away. “Wow. What a beautiful day,” someone will remark to a passerby, familiar or not. “It sure is. Enjoy.” Where else but, say, the ski slopes can people of such wide differences — economically, socially, politically — meet up to have a little fun in the sun (or, better yet, powder) together? I happen to know a strong proponent of mining — which is one of this valley’s most perpetually controversial issues — who has had more days on the mountain (CBMR) than most staunch mining opponents ever will. Just having that in common can’t hurt. We hope this magazine offers a glimpse of what it is that we all love, and share, about the Gunnison Country. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with all of the great advertisers who make this publication possible and who, more importantly, are here to serve you and make your stay more enjoyable. Cheers. -Chris Dickey editor
Inside A lasting legacy .. 13-15 Gunnison’s grand matriarch, Grandma Lena, lived to be 107. Every one of those years was filled with family, love and laughter ... and lots of good food.
Development done right .. 18-23 Eagle Ridge Ranch was at the forefront of the “smart growth” movement.
Trail talk .. 30 World-renowned mountain biker Dave Wiens tells us why there’s no better place to ride than right here.
Get funky .. 35-39 Crested Butte is known for its fun festivals. Here’s a look at what makes them so unique.
Drowned ranches .. 42-47 Sapinero was once home to traditional ranches and thriving tourist resorts. That was before Blue Mesa Reservoir.
The ‘Birds of Blue Mesa’ .. 54-55 Photographer Dan Cress used to hunt. Now it doesn’t matter how many times he shoots his subjects.
All in the family .. 56-61 Western State College has developed one of the most tradition-rich wrestling programs in the country. Tick checks and sunscreen are part of the reason why.
Lost boy .. 81-88 Kent Strickland made one very wrong turn while skiing at Monarch Mountain. Cool thinking kept the mistake from turning tragic.
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2 01 0 G U N N I S O N CO U N T RY M AGA Z I N E
COUPON
10 FLIES FOR $12.00
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Limit 12 Flies per coupon. Limit one coupon per customer per visit. May not be combined with any other coupon or promotion.
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T
he Gunnison County Pioneer and Historical Society had its beginning in 1880 with the early pioneers who settled in the Gunnison Valley. The Pioneer Society was reorganized and incorporated as a non-proďŹ t organization in 1930. From its very beginning the society stated its interest in preserving the history of the pioneers of Gunnison County and by 1964 the Pioneer Museum was ďŹ nally begun. The board of the Society oversees the operation of the Museum which is staffed mostly by senior volunteers. These volunteers are happy to answer your questions as you browse the exhibits at your own pace.
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The Museum grounds, its 18 buildings, the artifacts and memorabilia that make up the many displays have been donated
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by generous members and friends of the Society. Most of the items on display date back to the early settlers. The Museum’s collections truly represent the cultural history and heritage of the people of Gunnison County. In addition to the Museum, the Pioneer Society also owns the Aberdeen Quarry which is located on Beaver Creek just a few miles from Gunnison. Granite from this quarry was used in building the Colorado State Capitol. As part of the summer program at the Museum, jeep tours are scheduled to provide an opportunity to visit this historic site.
GUNNISON • CRESTED BUTT • E MT. C R E S T E D B U T T E • A L MO N T • L AK E C I T Y
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INSIDE:
Calendar of Events • Dining & Lodging Guides
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The Gunnison Country is still filled with wide open spaces
COMPLIMENTARY
About the cover:
GOODBYE TREELINE, HELLO ALPINЕ.
Perhaps the most impressive characteristic of a great photographer is making the ‘everyday’ scene seem extraordinary. This year’s cover shot is taken practically from photographer Allan Ivy’s front door, and in a spot that people constantly drive by on Hwy. 50. Yet it’s one of those sights that can be taken for granted, or overlooked entirely, until someone captures it with just the right lighting, just the right composition. Allan and his wife, Francie, own Mesa RV Resort just west of town. More of his work can be found at mesarvresort.com.
GCP
Gunnison Country Publications, LLC Publisher Managing Editor
Stephen J. Pierotti Chris Dickey
Advertising Leia Morrison, Drew Nelson Contributors Chris Rourke, Rick Besecker Will Shoemaker, Dave Pinkerton, Dawn Belloise, Matt Smith, Judy Buffingtion Sammons, Dan Cress, Luke Mehall, Larry Jensen, Kent Strickland Production Manager Online
Jennie Wren www.gunnisontimes.com
For more information regarding this publication or other special publications of Gunnison Country Publications, LLC, call 970.641.1414, or write drew@gunnisontimes.com Copyright© No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publishers. Copyright© 2010. No part may be transmitted in any form by any means including electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without permission of the publisher. Any work (written, photographic or graphic) which the publishers “hired-out” becomes the property of the publisher. Publisher accepts no liability for solicited or unsolicited materials lost or damaged.
113 N Main Gunnison, CO 81230 970.641.1551
merrell.com LET’S GET OUTSIDE
™
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REACH NEW HEIGHTS AT THE
ADVENTURE PARK
Photos: Tom Stillo
Located at the ski base area, it features bungee trampolines, rock climbing tower and a new mini golf course.
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ridecb.com
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.
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THE GUNNISON ROTARY PRESENTS:
THE
4
TH
OF
JULY
FIREWORKS “A FULL DAY OF FUN IN THE VALLEY” START HERE Town of Crested Butte Farmer’s Market 5th & Maroon • 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Street Parade Elk Avenue • 11 a.m.
135 Gunnison Live Bands 12-4 IOOF Park • Foods • Games • Shopping
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GUNNISON ROTARY CLUB www.GunnisonRotar
y.o
rg We currently meet ev ery Monday 12-1 at Aspinall Wilson Ce nter.
Legion & Jorgensen Parks
Tomichi Avenue
FOOD LIVE COURTS BANDS THE
BEER GARDEN 4-9 p.m.
with
featuring The Bruce Hayes Band
5-9 p.m.
S K R O W FIRE 9:15 p.m. 2 0 1 0 G U I D E T O C O LO R A D O ’ S H I G H C O U N T R Y P L A Y G R O U N D
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Finding the light Chris Rourke Chris Rourke has had a camera in her hand ever since she can remember. It was her parents who gave her the first of many “real” cameras, a Pentax K-1000, that have been faithful friends through many seasons of life. With the dawning of the digital age, Chris continues to have camera in hand to photograph the many places and faces in the Gunnison Valley — both as a freelance photographer for the Gunnison Country Times and an independent wildlife/landscape artist. Chris makes it her goal to find the light in what she photographs — be it the brightness of the sun that falls on a hillside, or the heroism that is born out of tragedy. After a 10-year stint in the radio and TV news industry in the Midwest, Chris enrolled in the Biblical training program at Camp Gunnison, where she met her husband, Kevin. They have two children, Shaughn and Abby. If you are interested in more of Chris’ work, you can go to her website, www.chrisrourkephotography.com, or to the Times’ photo website at www.photos.gunnisontimes.com. She also sells matted and framed photos and note cards in downtown Gunnison shops, such as Our Place and the Bookworm. 10 |
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Continued on page 11 2 0 1 0 G U I D E T O C O LO R A D O ’ S H I G H C O U N T R Y P L A Y G R O U N D
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38TH ANNUAL
CRESTED BUTTE ARTS FESTIVAL
HIGH ALTITUDE
2010
visual · performing · culinary arts saturday
july 31
originality
sunday
august 1
new this year
Peter P etter K Karner arner · Ceramics Ceramiics
The CBAF incorporates the culinary arts in 2010 with a variety of Tate Hamilton · Painting gastronomic indulgences. Larry Fielder · Mixed Media 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.
185 Juried Artists
art alley
festival - historic elk avenue
Culinary Demo Tent Art Demo Tent Festival Art Auction Childrens Art Alley Musical Entertainment After Hours Events
Dusty Demerson photo
community outreach
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.
www.crestedbutteartsfestival.org
Lena Costanzo was always touched by the affection that was shown to her, and she always reciprocated with unbridled love. This photo is from a large, community celebration at her 106th birthday in February 2009.
Photo by Chris Rourke
Grandma Lena’s
graceful elegance
(Editor’s Note: A few days before we went to press on this year’s Gunnison Country Magazine, we received word that Lena Costanzo, age 107, had died in the Gunnison Health Care Center. We still wanted to share this story with you, because hers was a long, healthy and happy life — filled with plenty of hard work, delicious home-cooked meals, laughter, friends and, always, family. Remarkable indeed, and worth celebrating here.) by Rick Besecker
I
n 1903, the year that Lena Costanzo took her first peek at the world, the average life expectancy was 48 years — or a mere 17,520 days. This past February, “Grandma Lena” gracefully
celebrated her 39,055 day on earth (107 years), and the world was made a better place by being graced by the elegance of her presence for such a wonderfully long time. You couldn’t help but be taken in with her radiant smile. Then, after you visited for a while, you discovered an immeasurable wealth of wisdom, intellect, sophistication and passion. Her delight for people had no boundaries. She said, “I can’t really think of anyone I dislike.” Back when Lena first graced us with her presence, Henry Ford was showcasing his first Model A, the French were excited about their first Tour de France and Orville and Wilbur were sorting through leftover bicycle parts in the hopes of developing something that would give them a lift. As a matter of fact, Lena was
already 10 months old when their strange looking bird actually launched skyward (kind of) for a noteworthy 12 seconds. Some agree that Sicily set the world standards for celebrating family unity and traditions, especially in the early 20th century. Survival of the family, as well as the individual members, depended on such values; a tradition established by design and by necessity. Selfpreservation was an acquired characteristic, even at an unfathomable young age. When Lena was 5, news came that her father had become suddenly ill and was bedridden at her grandmother’s house on the other side of the village, Santa Ninfa. The women were Continued on page 14
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overwhelmed with panic and the sensation of urgency persuaded them to rush from the house. Little Lena soon became aware that she was the only one in the house. In their rush, the ladies inadvertently left Lena to her own devise. So she began to make her way the great distance to her grandmother’s house alone. She cut across a section of town that the other girls would always avoid. With the Lord as her Shepherd, she arrived at the destination none the worse for wear. Everyone became paralyzed by the notion that such a small girl went such a distance by her lonesome, and then horrified at the discovery of the route she took. No sooner had the small, precious girl arrived than her father passed, thus creating a void that the next century would never quite fill. Prior to this traumatic event, Lena remembers being scolded for jumping up and down on her mother’s bed as her mom tried to rest. Little could she understand that it was her mother’s death bed. Lena was age 2 and always remained uncertain why her mother had to go. Although Lena believed late in life that sugar was an enemy to the young, she remembered enthusiastically saving an Italian coin called a “fifth of a cent” so she and the other girls could dash to the grocery store to purchase a paper-fold of the treat and indulge. Bountifulness took on a new meaning when she arrived in America a few years later and discovered that every home had a bowl full of the delightful, granulated substance on the dining room table. Lena’s grandparents understood that America promised opportunity to those who were willing to stand fast with ethical convictions. Such a concept encompassed hard labor. Each day was long and hard, but full of thanksgiving. During my interview with Lena late in 2009, I was suddenly sobered by the realization that she was a little less than half the age of America. She could recall Civil War veterans reminiscing about a conflict that surely would be the last. Then, as Manfred Von Richthofen was anchoring a brief but noteworthy reputation as the Red Baron in the skies over France, Lena was a teenager. That was the first Great War, and surely the last. The same year that the Titanic rubbed up against a rather large ice cube and turned itself into a submerged paperweight, Lena and her grandparents made their way from Sicily to America in a less elegant or famous vessel. Times were tough and the food on the ship was incredibly unappealing — even for a 9-year-old girl. A Spanish lady took a shining to the small 14 |
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Lena Costanzo, left, with a relative of hers, circa 1919.
girl and shared what food that she had brought along; an act of kindness never forgotten. Within a few days, New York Harbor was in view. After laying eyes on the majestic 25-yearold copper-clad lady from France, Lena and her grandparents were introduced to The Island of Tears. Ellis Island protocol dictated that 29 questions be posed and the responses assessed. The inquiries were designed to establish ethnicity, health, monetary solvability and trade skills. After about five hours, Lena and her grandparents were able to take in the fresh air of freedom and opportunity. No one said it was going to be easy. Her family settled in a small village nestled in the mountains just a stone’s throw south of Canon City. Many Italians had made Williamsburg, Colo., their new home. The summers were hot like in the old country, but the winters brought unfamiliar snow. Even before Lena became a teenager, she developed an uncanny ability to design and fashion dresses. Rags and leftover cloth that poor folks brought to her doorstep soon took on elegance and style. Lena became renowned for making magnificent creations from salvaged materials. This never brought riches to her, as she would only charge the small sum that she thought the immigrants could pay. Demands for her services were never so evident as when the mumps placed Lena’s delicate existence in the hospital. Desperate patrons still brought meager scraps of cloth so that she might sew while she was bedridden.
Lena was eventually introduced to the public school system. Unfortunately, she was a third older than the rest of the first graders and the difference made her stand out and feel awkward. To further complicate things, she was still passionately attached to her native tongue, Italian. Her intelligence would prevail, however, and, in a short time, she advanced to where her true peers hung out. It was a time of hard work and daily survival. Even as a teenager, Lena was focused on those things that would make each day possible for her family. Boys, dating, a first kiss and marriage were things that were to be considered some other day ... maybe. That day came on Jan. 1, 1921, when Lena married Frank Costanzo. Her new husband was not fond of the idea of his bride making dresses any longer. Frank was an industrious man and had started a pool hall in Salida. But, while he was away on farm deliveries once a week, Lena would mind their store and quietly sew dresses without his knowledge. It was a marvelous time of community gatherings and fellowship. She recalls that every Saturday night they would compensate a gifted piano player to drive from Cañon City and perform at their dance hall. Lena was responsible for collecting each five-cent fee, placed in a basket so that the gentlemen could dance a single dance with the young ladies. These were referred to as jitney dances. A year later, business was slow and Frank was restless. Word had filtered over Marshall Pass that a railway worker needed a manager for a pool hall that he owned in Sargents. Soon a hand shake signified employment and a 20-year-old girl and her husband packed what they could in the back of their 1920 Dodge pickup and began the 12-hour journey over the unforgiving mule trail known as Monarch Pass. After managing the establishment for four days, Frank thought that he should own the place and another gentlemen’s agreement was solidified by another handshake. Before long the pool hall also offered general dry goods and some groceries. Then a restaurant and hotel were purchased. Lena managed every facet of the hotel and restaurant. If she did not know before, she soon discovered that 24 hours were not enough in a day. Lena had fond memories, however, of the hard-working gentlemen who maintained the rails as well as operated the noisy steam locomotives that ran through Sargents. She recalled washing and ironing white table linens each day. As the train whistle announced the arrival of the iron horse, this too would alert Lena to stoke the cook stove and set the tables, for an
inevitable stampede through the front doors was only moments away. Coal dust, dirt and sweat coated the faces and clothes of those who entered. The men were eager to convince Lena that they were not comfortable with the brilliant table cloths — for they were certain to become soiled beyond recovery. Mrs. Costanzo insisted that the linen stay, so the workers were forced to reach a compromise; they brought their own Denver Post to drape under the place settings. Some 85 years later, the reflection of such regard still warmed Lena’s heart. Frank Costanzo understood the plight of the narrow-gauge employees 30 years before Tennessee Ernie Ford sang about owing “your soul to the company store.” Knowing that the company store wouldn’t even cash their own employees’ checks, Frank developed a line of credit with the Gunnison Bank & Trust, and then cashed their checks knowing that they would probably spend some of it at his store. Frank and Lena visited their Mother Land in 1934. When it became time to pack for the return to the United States, relatives were eager to tug on emotional ties that still remained and solicit them to move back to Sicily. Lena recalled that they had to pack the suitcases several times, because when their attentions were diverted for just a few minutes, relatives would unpack their belongings and place them back in the closets and dressers. “That’s the way it’s supposed to be with family,” she said. According to records, Frank passed away on Aug. 22, 1974, and for the next 35 years there was not a day that Lena didn’t reflect on her love for her only knight in shining armor. When I quizzed her about her age, she was generous enough to reflect: “When I turned 90, I thought that maybe I was beginning to get old, but now that I am 107, I’m not so sure. I guess that living is just kind of like a habit by now. “Grandmother maintained a healthy regiment of remedies, one of which was boiled dandelion juice,” she continued. “Each morning every child in the family was required to drink a glass full of the unsavory stuff. I never quite got used to that taste!” When asked if she had any regrets, her face took on a puzzled appearance and she simply said, “No. It’s just stuff we all go through.” Grandma Lena seemed mystified by the blessing of so many quality years. I, on the other hand, have a thought on how such an extraordinary existence took place. She was saturated with love to give and an endless eagerness to admire others. A more superlative application I cannot imagine. ■
our mission
Cattlemen’s Days Tough Enough to Wear Pink (TETWP) is dedicated to providing local funding for breast cancer awareness, prevention, education, support, breast screenings and equipment.
Celebrating 5 years of Supporting the community! live and silent Auction and
concert
community helping the
100% of the dollars raised stays in the Gunnison Valley providing assistance in education, mammograms, ultrasounds and further diagnosis. As of March 2010 Cattlemen’s Days has paid out more then $121,176.
What: Live auction and concert with Nashville singer, songwriters Dean Dillon, Tim Nichols, Bob DiPiero and Scotty Emerick. Pre-party starts at 6 p.m. When: Tuesday, July 13, 7:45 p.m. Where: Mountaineer Square, Mt. Crested Butte Cost: $60 ~ Tickets on sale at Interior Vision (970.349.5352) in Crested Butte and The Toggery (970.641.0844) and The Western World (970.641.6566) in Gunnison
As of March 2010 our program has provided: ~ Help for 5 Families of breast cancer survivors ~ 253 mammograms and ultra sounds ~ 13 biopsies We have awarded the Gunnison Valley Hospital $100,000 to upgrade to a digital technology platform.
$221,176 Total Paid Out to the Community.
howcan you
help?
Contact CATTLEMEN’S DAYS Tough Enough To Wear Pink to find out how you can support gunnison valley’s fight against breast cancer at cattlemensdays.com Concert info, additional ticket or sponsor information: Edie Gibson at 970.596.4458 or edieshu@gmail.com
Sponsorships and donations can be mailed to: write:
Cattlemen’s Days TETWP, P.O. Box 1203, Gunnison, CO 81230
Tough Enough to Wear Pink
Rodeo What: When: Where: Cost:
PRCA evening rodeo. TETWP Pink Night Thursday, July 15, 7 p.m. Gunnison County Rodeo Grounds $15/Grandstand $12/General admission $2 of every ticket sold will be donated to TETWP
Tickets go on sale July 6 at the Western State ticket booth in front of Gunnison Bank & Trust in Gunnison for all rodeos. July 15, 16, 17 at 7 p.m. For more information on any of these events please visit www.gunnisontetwp.com www.gunnisontetwp.com
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There are three guiding principles for the management of Eagle Ridge Ranch: agricultural production, enhanced wildlife carrying capacity and recreational use by the owners.
Courtesy photo
Development in disguise Eagle Ridge Ranch serves as model for continued ranching, wildlife preservation by Will Shoemaker
A
l Sanderson steers his Chevy pickup along a winding road that climbs from the floor of the Ohio Creek Valley up into the clouds, through a sea of sage brush and past prime grazing pasture. Most of the time, the manager of the Eagle Ridge Ranch has only his old dog Looper, who sits attentively on the armrest of the pickup, to keep him company. Sanderson speaks in ranch-flavored aphorisms and with a drawl giving away that he’s spent his entire life in the rural American West. “I’ve lived up this valley since I was 11 years old, and I’m getting long in the tooth now,” he says with a hearty chuckle.
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He passes a few large homes — the design of which seems strikingly at place in the middle of this ranch country — owned by folks who have made Eagle Ridge what it is. That is, much more than simply some of the most expansive, prime ranchland up the Ohio Creek Valley, about 8 miles northwest of Gunnison. Cradled between the rugged West Elk range to the west, Anthracites to the north and straddling Ohio Creek, Eagle Ridge is in many ways a model development — proof that luxury homesites smack dab in the middle of ranchland don’t have to squander agricultural opportunity or wildlife habitat. For that, Eagle Ridge has earned considerable attention. The development was
presented with the Gunnison Conservation District’s annual award as “Outstanding Conservationist” for 2009. It also won the first Governor’s Award for Smart Growth from the State of Colorado several years ago. Today, 10 homes are built at the ranch, which utilizes a “shared ownership” concept for the total 4,900-acre property, in addition to 300 acres of state and 840 acres of BLM lands managed by Eagle Ridge. There’s an equestrian center, 3-acre trout pond and “primitive” area of the ranch that offers prime big game hunting, complete with hunting cabins for use by homeowners. Eagle Ridge has come a long way since Continued on page 21
606 6th Street • P.O. Box 1819 • Crested Butte, Colorado ph (970) 349–7487 • fax (970) 349–5626 • www.crestedbuttearts.org
Church Directory BETHANY BAPTIST CHURCH
-4 #!,6!29 ,54(%2!. #(52#(
. 7ISCONSIN 3T s 7ORSHIP 3ERVICE AT A M A M Weekly ministries, Bible studies High school/junior high youth activities www.gunnisonbethany.com
. -AIN s s 2EV +ARL "OHMER 0ARKING LOT OFF 7ISCONSIN 3T BLOCK 7EST OF -AIN 3UNDAY 7ORSHIP A M s 2EFRESHMENTS SERVED AFTER CHURCH 3UNDAY SERVICE AT "LUE -ESA A M *UNE 3EPT
CHURCH OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN
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FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 6IRGINIA 3T AT 0INE s 3UNDAY "IBLE 3CHOOL A M s -ORNING 7ORSHIP A M 3HARE AND 0RAYER 3ERVICE P M 7EDNESDAY 'UNNISON "IBLE )NSTITUTE P M Ed Slaughenhaupt, Pastor
2)6%2 /& ,)&% &%,,/73()0 #OUNTY 2D s s 0ASTOR -IKE $ARNELL ONE MILE 7EST OF 'UNNISON ON THE HILL PAST THE TWIN BRIDGES 3UNDAY 7ORSHIP 3ERVICE A M 7EDNESDAY "IBLE 3TUDY P M
ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES 0ASTOR *OHN #LEMENT s ! 3PIRIT l LLED #HRISTIAN &AMILY #HURCH 3UNDAY 3ERVICE s #HILDREN S #HURCH s .URSERY s 3MALL 'ROUPS s -ID WEEK "IBLE STUDY Come see us at our new location .ORTH (WY 'UNNISON www.rmcmchurch.org
ST. PETER’S CATHOLIC CHURCH THE GUNNISON CHURCH OF CHRIST % 6IRGINIA s s $ARRIN #OWGER -INISTER Welcomes you to Bible Classes and Worship Assemblies 3UNDAY "IBLE 3TUDY A M 7ORSHIP A M *ULY !UGUST A M P M .URSERY 0ROVIDED $URING 7ORSHIP 3ERVICE Birth Through 5 Years 7EDNESDAY "IBLE 3TUDY P M
'5..)3/. #/.'2%'!4)/.!, #(52#( 5## /PEN AND !Fl RMING *UST 0EACE %ARTH #OVENANT 3UNDAY 7ORSHIP 3ERVICE A M AT !SPINALL 7ILSON #ENTER 909 Escalante Drive, Gunnison 2EV "RENDA "ROWN s GCCOFl CE QWESTOFl CE NET s WWW GUNNISONUCC ORG #HURCH /Fl CE !DDRESS 7EST 4OMICHI
7ISCONSIN 'EORGIA s s &R 3TEVEN * -URRAY -ASS 3AT P M 3UN A M NOON 3PANISH 3UMMER 3CHEDULE #ALL FOR WEEKDAY -ASS TIMES 3T 2OSE OF ,IMA 3ILVER 3T ,AKE #ITY 3AT P M -ASS 1UEEN OF !LL 3AINTS TH AND 3OPRIS #RESTED "UTTE 3UN A M.
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Gunnison Area Churches Welcome You!
Ranch manager Al Sanderson and his trusty sidekick Looper.
Photo by Will Shoemaker
founders Lee and Gail Dusa first stumbled across the property in 1993. The Dusas were looking for a retirement home in the Rocky Mountains. They’d previously owned property in Montana, Wyoming and Colorado. From that experience and their travels, the Dusas formed the opinion that largeparcel development often ruins the ability to continue ranching on land surrounding homes, as well as reducing wildlife habitat and recreational opportunity. In Colorado, 35-acre parcels can be developed outside of county or state review and are often the preferred route taken for luxury homesites near resort communities. The Dusas had also learned that, as romantic as it may seem, running a ranch requires a great deal of responsibility and time. They had some criteria they wanted to see met in the “ideal� spot chosen for the location of their retirement home. That included a good airport nearby; close proximity to a ski resort — but not too close; a college town nearby; views of snow-capped peaks; enough land to create recreation for themselves; and some kind of water on the property. “We happened to come to Gunnison the weekend of the high school homecoming parade,� Lee recalls. “It was one of the hokiest things you’ve ever seen in your life — and we were absolutely thrilled by it.� Continued on page 22
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Flower motor Dodge
Cattlemen’s Days PRCA Rodeo July 15, 16, 17 7 p.m. nightly
G u n n i s o n, c o
97 0- 641- 15 01 ww w. catt le me ns days .co m Friday July 9th
4-H Goat / Livestock Knowledge Test 4-H Horse Knowledge Test Kickoff Dinner and Dance Everyone’s Invited/ Fred R. Field Heritage Center
6:00 PM
4-H Horse Show
8:00 AM
Saturday, July 10th
Sunday, July 11th
Open Horse Show *New for 2009 Versatility Saddle Challenge
Monday July 12th
4-H Project Judging and Interviews 4-H Dog Obedience Show 4-H Participants set up Show Arena and Project Review 4-H Project Review
Tuesday, July 13th
5:00 PM
8:00 AM 8:30 AM 9:00 AM 4:00 PM 7:00 PM
4-H Rabbit and Poultry Show 8:30 AM 4-H Dairy Goat Show 10:00 AM 4-H Fiber Sheep/Goat Show 4-H Participant Clean up 4:00 Cowboy Poetry @ Fred Field Heritage Center PM (Approx.) 7:00 PM Pre-party and silent auction will be at Mountaineer Square in Mt. CB 6-7:30 PM Evening entertainment 7:45 PM
Wednesday, July 14th
4-H Sheep Weigh In 1:00-1:30 PM 4-H Swine Weigh In 1:30-2: 4-H Participant Goat/Livestock Knowledge Test 30 PM Watershed Team Roping and Barrel Racing, Auction3:00 PM Watershed Team Roping and Barrel Racing 5:00 PM Evening Carnival At The Rodeo Grounds 7:00 PM
Thursday, July 15th
4-H Steer Weigh In 8:00-8: 4-H Swine Show and Open Showmanship 30 AM 4-H Sheep Show and Open Showmanship 10:00 AM 2:30 PM Pioneer Banquet At The Elks Lodge 6:00 PM The famous TETWP pre Rodeo Party and Auction at The Last Chance 5:00-6:30 PM Tough Enough To Wear Pink PRCA Evening Rodeo TETWP Post Rodeo Dance (The Last Chance) 7:00 PM Evening Carnival At The Rodeo Grounds 9:30 PM
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Friday, July 16th
4-H Market Goat Show 9:30 AM 4-H Beef Show and Adult Showmanship 10:30 AM 4-H Round Robin Showmanship 1:30 PM 4-H Participant Set Up Sale Arena 4-H Participants Swine and Sheep Ultrasound 2:30 PM 4:00 PM PRCA Evening Rodeo 7:00 PM Dance at The Elks Lodge 9:00 PM Carnival At The Rodeo Grounds
Saturday, July 17th
Cattlemen’s Days Parade 10:00 AM Kiwanis BBQ @ Legion Park 11:30 AM 4-H Livestock Buyers BBQ 12:30 PM 4-H Awards and Scholarship Presentation 1:30 PM 4-H Junior Livestock Auction 2:00 PM PRCA Evening Rodeo-Family Night, Kids 10 and under free with paid adult genera l admission; $5.00 grandstand. 4-H Cattlemen’s Days Shares, Gunnison Cares. Bring a non-perishable food item to the gate. . 7:00 PM Dance At The Elks Lodge 9:00 PM Carnival At The Rodeo Grounds
Sunday, July 18th
Cowboy Church / FCA Services-Rodeo Grounds 9:00 AM Horse Race Meet 12:30 PM
While seeking out potential parcels for their dream home, Lee and Gail stumbled upon the former 7M ranch, which was much bigger in size than what they were looking for. After ruminating over their principles, an idea was born for Eagle Ridge’s ownership concept. They realized they could create 15 shares of ownership, place a conservation easement on the entire property (preventing further development) and continue to ranch it. The 15 owners would share in the management decisions and the expense of keeping it operating. Water, minerals and timber would be tied to the land forever more. It was a go. “It had really never been done before,” says Lee, who with brother Jerry Dusa were financial partners in the project. Lee and Gail were responsible for creating and implementing the vision on the ground. When someone buys into the ranch, they get a building envelope of about 3 acres in size. Surrounding that envelope is the “owner’s use area” where they can keep horses, for example. Combined, that totals about 10 acres per homesite. The remainder of the 4,900 acres is owned collectively. Early on, the Dusas decided on three guiding principles for the management of the ranch: agricultural production forever, enhanced wildlife carrying capacity and recreational use by the owners. The ranching operation is split between a lease with Burt and Sandy Guerrieri and the ranch’s own hay operation, overseen by Sanderson. Wildlife habitat improvements have
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included development of shallow ponds for waterfowl; mowing of 90 acres of sagebrush and planting herbs and forbs to improve sage grouse habitat; and fencing to create a riparian pasture. John Scott is with the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) in Gunnison. The NRCS first began working with Eagle Ridge on their irrigation system — helping the ranch manage irrigation water more efficiently. Since then, Scott has been involved with efforts specifically targeted at improving habitat for wildlife. “Our intent all along has been to create a more diverse habitat for wildlife out there and I believe we’ve done that,” Scott says. “We might be targeting wildlife habitat, but it’s meant improvements to the soil, plants and overall landscape health.” On the agricultural side, the irrigation system has been improved for the hay crop and fencing implemented to allow for holistic, rotational grazing. Dusa hopes Eagle Ridge has spurred people to think more about ranch preservation in Gunnison County. “If development is going to occur in the future, this is what you’d like it to be,” Scott agrees. The ranch’s website is www.eagleridgegunnisonco.com. ■
June 25-27,
Registration starts Thursday, June 24, 1-4 PM
Courtesy photos
970-641-3081 320 South 14th St, Gunnison Thrift Store Hours: M-F 8:30am to 5:00pm & Sat 10:00am to 3:00pm (We accept donations on MWF.)
2010 Scheduled Events
At left, a trout pond is open to homeowners at the ranch and their guests. Wildlife abounds at Eagle Ridge; catching a glimpse of a bull elk crossing a meadow is common. Also pictured is one of the Eagle Ridge homes.
2010
Friday: • Preliminary Qualifiers for Kayaking Events • Event Registration
Saturday: • Community River Parade • Competitive Raft Race • Kayak Freestyle Rodeo Finals • Big Trick Contest • River Board Exhibition • Raft Rodeo• Boater X • Kayak Slalom Race • Foam Boat Race • Live Music & Awards Party
Sunday: • Taylor Canyon Enduro • Lower Taylor Run: 12 Noon • Downriver Race • Closing Ceremony • Party: awards, vendors, beer & food live music, bon fire, free camping!
www.gunnisonriverfestival.com
2 0 1 0 G U I D E T O C O LO R A D O ’ S H I G H C O U N T R Y P L A Y G R O U N D
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The Gunnison Basin’s rivers, streams and lakes are chock-full of beautiful trout, like this one. Courtesy photo
Basic needs Time on the water, stalking the wily trout, is bound to change some perspectives by Dave Pinkerton
I
need to tell you this story. Partly because you won’t believe this guy. And partly because you’ll get a kick out of how it all ends. You see, Corn and I were at the Almont put-in, that river-right sand bar anchored by narrow-leaf cottonwoods and willows just thick enough to cover up your lower half. Corn was in my rearview mirror, staring at my trailer wheel that had sunk nearly to the axle. I’d known him long enough to predict what was coming. “They need to build a concrete ramp,” he evaluated, shaking his head. “For that matter, they need toilets and some benches.” I wondered. For years, the willows had met my needs, and my truck handled the sand just fine. But Corn saw things differently. By age 45, this third son of an Iowa corn farmer had successfully developed
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Fishing from a cataraft is a great way to experience the beauty of the river, and find some hot holes. Courtesy photo
enough commercial property to proclaim what needed to be done. And he was used to people listening. I set the parking brake, hopped on the trailer and pushed my cataraft off the back end, while Corn managed the bow line. After rigging our rods and making sure we had provisions in the cooler, we launched. Corn stood at the front lean-bar, casting a rubber-leg woolly bugger into every pocket and pool we floated by. I rowed, trying to make sure my overstressed, lifelong friend had a chance to change flies rather than change lanes, negotiate rapids instead of contracts and entice trout not hedge fund managers. “You need to ferry me river left,” he announced over his shoulder. “Don’t you see that long shelf?” Of course I had. I live here. That means you float the river. Simple. But I didn’t get huff y. Corn and I had worked out an irritating mutuality — one between fast and slow, between keep up and up-keep, between want and need. I aligned the pontoons perpendicular to the current and dug in the oar blades. We slid past a truck-sized, midstream boulder and in three more strokes I had the bow positioned for casting. Corn slapped his coruscant streamer in the flat water and stripped line. In an instant, wham! A nice rainbow thrashed on the end of Corn’s leader. But its first big run bent Corn’s rod tip under the boat. “You need to get us turned around!” he shouted, eyes large and round. Floating line disappeared under the left pontoon. I hammered the oars in opposite directions and watched Corn’s line slide free from the bow, then tear downstream following the fish’s second run. I squared up with the current and rowed forward. After another hundred yards, we eddied out behind a slab rock with a hook ledge. Corn reeled. The fish played into our pool, at which point Corn had some more advice. “That net needs to be up here.” Corn held his rod high over his head. “Now!” I almost didn’t do it, the way he kept saying what was needed. It felt like my dad when he insisted, “You need to mow the lawn.” Or when Aunt Clara admonished, “You don’t need to wear those pants to Jodie’s wedding, do you?” Shouldn’t we be able to figure out what we needed? Continued on page 26
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But Corn needed that fish more than I needed to assert myself. After all, I had a different kind of fortune: I lived here. So I grabbed the net, crawled forward and ducked under the lean bar. But in a last burst of survival, the fish darted upstream, then wrapped Corn’s line around the hooked ledge of our rock. The tippet snapped! Our eyes followed the big red stripe as it shimmied away. Corn’s jaw muscles flexed. “I didn’t need that rock,” he grumbled. Then he exhaled and reeled in his line without looking at me. After a pause he said, “Let me row.” “Okay,” I said, “but as long as we switch back before Costello’s bridge.” I knew that was the one place, more than any on this river, where boats get torn up. Soon, fishing turned real hot and I lost track of where we were on the river. After yet another aggressive strike, I looked downstream. My stomach fluttered. Costello’s bridge lay 50 yards ahead. No time to switch. I reeled in my line fast as I turned to Corn. “You need to slow us down and hug that right pylon,” I ordered. “Otherwise, the current sucks you left.” I knew how easy it was to hit that left bridge pylon — the one with
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Photos: Tom Stillo
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an unforgiving habit of shredding rubber rafts. “I can do it,” Corn announced 10 yards out. I sat down and lowered my rod. Then something bad happed. Corn started to forward row. A shadow darkened the bow. The boat surged ahead. Things happened fast. “No!” I yelled. But the course was set. We accelerated left. An oar blade caught the pylon and batted its handle upward into Corn’s face. Before I could react, Corn was down on the deck, blood on his forehead. The oar floated away and Corn’s hat sank in a riffle. I bent over Corn, trying to lift him up as I released the spare oar. He jerked his arm away from me and wobbled to the front seat. “They need to fix that bridge,” he spat. “And maybe they need to remove all the big rocks,” I growled. “That way you’d never lose a fish.”
“
I rowed, trying to make sure my overstressed, lifelong friend had a chance to change flies rather than change lanes, negotiate rapids instead of contracts and entice trout not hedge fund managers.
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” Corn wasn’t dumb. He knew me; he knew what I meant. Corn fished past North Bridge and the Palisades, all the way to the Whitewater Park. He landed a few. We both kept quiet. At the take out, Corn stepped off the boat with one leg, then tried to hoist his other one over the pontoon. But his shoelace caught on the raft frame and he toppled face first into six inches of water. He scrambled to his feet, mud and sand dripping from his face. I could tell he had something to say and I sensed how he would start it off. I was ready. “You need to. ...” I glared at him. Corn wiped his face, then felt the scrape above his eyebrow. He started to smile. “You need to let me buy you a beer,” he finished. I smiled back. I couldn’t think of anything I needed more. ■
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“The Arts Alliance, a dynamic coalition of nonprofit visual and performing arts organizations, promotes and advances the arts to enrich, educate, and enhance the quality of life in the Upper East River Valley.” WE ENVISION THE UPPER EAST RIVER VALLEY AS A NATIONALLY recognized destination for the arts. The Arts Alliance serves as a vital, unified, and visible resource that fosters unique opportunities and supports world-class facilities for all artists. Similarly, the Arts Alliance expands cultural experiences for the local community as well as adds greater value to the economy of the region. Participating organizations include and are not limited to Artists of the West Elks, Center for the Arts, Mt. Crested Butte Performing Arts Center, Gunnison Arts Center, Crested Butte Mountain Theatre, Crested Butte Music Festival, Crested Butte School of Dance, Trailhead Discovery Museum and the Crested Butte Arts Festival. For more information please contact Jenny Birnie at (970) 349–7487x2 or visit www.crestedbuttearts.org.
KARA MIL LER
BILOW NATHAN
NLON ALEX FE NATH AN BIL
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On the trail with A
second generation mountain biking pioneer, Dave Wiens raced professionally for nearly 20 years. Officially retiring from the pro circuit in 2004, he still enjoys competing — but prefers racing only occasionally and closer to home. In August of 2008, Wiens won his sixth consecutive Leadville 100 title in a duel with seven-time Tour de France Champion Lance Armstrong. Other career highlights include two World Cup wins, two U.S. National Championship titles and numerous victories on the professional mountain bike racing circuit. In 2006, he founded the non-profit Gunnison Trails. Gunnison Trails is active on the public lands in the Gunnison area, assisting land management agencies, maintaining existing trails, educating trail users and proposing new trails and trail systems. A Colorado native, Wiens has called Gunnison home for more than 20 years. He lives here with his wife, Susan DeMattei, also a former professional mountain biker and 1996 Olympic bronze medalist, and their three sons, Cooper, Ben and Sam.
Dave Wiens
How do you think the Gunnison Basin rates with some of the mountain biking epicenters out there? I’ve been to lots of places with great mountain biking and ridden trails all over the world. Even with those experiences, my favorite riding anywhere is right here in Gunnison County. Between the trails around Gunnison, the Crested Butte area, and the riding along the Continental Divide near Monarch Pass, I feel like I still have a lifetime of exploring left. What are some of your favorite local rides? I try to hit as many of the classic Crested Butte rides as I can each summer and fall. 403, 401, Deer Creek, the Dyke Trail and Doctor’s Park are always high on my list. Also, the riding up at Crested Butte Mountain Resort is getting better all the time. I like biking all over the terrain that we play on skis in the winter. I also like heading up above Pitkin and riding the old railroad routes and mining roads — like the Alpine Tunnel, Napolean Pass and Tincup Pass. But if I could only ride one place, that would have to be at Hartman Rocks near Gunnison. I never get tired of riding the trails out there and it doesn’t get any better than Hartman’s in the Photo by Thomas Kranzle/Venture Visuals 30 |
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evening light, after some afternoon thunderstorms have come and gone and left the trails tacky and fast. We call that a powder day on wheels. For a novice to intermediate rider who is here for the first time, what rides would you recommend? Around Crested Butte, I’d suggest the Lower Loop and the Kebler Pass Wagon Road. Also, just riding out Brush Creek Road is a nice ride, too. Around Gunnison, the Contour Trail behind Western State College is singletrack but almost dead flat once you gain the 100 vertical feet from Mountaineer Bowl. Then the roads and two-tracks at Hartman Rocks are very nice and with the BLM’s free map, you can make a variety of loops, too. If you want to test out some singletrack, try Sea of Sage and Middle Luge. And for someone who wants to really challenge themselves? 403 and 401 together can be a tough ride. Lots of climbing and 403 is a fast, fairly steep descent. Deer Creek is a pretty burly ride, too, especially if you tack Snodgrass on the end or start it with Strand Hill or Farris Creek. Hartman Rocks has lots of fairly technical, busy riding. If you connect Ridgeline, Top of the World, Gateway, Josies and Dirty Sock, you’ll get a good taste of typical Hartman’s riding. The challenge can come in two forms. One is just in trails that are technically difficult. The other is the sheer length and amount of climbing in a ride. Different riders will weave different trails together to make epic loops and point-to-point rides (if they have a shuttle sorted out). The combinations are endless. Tell us a little bit about Gunnison Trails: I started Gunnison Trails to maintain
Hartman Rocks trails during 2006. That summer, the trails out there were falling to pieces. Two full summers and lots of volunteer hours later, numerous people had a hand in getting all of the trails out there shored up and in good shape. The BLM has been an excellent and proactive partner in helping us by providing guidance, leadership and tools. Another area of focus of Gunnison Trails is to work to continually educate trail users. There are lots of elements of trail use that not everyone is aware of: etiquette, seasonal closures for wildlife, treading lightly, respecting private property and grazing. The list goes on. We simply try to give trail users the best information we can so that they can make good decisions on public lands. Finally, Gunnison Trails is also in the process of proposing new trails and trail systems in the Gunnison area. One of our proposals, although it faces kind of an uphill battle, is a trail from Gunnison to Crested Butte. We also have some amazing proposals into our land management agencies for the public lands adjacent to Gunnison. The jury is still out on all of these proposals, but we hope to get word on them this summer. Describe your perfect day out on the trails: I have a few different ones that I really enjoy; each takes place in the late afternoon or evening on the public lands close to Gunnison. I’m either riding with my wife Susan and our boys, just with Susan or by myself. As the sun gets lower in the sky, the landscape begins to burn red and orange. The air is crystal clear and there are distant thunderheads ablaze with lightning and color from the setting sun. The sage has taken on a whole new color and I can see for miles in every direction — the amazing Upper Gunnison Basin all around me. Yeah, it’s about where I’m at as much as it’s about riding a great trail! ■
2010 Biking Events May 30
Original Growler Mountain Bike Race, Gunnison
June 5
National Trails Day — Trail Work Day with Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association
June 20-26
Bicycle Tour of Colorado, Arrival & Departure Dates in Gunnison
June 22-27
30th Annual Fat Tire Bike Week, Crested Butte
June 25-27
10th Annual Wildflower Rush Mountain States Cup Race, Mt. Crested Butte
June 26-27
Bridges of the Butte (24-hour townie tour), Crested Butte
July 15, 22, 29, Aug. 5, 12 PowerAde Pinnacle Summer Race Series, Mt. Crested Butte Aug. 21-22 8th Annual 24 Hours in the Sage, Gunnison Sept. 11-12
34th Annual Pearl Pass Mountain Bike Tour, Crested Butte
Help us maintain and create trails for everybody’s use!
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warriors and leisure riders welcome
Weekend
Original Growler, Gunnison, May 30 The local mountain biking race season officially kicks off on May 30 with the Original Growler at Hartman Rocks, organized by racing great Dave Wiens. Registration is already sold out for both the 64-mile (two laps) and 32-mile (one lap) competitions, with each lap climbing 4,000 vertical feet. The races start at 7 a.m., with proceeds benefiting Gunnison Trails. Go to www.gunnisontrails.com/ for information.
W
hether pumping out mileage on the open road or escaping to the immaculate network of trails that stretch to all corners of the county, the Gunnison Valley offers the epitome of bike riding experiences in the Rocky Mountains. Home to the Mountain Biking Hall of Fame and Museum (331 Elk Ave. in Crested Butte) — open June through September — and epic trail systems like Hartman Rocks and Crested Butte, the area is no stranger to a national and international lime-light. In 2009, Bike magazine cited Crested Butte as the “Best Destination” on their list of the “33 Best Rides in North America.” Riding Crested Butte also was the number one item on Mountain Bike Action’s “100 Things Every Mountain Biker Needs to Do” list last year. One of the state’s biggest road rides will make Gunnison its home base this summer, when the Bicycle Tour of Colorado takes off on June 20 and returns for the finish on June 26. Considering the cadre of home spun events like the Original Growler, Fat Tire Bike Week and 24-Hours in the Sage, there’s a venue for every age and talent level in the business. Following is a sample of the many races and events on tap for this summer that are sure to bring out the self-propelled enthusiast in us all:
Gunnison Growler Series, Gunnison, April-October The fifth annual Gunnison Growler Mountain Bike Series takes place on select Thursday
Big air is par for CBMR’s downhill course. Photo by Matt Smith
evenings in spring, summer and fall, primarily at Hartman Rocks Multi-Use Recreation Area in Gunnison. This classic mountain bike race/ fun ride series is for all ages and abilities, with men’s and women’s divisions in four categories: single-speed open, beginner, sport and expert. There also are various categories for kids. The races begin at 5:45 p.m., with registration starting on-site at 4 p.m. The cost is $15 per race. Proceeds benefit Gunnison Trails. For more information as details develop, visit www. gunnisontrails.com/.
Bicycle Tour of Colorado, Gunnison, June 20 & 26 This 16th annual ride returns to the Gunnison Valley for the second year in a row, this time beginning in Gunnison on June 20 and ending here on June 26. The more than 470mile loop includes stops in Creede, Alamosa, Chama (N.M.), Pagosa Springs and Center. The tour is limited to 1,500 cyclists, so sign up soon at www.bicycletourcolorado.com/. 30th Annual Fat Tire Bike Week, Crested Butte, June 22-27 Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte are the proud hosts of the world’s oldest mountain bike festival, the 30th Annual Crested Butte Fat Tire Bike Week from June 22-27. Voted Best Festival in a Bike magazine reader poll, participants can take part in the Fat Tire 40 mountain bike race, Mountain States Cup Wildflower Rush races, the famous Chainless Race, Bridges of the Butte townie tour, Rippin’ Chix/Crested Butte Mountain Guides clinics with Alison Gannett and friends, a free concert featuring a national
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act, guided rides and more. For information, contact the Crested Butte-Mt. Crested Butte Chamber of Commerce at 800.545.4505 or visit www.ftbw.com/. 10th Annual Wildflower Rush, Mt. Crested Butte, June 26-27 Come discover what real Crested Butte singletrack is all about at the 10th Annual Wildflower Rush, the fourth stop on this year’s Mountain States Cup (MSC) regional mountain bike racing series. Held at Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Mt. Crested Butte, the event begins with a cross country race and free Shimano Kids Race on June 26. On June 27, the Crested Butte Downhill and Super-D will give racers plenty of challenges. For more information and registration, visit www.racemsc.com/. Bridges of the Butte, Crested Butte, June 26-27 This 24-hour townie bike tour takes riders over many of the bridges in downtown Crested Butte and runs from 3 p.m. on June 26 to 3 p.m. on June 27. Enter as an individual and cruise all 24 hours or enter as a team. There is no limit to team size, and costumes are encouraged but not required. Registration costs $24 per participant and kids pay their age, with pre-registration preferred. This unique event benefits the Adaptive Sports Center, and participants are encouraged to collect pledges to help fund programs for people with disabilities. Register online at www.adaptivesports.org/. For information, call 970.349.5075. PowerAde Pinnacle Race Series, Mt. Crested Butte, July-August This recreational racing series created in 1998 by Crested Butte Mountain Resort is geared toward fun and competition for beginner to expert riders, split up into 12 racing categories. The races consist of varying lengths
and difficulty on Mt. Crested Butte’s network of trails and singletrack and take place on five Thursday evenings in July and August at 5:45 p.m. A free Shimano Youth Series for kids is offered at the same time. Food, beer and prizes follow every race. For more information call 970.349.2221 or visit www.skicb/ as summer nears.
with the most laps wins. A 12-hour race that starts at midnight and finishes at noon also is offered. Additional highlights for the weekend include live entertainment, the World Townie Championships and more. To register or for more information, contact 303.507.1148 or visit www.24hoursinthesage.com/. 34th Annual Pearl Pass Mountain Bike Tour, Crested Butte to Aspen, Sept. 11-12 This oldest mountain bike event in the world runs from Crested Butte to Aspen via Pearl Pass. In 1976, the first group of 15 or 20 cyclists from Crested Butte rode one-speed town bikes over the 12,705-foot Pearl Pass to Aspen in response to a group of Aspenites riding their motorcycles over Pearl Pass and parking them in downtown Crested Butte. The Crested Butte rowdies pulled up in downtown Aspen in front of the historic Hotel Jerome. By the early 1980s, the expert ride had grown and become a week long event known as Fat Tire Bike Week. Today, Fat Tire Bike Week is held in June and the Pearl Pass Mountain Bike Tour is in September to honor the origins of mountain biking in Crested Butte. For information, call 970.349.6817 or visit www.mtnbikehalloffame. com/.
Riding at Hartman Rocks is not super-technical, but there’s plenty of challenging obstacles to keep things interesting. Photo by Matt Smith
8th Annual 24 Hours in the Sage, Gunnison, August 21-22 Gunnison’s Hartman Rocks is the beautiful backdrop for a 24-hour relay bike race where individual entrants and teams ride a 13-mile loop continuously from noon Saturday, Aug. 21, to noon Sunday, Aug. 22. Gunnison’s KOA Kampground is the start/finish area and makes for a stellar base camp for such an event. The person/team in each category
Trail Work Days, Reports & More Pitch in to help local riders with trail work days organized by the Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association, (www.cbmba.org) and Gunnison Trails (www.gunnisontrails.com) and maybe they’ll show you a favorite ride or two. To view trail reports and sign up for e-mail trail report newsletters, visit www.coloradomountainbiking.info. Get a glimpse of biking in Gunnison-Crested Butte by checking out www.youtube.com/ watch?v=OUIB8fAWi9M. â–
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‘Bayou in the Butte’ founder Mike Marchitelli didn’t think Crested Butte had enough summer-time festivals. So he started one. Photo by Dawne Belloise
CRESTED BUTTE
Home of the fun, funky festival by Dawne Belloise
W
hat makes Crested Butte the center of the party oriented, living-the-life universe? It’s a place where costume closets figure prominently into a home’s architecture and trunks overflow with wigs and tutus of every color. Residents use their outdoor equipment of skis, snowboards, water toys, townies and mountain bikes more than their cars. And music is the official language of the town. Food, drink and celebrating life to the fullest is the goal. Even though the town is situated at the end
of the road, there is a cornucopia of events, parties and festivals inspired by extreme climes and altitude. Certainly, the origins of many of Crested Butte’s festivals have their roots in the immigrant Slavic and Italian mining families of yesteryear. They worked hard to survive, but always took time for storytelling, harvest celebrations and polka parties from the late 1800s through the coal mine’s demise in the 1950s. Then the newcomers of the ’60s “love generation” added their own wackiness. Their ski bum psychedelia and joie de vivre manifested in music and arts festivals and outdoor sports
oriented competitions that encouraged theatrical get-ups and homemade contraptions. “Buttians,” as we like to call ourselves, go well beyond inventiveness in their festivals, partly because residents still work hard — many balancing several jobs with a carnival flair. In keeping with Crested Butte’s historic tradition, dancing is certainly what townsfolk do well and do often. When the local old-timers were asked how they met their spouses, almost 80 percent answered that they had met at a dance. Ongoing music events have evolved Continued on page 36
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into diverse, multi-day concerts and seminars, some combining food and drink specific to the musical genre. Bayou in the Butte welcomes summer with a ragin’ Cajun New Orleans sound, two days of partying and eating crawfish and gumbo. Event creator Mike Marchitelli says that we didn’t have enough festivals, so he started one. “There’s something about music, food and cold beverages outside,” he explains. “We have nine months out of the year where we have to wear mukluks, so it’s pretty nice to have flipflops on and a cold beer in hand, toes in grass.” July 4th is honored with days of parties and one wild-and-crazy parade. To see an entire town in vibrant ensemble and signature “Crested Butte formal wear” — inclusive of feathery boas, top hats, bangles, sequins, and touille — is when the CB Heritage Museum’s Black & White Ball gets everyone strutting. On its heels is the Crested Butte Music Festival (CBMF), encompassing five weeks of diverse genres of concerts. This year the CBMF includes the first-ever Bluegrass in Paradise shindig on the mountain, with local string man Drew Emmitt of Leftover Salmon fame hosting the all star, two-day event. And, yeah, you can bring the kids to all these Crested Butte music events. We like kids. They’re just like us. Townie clunkers are merely an extension of our local personas, with bikes decked out with everything from flowers to beer can art as testaments to the mountain life way. The fat tired clunker originated here, hence the world’s oldest mountain bike race. As such, we’ve dedicated Fat Tire Bike Week to taking to the streets and hills, and it’s not just for your typical collection of lycra-wearing race geeks. We’ve got the costumed concoctions of the unnerving Chainless Race down Kebler Pass and the non-stop, 24 hour, Bridges of the Butte townie event, where “Burning Man” bikes light up to raise funds for the Adaptive Sports Center. To hike through a Crested Butte sunny day, puffs of clouds sailing through blue skies, is to stroll in heaven. As the characters of town mimic the colors of wildflower season in its brief but furious explosion, we’re the designated Wildflower Capital of Colorado. We revel in nature’s palette during the Wildflower Festival with a full week of activities and events. Director Sue Wallace muses, “I think the (wildflower) fest has always been perceived as a ‘little old lady’ event. ... It’s not. And besides, ‘little old ladies’ in Crested Butte are not like little old ladies anywhere else.” Continued on page 39 36 |
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An always popular Crested Butte event is the annual ‘Rubber Duckie Race,’ held this year on Aug. 1. It’s a fundraiser for the Crested Butte Rotary. Photo by Dawne Belloise
CB events on tap Memorial Day — Procession to Cemetery, Polka at the Eldo afterwards Fat Tire Bike Week — June 22-27, ftbw. com 24 Hour Bridges of the Butte — June 2627, adaptivesports.org Bayou in the Butte — June 26-27, bayouinthebutte.com Heritage Museum’s Black & White Ball — July 2, crestedbuttemuseum.com Independence Day — July 4, pancake breakfast, parade, water fights, music, all over town Crested Butte Music Festival — July 4-Aug. 5, crestedbuttemusicfestival.com Bluegrass in Paradise — July 9-10, crestedbuttemusicfestival.com Wildflower Festival — July 12-18, CrestedButteWildflowerFestival.com Wine & Food Festival — July 22-25, cblandtrust.org Crested Butte Arts Festival — July 31-Aug. 1, crestedbutteartsfestival.com Mountain Man Rendezvous — July 31-Aug. 1, Fur traders reenactment, Washington Gulch Artists of the West Elks Summer Festival — Aug. 15, awearts.org Aerial Weekend — Aug. 27-29, Hanggliding and paragliding, CB Soaring Society The People’s Fair — Sept. 4-5, arts and crafts, awearts.org Django Fest — Sept. 4-5, Gypsy Jazz Fall Festival of Beers & Chili Cook Off — Sept. 11, cbchamber.com Vinotok — Sept. 20–25, storytelling, Liar’s Night, community feast, mumming, bonfire Holiday Parade — Dec. 4, cbchamber.com Nordic Center’s Alley Loop — Feb. 5, cbnordic.org Al Johnson Uphill/Downhill Telemark Race — March, aljohnsonrace.com Mardi Gras — March 8, parade, costumes and drinking Red Lady Salvation Ball — March, hccaonline.org Flauschink – April, polka, parade, drinking, closing weekend at Crested Butte Mountain Resort
(For more information on Crested Butte festivals and events, visit gunnisoncrestedbutte. com or gcbcalendar.com)
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A hot, dusty-day blur of endless hours in a cloud of music, art and incense was how the now highly regarded, well attended Crested Butte Arts Festival began back in 1971. Today, the arts festival continues musical and fine art traditions with two days of performers and nearly 200 juried artists turning Elk Avenue into a big canvas of culture and creativity. And if you want to head for higher ground, follow the hearty folks up Washington Gulch to the Mountain Man Rendezvous for an authentic fur tradersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; camp reenactment â&#x20AC;&#x201D; breechcloths, tipis, hatchets and all. Food and drink is historically the bond of town gatherings, and thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a myriad of festivals focused on culinary surrender. The Wine & Food Festival, hosted by the Crested Butte Land Trust, is a foodie extravaganza with seminars, dinners and tastings. Another bona fide CB celebration merged the harvest gatherings and storytelling of the old timers with the newcomersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; party aptitude to create the week long Vinotok debauchery â&#x20AC;&#x201D; an autumnal equinox of feasting of every nature, raucous liars and a host of characters in elaborate dress and body paint marching off to a bonfire to burn the townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s woes. Vinotok creator Marcie Telander explains, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the ultimate expression of creative and spiritual improvisation, completely home grown from the myths and legends of our fore parents and the last of the great American village festivals.â&#x20AC;? It all begins at the end, with Flauschink. This is an entirely unique CB event, a â&#x20AC;&#x153;flushing outâ&#x20AC;? of winter with a crowned King and Queen, parade, skiing, drinking and, of course, polka during the closing weekend of ski season at CB Mountain Resort. Glo Cunningham, director of the Heritage Museum and card carrying local since 1975, feels thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a common thread to Crested Butteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s over the top revelry. She sums it up: â&#x20AC;&#x153;You have to be a certain kind of a person to survive and make it work here, and that kind of a person is more willing to let loose, be free, get into costumes and fests and make it an important part of their time in Crested Butte. We have our own personality about these things. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re set apart because we have such a strong sense of community and within that people can relax and be themselves, and be what and who they need to be. No one does it quite like we do.â&#x20AC;? â&#x2013; (Dawne Belloise lives in a tiny cottage on a Crested Butte alley with a large cat and four costume trunks. Her feature writing and photography is published in various mags & rags. Contact dbelloise@gmail.com or rubysroad. com.)
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Biking atop the Continental Divide isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s no surprise, then, that it’s one of Becky Sears’ favorite rides. The WSC biology professor is always up for an adventure. Courtesy photo
Katherine Browne is helping introduce more women to the sport of flyfishing as president of the first Colorado Women’s Flyfishing chapter on the Western Slope. Photo by Matt Smith
One of the advantages of owning a popular women’s-specific hunting apparel company is that you get to go on some wild adventures. Seen here is Kirstie Pike gator hunting in the swamps of Louisiana. Courtesy photo
Girls on the go by Matt Smith
I
n an epicenter of outdoor living like the Gunnison Valley, it’s not just a boy’s game. From top-notch professional athletes on down to the novice and beginner flights, ladies take to the trails and woods just as much and sometimes more than their male counterparts. One thing that is certain: Don’t underestimate the girl power that is thriving in the hills that surround us. Following are just three examples of the ladies who make a living in the Gunnison Valley and find plenty of time to get out in the wild: Rebecca Sears – Mountain Biking When Rebecca Sears isn’t lecturing in biology as a professor at Western State Col-
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lege, rest assured she’s not too far from a trail. What type of trail just depends on what season it is. When it’s time to turn in her Nordic skis for something a little more suited to summer, she’s mostly of the two-wheeled variety. Sears has been riding mountain bikes seriously for about four years, but just last year jumped into more competitive aspects of the sport. She started out at one of the weekly Growler Series races in the spring, then decided to take on the Original Growler and the Fat Tire 40 in the summer. Her passion for pumping pedals in a race, however, comes in second to just enjoying the ride with a few friends. “I feel like my time out on the trails is real quality time — no TV, distractions, internet or cell phones — with people,” said Sears. “And I’ve gotten to know some amazing people in this valley (through the sport).” Sears’ favorite ride in the area is the Mon-
arch Crest Trail, an epic tear just east of Gunnison that was named one of the top five rides in the U.S. by Bicycle Magazine. Closer to home she prefers flowing through the aspens of Doctor’s Park Trail between Spring Creek and Taylor canyons. Hiking, backpacking and swimming in the Blue Mesa Reservoir is how she spends her “down time.” And if her legs have any juice left, a trail run at Hartman Rocks is her way to wind down after class. Katherine Browne — Flyfishing Katherine Browne’s instructions on how to execute a proper “mend” haven’t been heard around many of the local women’s sewing circles, just yet. As one of only two female flyfishing guides at Willowfly Anglers in Almont, the Gunnison resident is more privy to dealing with
graphite rods and fluorocarbon tippet than a needle and thread. Now that she’s officially the president of the first Colorado Women Flyfishers (CWF) chapter on the Western Slope, Browne is building a little circle of her own. “I’ve wanted to start a group for a while, but it really started knocking around in my head last summer,” said Browne, a native of Massachusetts. “Flyfishing is one of the fastest growing sports out there among women and I thought it was unusual that we have all this great water and you don’t see all that many women out there.” With her help, the number of ladies found sinking a hook into a big brown trout in local waters is on the rise. And while she says that starting out can sometimes be intimidating, she prefers to keep a relaxed setting on the water so more people can enjoy catching fish. But Browne’s passion for the outdoors doesn’t end when the rivers freeze. Her second love is one of the oldest sports known to man — falconry — and she has captured and trained birds of prey for the past three winters. Kirstie Pike — Hunting Women worldwide are reconsidering what they wear in the wild because of Gunnison local Kirstie Pike. In February of 2008, the former emergency room nurse took her love for hunting to the next level. With the help of her husband, Steve, the Prois line of female specific hunting clothes was born and it’s been bagging big game ever since. The company now has international distributors in South Africa, Australia, Canada and all across the United States. Stores such as Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, Sportsman’s Warehouse, Scheels and Schnees carry the Prois line. To say it has been a success thus far is an understatement. Prois has experienced a 400 percent rate of growth from last year, to date, and has a long list of big ideas at the forefront of the industry. In January, Outdoor Life Magazine hailed one of Prois’ products as “Best in Show.” One of the perks for Pike is getting to hunt for a living and meet some of the best in the business in the process. Taking down world class black bears in Canada and gunning down gators in the swamps of Louisiana are just a sliver of her latest expeditions. For more information on Prois, visit proishunting.com. ■ 2 0 1 0 G U I D E T O C O LO R A D O ’ S H I G H C O U N T R Y P L A Y G R O U N D
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This 1930s postcard photo shows the famous Sapinero Hotel Resort. Author’s collection
When
ranches & resorts prospered Sapinero Cemetery offers a reminder of what once was
by Judy Buffington Sammons
A
beautiful spring day found me wandering through the Sapinero Cemetery, the forlorn and nearly forgotten resting place of some of this town’s early-day pioneers. The little village of Sapinero is located 26 miles west of Gunnison, on Hwy. 50. It is now perched on a hillside, having been moved there in the 1960s from its former location in the valley below, when the waters of Blue Mesa Reservoir inundated the valley. Sapinero’s pioneer cemetery was moved, too, located far across the valley to the other side. I looked out over the icy blue chasm that separates the town’s living from its dead and wondered at the forfeiture of their former resting place, and pondered the loss of a 42 |
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former way of life. What lies under this vast expanse of blue water was part of what was once known as the “Rainbow Route” — a stretch of the Gunnison River world renowned for its trout fishing. Intermingled along the stream, with fishing lodges and tourist cabins, were many prosperous ranches. These ranches had sprung up initially at the confluence of the Gunnison River and Tomichi Creek and then continued west, downstream to the confluence of the Lake Fork and Gunnison Rivers at Sapinero. Located along the way were the old townsites of Iola, Kezar, Cebolla and Sapinero. This immense, quiet valley was once cut through with only Indian trails, its inhabitants leaving no particular marks on the land as they summered here or merely passed
through. Following quickly on the heels of the Utes, when the land was finally opened up for settlement in 1880, was a throng of newcomers — homesteaders who had ranching in mind. The nearby hills were available for them to graze cattle and sheep when the typical 160-acre homesteads proved to be too small. Fast on the heels of the ranchers, coming almost at the same time, was the railroad. By 1881, the Denver & Rio Grande had reached as far as Sapinero — from whence it inched down into the 2,000-foot-deep chasm known as the Black Canyon, an almost impossible proposition that was said to be a “railroader’s hell.” The coming of the railroad cinched it Continued on page 44
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for the newly established ranches along the Rainbow Route. New markets now opened up for the homesteaders, making ranching a viable operation. Locations for loading cattle existed along the route at a few stops, including Iola and Sapinero. From the nearby ranching community of Powderhorn, ranchers trailed cattle to Iola for shipment in a collective drive that raised up a huge cloud of dust all along the way. And so it went up until the early 1960s — almost a century — ranching and resorts prospering side-by-side in this pretty valley. The valley floor was cut through with a quick-flowing stream that teemed with trout, and its sides were flanked by sagebrush hills flaming with wildflowers in summer and glistening with snow in winter. A great culture arose there, too, that of pioneer ranching with its rich traditions. Several generations graced these many ranches and their plans to carry on were taken for granted. They would continue to work ranches that were well-established, well-maintained, irrigated and supporting a healthy number of cattle. But the “Rainbow Route” and the ranches that flanked it were doomed. This location was ideal for a great dam-building project
The “new” Sapinero Cemetery with Blue Mesa Reservoir in the background. photo by Walt Barron
and “progress” was about to roll over all who resided there. Colorado’s perennial Western Slope Congressman, Wayne N. Aspinall of Palisade, was the driving force behind the Upper
Colorado River Storage Act. Seven holding dams and reservoirs were to be constructed under the act, including the Curecanti ProjContinued on page 46
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We’re glad you’re here! When are you coming back? "20 Best Places to Live the West" American Cowboy Magazine …happy to share it with you!
This old-time cattle loading chute survives near Blue Mesa Reservoir. Photo by Walt Barron
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ect — which consisted of Blue Mesa, Morrow Point and Crystal dams. The Curecanti Project would dam up the Gunnison River in three places and form the largest body of water in Colorado, nearly 26 miles long and holding nearly a million acre feet of water. Starting at Sapinero and working upstream, the lake would cover 16 ranches or ranch/ resorts. When the Blue Mesa project finally got underway, ominous orders were given to vacate land. Compensation was provided and new ranches had to be found by stunned owners. Families were uprooted and lifetimes of work were abandoned unwillingly for the greater good, as perceived by the federal government. The ranches along the river were purchased, condemned, dismantled or razed, and finally submerged beneath the chilly waters of Blue Mesa Reservoir. Not a trace of them remains. What lies under Blue Mesa Reservoir was once true “cattle country,” a place of much “derring-do,” where cowboys rode and fought with sheep men, where more than one murder was committed, where romances flourished and cowboys married schoolmarms, where babies were born and old pioneers passed away — events very much connected to ranching. Fishermen frequented the streams, too, flashing their fly lines against the iridescent waters of the Gunnison River.
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An old cabin near the Sapinero Hotel was one of many historic buildings burned, moved or dismantled to make way for Blue Mesa Reservoir. Photo courtesy U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
Many would say that what once served as a paradise for a limited number of people has rightfully become a new haven that serves the need for water storage, electrical power and the recreational interests of many more. And there can be no doubt that the huge lake has its own particular beauty — that of open space coupled with great expanses of open water. At sunset the picture of white sails way out on the lake skimming the sparkling waters is indeed a sight to see. Yet this conglomeration of thoughts is what passed through my mind on my visit to the little Sapinero Cemetery. I contemplated those lying there and wondered what their thoughts on all this “progress” might have been. But of course the dead have no animosity and the peaceful music made by the ebb and flow of the water goes unheard. ■
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The Partners program matches adult mentors with youth throughout the valley. Courtesy photo
Nurturing the community Nonprofits serve wide spectrum of needs and wants in the Gunnison Valley by Pam Cunningham
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smart community values and supports its nonprofits. A healthy community has a full complement of nonprofits. Both are certainly true in our high mountain valley. There has been an explosion of nonprofits around the country. Here in Gunnison County, the number of agencies that have a 501(c)(3) designation from the IRS has doubled in the last 10 years. Traditionally, nonprofits spring up where there is need. In good times, those nonprofits meet peripheral “wants” of the community as
well as more basic needs. In hard times, it is the nonprofits that serve a community’s core issues that take the forefront. Both kinds of nonprofits serve the residents — full and part-time — here. With only 15,000 permanent residents, the communities in Gunnison County have more than 159 nonprofits — with about 65 very active agencies meeting needs. Nonprofits fill the gaps not satisfied by government and private industry. One value often overlooked is the economic impact of nonprofits. According to a study completed last year by Johns Hopkins University and the Colorado Nonprofit Association, nonprofit employment in the area that includes Gunnison County is
7.6 percent, higher than the Colorado average of 5.6 percent of total employment. That is significant, especially considering the current climate. The need for nonprofit services typically increases during a time of economic unrest, while donations often decrease as the population waits for more stable times to return. Gunnison County nonprofits have held tight and strong these past two years, reviewing core missions, trimming budgets, calling on volunteers to do more and continuing to provide services. In Gunnison County, we have nonprofits Continued on page 50
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that serve in a broad variety of sectors. To highlight just a very few: â&#x20AC;˘Six Points and Adaptive Sports serve the other-abled with recreational and life skills programming â&#x20AC;˘Junior Achievement, 4-H and Partners work with our youth through mentoring, summer camps, classroom instruction in business and projects promoting life skills â&#x20AC;˘Paradise Animal Welfare Society and the Gunnison Valley Animal Welfare League care for our lost or abandoned domestic animals and help them find loving homes â&#x20AC;˘Artists of the West Elks, Crested Butte Music Festival, Center for the Arts, Mountain Theatre, School of Dance and the Gunnison Arts Center provide a rich arts environment spanning generations â&#x20AC;˘Bright Beginnings, Paradise Place, Stepping Stones and Tenderfoot care for our youngest community members â&#x20AC;˘Friends of the Library in both Crested Butte and Gunnison and the Literacy program throughout the valley keep our eyes on the value of books, writing and literacy â&#x20AC;˘If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a history buff, we have two wonderful museums â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Mountain Heritage Museum in Crested Butte with exhibits and programming focusing on historical activities
of the East River Valley, such as mining, ranching and skiing; and the Pioneer Museum in Gunnison â&#x20AC;&#x201D; with 18 buildings, a narrow gauge train exhibit, fantastic telephone display and scores of exhibits primarily from early settlers â&#x20AC;˘For the protection of our environment, we have the Office of Resource Efficiency, with energy audits and electronic recycling; the Crested Butte Land Trust, with a mission of â&#x20AC;&#x153;protecting
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The nonprofit Gunnison Arts Center is a conduit for local citizens, young and old, to experience and participate in an infinite variety of creative recreation. Here is a picture of the GACâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Youth Dance Program. Photo by Chris Rourke
open lands for vistas, recreation, wildlife and ranchingâ&#x20AC;?; Gunnison Ranchland Conservation Legacy, which â&#x20AC;&#x153;works to ensure that productive agricultural lands remain part of our changing communityâ&#x20AC;?; and the Coal Creek Watershed Coalition, which works to protect the environmental integrity of the watershed above Crested Butte â&#x20AC;˘We also have nonprofits that deal with
the harder side of life â&#x20AC;&#x201D; agencies that feed the hungry, protect the abused, counsel with youth in trouble, fill the gap with medical care for the underserved, provide care with love and compassion for the terminally ill. Gunnison Food Pantry, Jubilee House, Hospice and the Light Program are but four such programs.
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Continued on page 53
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Gunnison Valley Health is your local resource for living well. Whether for daily healthcare or for that unexpected emergency, a broad range of primary and specialty services are available from an award winning team, who bring you: • Emergency care – 24 hours a day at Gunnison Valley Hospital from physicians and nurses trained for emergencies • Ground ambulance transport, connected with helicopter and fixed wing air support to get patients where they need to go for more critical care • Diagnostic services from our imaging center and laboratory for routine or more sophisticated tests • Day or overnight surgeries for gynecology, ear, nose and throat, or general surgery needs • Comprehensive orthopedic services including diagnostic imaging and surgical repair of sports injuries and rehabilitation, supported by certified physical and occupational therapists • Chemotherapy for cancer patients in a personal, comfortable setting from our visiting, board certified oncologist and full time oncology nurse • Complete maternity care from two full time obstetricians, three primary care physicians and fifteen dedicated nurses who help parents prepare for and experience the miracle of child birth • Support for the aging with assisted living, rehabilitation and full time care at the Senior Living Community, ranked in the top 5 percent of Colorado nursing homes • Home health, hospice and palliative care brought directly into homes of those living alone and to families in need Brought to you by a team of local and visiting physicians, highly trained nurses and technicians, dedicated to helping the families of Gunnison County live well together. Find us on the web at www.gunnisonvalleyhealth.org For hospital care call 641-1456 For senior services call 641-0704
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And though not a “nonprofit” in the traditional sense, Western State College complements many of the community programs through its own environmental, arts and business programs, by providing interns and serving up intellectual stimulation in a broad sense. The college brings young energy and ideas to our valley and provides learning opportunities for all with its Extended Studies program. One organization strengthens and supports the entire gamut of our valley’s nonprofits. The Community Foundation of the Gunnison Valley (CFGV) — with its stewardship of donors’ gifts and intent, grant-making programs, educational courses, meetings and technical support, and fostering of civil dialogue to solve problems — serves our valley’s every corner. The CFGV helps meet today’s needs with today’s dollars and builds endowments to ensure our communities’ future. Look around you and remember which nonprofits serve you well. Do you hike on trails maintained by the Land Trust, ski on tracks laid by the Gunnison Nordic Club, attend concerts in the park or send your children to summer art camp? Then you’re a user of nonprofit services! So foster your health and give generously of your time and talent. Nurture our nonprofits — they keep our citizens and our community healthy. ■ (Pam Cunningham is the executive director of the Community Foundation of the Gunnison Valley. She can be reached at 641.8837)
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The birds of Blue Mesa Dan Cress Dan Cress has had a passion for photography since childhood, but it wasn’t until he moved to this incredibly beautiful place in 1996 that he starting sharing his work. It started about the time he opened an insurance agency here. “I created a small photo album to give people something to do while they sat at my desk and conducted insurance business,” he explained. “Time after time my clients would ask me if I sold any of my work and that if I didn’t, I should.” Another activity Dan is extremely passionate about is hunting. However, over the past few years he’s traded virtually all of his guns for camera equipment. Now it doesn’t matter what he shoots or how many times he shoots it. Dan’s work consists of greeting cards and prints wrapped in custom frames, which he makes as well. His pictures have been used in local media as well as magazines and advertising media across the country. “When people ask me what the Gunnison area is like, I tell them it is like living in a postcard every day.” For contact and ordering information, visit www.cressnestphoto.com.
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Campers used to roll out the mats on the lawns of the Spring Creek Resort. Today, they work mostly in the Paul Wright Gymnasium. Photo by Matt Smith
All in the family Tradition, camaraderie a hallmark of WSC wrestling camp — the longest-running in the nation By Luke Mehall
T
his summer, more than 1,000 young grapplers will travel to Gunnison to take part in the longest running wrestling camp in the United States. The Western State College (WSC) Rocky Mountain Wrestling Camp enters its 47th year this June. Started by legendary WSC wrestling coach Tracy Borah, the camp has come a long way from its roots in the local Spring Creek canyon — at the historic and now defunct Spring Creek Resort. Current camp director and head WSC wrestling coach Miles Van Hee participated in the camps as a youngster in the early days up Continued on page 58
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The late Tracy Borah is a legend in wrestling circles. One of the reasons why is the success he had with the unique wrestling camp he started in the ’60s, which is still going strong today. Courtesy photo
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RESEARCH SHOWS WHAT WE ALREADY KNOW: PARENTS ARE A MAJOR INFLUENCE IN THEIR KIDS’ DECISION-MAKING
Now is the time to talk to your 8-13 year olds about drugs and alcohol. Establishing a dialogue now can influence your kids’ decisions and will make it easier to keep the door open for discussion as they get older.
WHAT YOU SAY DOES MATTER! HERE ARE SOME TIPS FOR MAKING THE CONVERSATION EASIER: 1. Use easy openings, like an alcohol ad or t.v. shows, to ask your kids what they think about alcohol. 2. Ask open-ended questions 3. Genuinely listen to what your child has to say. 4. Share your thoughts and concerns in a non judgmental manner. 5. Be honest and accurate with your information and responses. Kids appreciate the truth. 6. Share family expectations about substance use. Clearly state and enforce the consequences for breaking rules. 7. Having this talk happens more than once it is an ongoing dialogue.
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It’s not all work and no play for the young participants in the Rocky Mountain Wrestling Camp. In addition to lots of drills and instruction, they get to enjoy the great outdoors of the Gunnison Valley — rafting, fishing and more. Photo by Matt Smith
Spring Creek. “It was something I looked forward to every year,” Van Hee said. “We used to stay in the cabins at the resort and then wrestle on mats in the middle of the cabins.” Van Hee noted the rugged nature of the camps, with nightly tick checks and grapplers having to wear sunscreen while wrestling outside in the mid-day sun. He also reflected that he enjoyed the fishing up Spring Creek as much as the wrestling. Today’s wrestlers, who come from as far away as Florida, get to enjoy the summertime offerings of the Gunnison Country as well; time is still allotted for fishing and whitewater rafting during the camp. Eventually the camps outgrew Spring Creek and they moved on to the Western State College campus. Current WSC athletic director and former head wrestling coach Greg Waggoner took the reins of the camp from Borah in 1985 and ran it for 13 years. He believes that the camp is successful because of the foundation that Borah laid. “Coaches like to bring kids to the camp largely because of the relationships we build — with the history, heritage and brand that Tracy Borah started,” Waggoner said. “The coaches
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â&#x20AC;? and wrestlers learn from each other and also enjoy the outdoors together.â&#x20AC;? Waggoner added that the continuity of camp directors is a huge key to its success. In the 47 years of the program, it has had a mere three directors: Borah, Waggoner and Van Hee. Paul Lessard, a coach from Roswell, N.M., has been bringing wrestlers to the camp every year since 1994. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The camp is very valuable. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inexpensive and the competition is great.â&#x20AC;? Lessard said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Plus the Western State wrestlers provide invaluable coaching, with a good instructor-towrestler ratio.â&#x20AC;?
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Lessard’s son, Lance, has been coming to the camp since he was 7. He liked the camp so much he’s decided to attend Western. He’ll wrestle for coach Van Hee. “We would have never known about Western if it wasn’t for the camp,” Lessard said. “And now, as a student, he’ll know people already because of the connections he made at the Rocky Mountain Wrestling Camp.” Van Hee ran his first camp in 1998, when he started as head wrestling coach, and has grown it every single year. Last year there were 1,100 in attendance. Van Hee has also earned quite a name for himself through the success of the WSC wrestling program. This year they won their second Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) title in a row and he was also named RMAC Coach of the Year for the second time. Donovan McMahill, a junior who wrestles at 197 pounds, won the NCAA Division II national championship this year at that weight. Additionally, Shane Carwin, a WSC alumnus, who wrestled under both Waggoner and Van Hee in the late ’90s, has gone on to fame in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) ring. He’s currently the interim heavyweight champion, winning that title in front of millions of viewers. He frequently credits Western State
This is an aerial view of Spring Creek Resort. Every June for years, the place was turned into the headquarters of the Rocky Mountain Wrestling Camp. Courtesy photo
athletics in interviews. Van Hee admits that planning the camp is “a rodeo to keep it up and running.” “It’s a year-round job and I rely heavily on
my assistant coaches, wrestlers and other clinicians,” he said. “It’s worth it though. And for a summer camp, there’s no better place to be than Gunnison.” ■
MT. EMMONS MOLY COMPANY Environment - Community - Opportunity Dedicated to Partnering with Other Businesses, Organizations and Individuals to Ensure a Stable, Diverse Local Economy and a Bright Future for Gunnison Country Residents and Visitors.
GUNNISON CRESTED BUTTE (970) 641-4996 (970) 349-7525 info@mountemmonsproject.com www.mountemmonsproject.com
2 0 1 0 G U I D E T O C O LO R A D O ’ S H I G H C O U N T R Y P L A Y G R O U N D
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Dining Guide Almont • C.B. • C.B. South • Mt. C.B. • Gunnison • Lake City
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Parties, natural meats & organic produce
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P.O. Box 1015
(970) 641-0644
Mesquite smoked barbecue
10209 Hwy. 135
(970) 641-4009
Steakhouse
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Taylor Park
(970) 641-2555
Old fashioned, down home cooking
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130 County Rd. 742
(970) 641-1303
Smoked meats, sandwiches, breakfast
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Bacchanale
209 Elk Ave.
(970) 349-5257
Italian
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Brick Oven Pizzeria
229 Elk Ave.
(970) 349-5044
Pizza, subs and pasta
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Buckaroo Beanery
601 6th St.
(970) 349-5252
Coffee shop food
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402 1/2 Elk Ave.
(970) 349-2500
Bagels, sandwiches and baked goods
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Credit Cards
Dinner
Party hors d’oeuvres, variety, cooking classes
(970) 209-3928
Catering
Lunch
(970) 349-0956
Delivery
Breakfast
Carry Out
Cuisine
307 6th St. 301 Belleview Ave. #5
Libations
Phone
Child’s Menu
Location
See Ad Page
Playing hard in the Gunnison Valley builds up one’s appetite. Fortunately, there’s a local establishment to satisfy just about any hunger pang.
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CATERING SERVICE Arrangements Catering & Events Creative Catering F-Bar Catering
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ALMONT Almont Resort Nugget Cafe Three Rivers Resort Smokehouse
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CRESTED BUTTE
Camp 4 Coffee
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Dogwood Cocktail Cabin
309 3rd St.
(970) 349-6338
Small plates & cocktails
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330 Elk Ave.
(970) 349-6674
Mexican
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EastSide Bistro
435 6th St.
(970) 349-9699
American with French and Latin influences
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602 Butte Ave.
(970) 349-9656
Hot & cold sandwiches, burgers
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Ginger Café
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425 Elk Ave.
(970) 349-7291
Thai and Indian, vegetarian friendly
(970) 349-5630
Gourmet breakfast and lunch
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Karolina’s Kitchen
127 Elk Ave.
(970) 349-6756
Home-style cooking
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Last Steep Bar & Grill
208 Elk Ave.
(970) 349-7007
American with a Caribbean flare
6th and Belleview
(970) 349-5808
Lil’s Sushi Bar & Grill
321 Elk Ave.
Lobar
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218 Maroon Ave.
Izzy’s Deli
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Contemporary French
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(970) 349-5457
Sushi, steaks, seafood and pasta
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303 Elk Ave.
(970) 349-0480
Sushi
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Marchitelli’s Gourmet Noodle
411 3rd St.
(970) 349-7401
Italian
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Maxwell’s Steakhouse
226 Elk Ave.
(970) 349-5345
Steakhouse
McGill’s Restaurant
228 Elk Ave.
(970) 349-5240
American
Mikey’s Pizza
611 3rd St.
(970) 349-1110
Voted Crested Butte’s Best Pizza
Paradise Café
303 Elk Ave.
(970) 349-6233
Traditional American food
Pitas in Paradise
214 Elk Ave.
(970) 349-0897
Princess Wine Bar
218 Elk Ave.
(970) 349-0210
Tapas and wine
Rumor’s Coffee & Tea House
414 Elk Ave.
(970) 349-7545
Breakfast and beverages
Ryce
120 Elk Ave.
(970) 349-9888
Asian Bistro
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Secret Stash
21 Elk Ave.
(970) 349-6245
Pizza, salads and wings
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Slogar Bar & Restaurant
517 2nd St.
(970) 349-5765
Family-style
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Smokin’ J’s BBQ
215 Elk Ave.
(970) 349-6125
Now serving barbecue at The Eldo
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Soupcon Bistro
127 Elk Ave.
(970) 349-5448
French American
Sunflower Deli
214 Elk Ave.
(970) 349-6866
Deli sandwiches & counter
Talk of the Town
230 Elk Ave.
(970) 349-6809
Pizza and tamales
311 1/2 Elk Ave.
(970) 349-2005
Mexican
201 Elk Ave.
(970) 349-9831
New American, fine dining
6th and Belleview
(970) 349-5858
Prepared food take-out and deli
222 Elk Ave.
(970) 349-6350
Steaks, chops and seafood
Teocalli Tamale Timberline Restaurant Why Cook? Wooden Nickel
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Le Bosquet
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Donita’s Cantina Gas Café
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CRESTED BUTTE SOUTH Camp 4 Coffee
161 Gillaspey
(970) 349-2500
Bagels, sandwiches and baked goods
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General Store
228 Elcho Ave.
(970) 349-2551
Bread, sandwiches, grill and pizza
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Ruben’s New Mexican Restaurant
207 Elcho Ave.
(970) 349-5003
Mexican
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2 01 0 G U N N I S O N CO U N T RY M AGA Z I N E
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Credit Cards
Carry Out
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15 Emmons Loop
(970) 349-7195
All-American
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22 Crested Mt. Way
(970) 349-4757
To-go baked goods from scratch
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Ski area base
(970) 349-2999
Roadhouse, barbecue
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620 Gothic Rd.
(970) 349-7574
Firehouse Grill
11 Snowmass Rd.
(970) 349-4666
American
Ice Bar at Uley’s Cabin
On the mountain
(970) 349-2275
The Breezeway
Catering
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Wide Variety
Delivery
Dinner
Fine dining; chop house
(970) 209-3562
Libations
Lunch
Child’s Menu
Breakfast
(970) 251-3030
701 Gothic Rd.
Phone
In Elevation Hotel
Location
Cuisine
See Ad Page
The information in this guide is subject to change
MT. CRESTED BUTTE 9380 Prime Anyway Gourmet Avalanche Bar and Grill Bakery at Mt. CB Butte 66 Roadhouse BBQ django's Restaurant & Wine Bar
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Upscale Colorado Cuisine - seasonal
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(970) 349-4755
Mexican - seasonal
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Treasury Bldg
(970) 349-2998
Italian - seasonal
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6 Emmons Loop
(970) 349-8030
Burgers, steaks and chicken
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303 E. Tomichi
(970) 641-7360
Hickory smoked bar-b-q
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226 N. Main
(970) 641-9907
Pizza
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Blue Iguana
303 E. Tomichi
(970) 641-3403
Mexican
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Brick Cellar Wine Bar
Spellbound Pizza Co. Woodstone Grille
Gourmet small plate & wine bar
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Jefe’s Burritos
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GUNNISON 5 B’s Bar-B-Q Alamo/Pizza Mountain
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122 W. Tomichi
(970) 641-9463
Bistro dining, sushi
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Café Silvestre
903 N. Main
(970) 641-4001
Mexican
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Chavolo’s Mexican Restaurant
800 N. Main
(970) 641-0057
Mexican
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113 W. Tomichi
(970) 642-6363
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Double Dragon
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El Paraiso
112 S. Main
(970) 641-4957
Mexican
Farrell’s Restaurant
310 N. Main
(970) 641-2655
Fresh continental, baked goods
Fiesta Juchitlan
138 W. Tomichi
(970) 641-4248
Mexican
Firebrand Deli
108 N. Main
(970) 641-6266
Deli sandwiches
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Garlic Mike’s
2674 Hwy. 50
(970) 641-2493
Gunni-Air Cafe
At the Airport
(970) 641-0869
Gunnisack Cowboy Bistro
142 N. Main
(970) 641-5445
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Gunnison Brewery
138 N. Main
(970) 641-2739
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Burgers, fish-n-chips, wraps, salads
Gunnison Vitamins
804 N. Main
(970) 641-5928
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Natural and organic deli and bakery
House of China
405 W. Tomichi
(970) 641-0667
Mario’s Pizza & Ristorante
213 W. Tomichi
(970) 641-1374
McDonald’s
800 E. Tomichi
(970) 641-5050
710 N. Main
(970) 641-2006
Mochas Coffeehouse
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Elk Creek Marina
(970) 641-0403
Casual dining; breakfast weekends
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730 N. Main
(970) 641-5255
“New York style pizza” pastas, salads
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800 W. Tomichi
(970) 641-3747
Pizza
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905 N. Main
(970) 641-2328
American
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Sonic Drive-In
300 E. Tomichi
(970 642-0334
All-American fast food
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Subway
134 E. Tomichi
(970) 641-1853
Subs, salads, wraps, ice cream
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206 N. Main
(970) 641-4990
Southern bistro - soul food and Cajun
310 W. Tomichi
(970) 641-0414
Mexican
The Bean Coffeehouse & Eatery
120 N. Main
(970) 641-2408
The Flying Burritos
107 S. Main
(970) 641-5777
California-style burritos & hot wings
1 mi west on Hwy. 50
(970) 641-3724
Steaks and seafood
114 N. Main
(970) 641-1744
Full breakfast and lunch menu
Taco Bell
The Trough W Café
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(970) 641-5153
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(970) 641-9223
Sugah’s Cafe
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Power Stop
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Pizza Hut
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Ol’ Miner Steakhouse
Pie-Zan’s Pizzeria
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Palisades Restaurant Pappy’s Restaurant
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LAKE CITY Bruno’s Restaurant & Grill
1221 N. Hwy. 149
(970) 944-2415
Upscale French continental/Fresh pizza
Lake City Bakery
922 N. Hwy. 149
(970) 944-2613
Baked goods
205 Gunnison Ave.
(970) 944-0302
Coffee, smoothies, pastries
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308 Silver St.
(970) 944-0334
Coffee, tea, smoothies, breakfast burritos
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No Name Restaurant
230 N. Gunnison Ave.
(970) 944-4008
American
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Old Timer’s Cafe
310 N. Gunnison Ave.
(970) 944-7007
American
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310 Silver St.
(970) 944-4144
Grilled American food
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188 S Gunnison Ave.
(970) 944-4100
Coffees, sandwiches, pizza
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MeanJean’s Internet Coffee Shop Mocha Moose Coffee House
Packer Saloon & Cannibal Grill Poker Alice Pizza Soup Kitchen
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(970) 944-7687
Sandwiches, homemade soups
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200-A Silver St.
(970) 944-2010
Southern style comfort food
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Sportsman’s BBQ Station
173 S. Gunnison
(970) 944-2525
Texas-style BBQ brisket, chicken and pork ribs
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219 N Silver St.
(970) 944-8020
Homemade soups, sandwiches & salads
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135 S. Gunnison St.
(970) 944-0444
American
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Tic Toc Diner
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Southern Vittles Sweet Pea’s Natural Foods
grill only
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FEATURES... BAJA BURGER...Our most popular with green chiles, avocado, pepper jack and southwest mayo. ROAST BEEF DIP...With mushrooms and melted cheddar. RED PEPPER PECAN PESTO PASTA...Unique flavor with your choice of chicken, salmon or portabella over linguine. CHICKEN FRIED RIBEYE...Gunnison’s favorite, hand cut, pounded, breaded, deep fried and served with scratch country gravy, mashers and biscuits. GRILLED SALMON SALAD...Salmon filet over fresh greens with jicama, tomato, avocado, swiss and blue cheese. AUNT PATSY’S POT PIE...Our scratch chicken pot pie served piping hot with a house salad.
2009 PEOPLES CHOICE
FOCCACIA CLUB SAMICH...Ham, turkey, bacon, swiss, cheddar and honey mustard with lettuce, tomato and onion on our house baked foccacia bread. FISH & CHIPS...Atlantic Cod, hand battered and breaded, deep fried and served with our red pepper tartar. CHICKEN WINGS...Served by the lb. Get’em ornery, wild, bbq or sesame ginger.
2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 & 2009 PEOPLES CHOICE
2006, 2007, 2008 & 2009 PEOPLES CHOICE
Our vegetarian menu is larger than some menus around town!
Fresh, scratch, original recipes and a Southwestern flair! With our Ground-in-House Angus beef burgers, Chicken Fried Ribeye, Fish & Chips, Chili, Soups, Salads, Steaks, Chipotle Wraps and Freshly Baked Desserts & Breads... It’s easy to see why we’re a Locals favorite! People’s Choice Winner for Best Burgers, Chicken Fried Steak and 2009 Business of the year. Kids menu, full bar, mc/vis/amex/dis
Serving Lunch & Dinner 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Mon-Sat Located on the first block of North Main in the heart of Downtown Gunnison
142 N. Main St., Gunnison Co 81230 970-641-5445 64 |
2 01 0 G U N N I S O N CO U N T RY M AGA Z I N E
w
CHECK OUT THE
It’s not fast food, It’s good food fast!
LOCATED ON THE 2ND FLOOR AT THE AIRPORT. OPEN DEC. — APRIL
Cattlemen’s Days
tradition lives on
Each July — historically between the spring calving and summer haying seasons — the hands of time seem to stop in Gunnison. The Western way of life returns to the forefront of the community, where family comes first, where cattle are king and cowboys and cowgirls test their skills at breakneck speed. It’s called Cattlemen’s Days. And this year marks the 110th annual celebration in Gunnison. For 10 days, beginning Friday, July 9, there will be events galore. From 4-H students showing off their projects and livestock, to rodeos and horse race meets, a carnival, parade, dances and more, there truly is something for everyone. But Cattlemen’s Days isn’t just a celebration of the way things once were. It’s the continuation of a legacy that lives on today. Join us in the fun this summer. Photos by Matt Smith 2 0 1 0 G U I D E T O C O LO R A D O ’ S H I G H C O U N T R Y P L A Y G R O U N D
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The Gunnison News building, circa 1900.
Gunnison
a newspaper NEED WE SAY town for MORE 130 years and counting
See us for your catering needs. We specialize in weddings and special events.
Mario's Pizza & Pasta Featuring
A GUNNISON FAVORITE FOR OVER 40 YEARS
Italian Dinners Pizza Calzones Sandwiches Burgers Famous wooden bowl salads Kids menu Wine and Beer Low carb menu Available for - dine in - take out - delivery
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Voted Best Salad & Pizza! 2008 People's Choice Awards 213 W. Tomichi Ave., Gunnison
(970)641-1374 Catering available for ALL occasions
2 01 0 G U N N I S O N CO U N T RY M AGA Z I N E
by Larry Jensen
Start-ups and mergers 1880-1975
T
his past April marked the 130th year in which the City of Gunnison has been served by at least one regularly published newspaper. The distinction for the first newspaper here goes to the Gunnison News of April 17, 1880. Between then and 1975, seven more newspapers were established and merged on what was a long and winding road toward creating the Gunnison Country Times of today. Tracing those start-ups and mergers is a rather convoluted road. The establishment of the Gunnison News by Col. W.H.F. Hall was soon followed by the Gunnison Review, which began publishing in May 1880. A third paper, the Gunnison Democrat, began publishing in August 1880. And a fourth, the Gunnison Free Press, was established in September 1881. Before the Free Press started, the News and the Democrat merged in June 1881 to form the Gunnison News-Democrat. After only
11 months, the Free Press merged with the Review to form the Gunnison Review-Press in August 1882. For those of you keeping score, the four newspapers have now become two. Things remained relatively stable until 1891. The News-Democrat stopped publishing in March, only to resume in October as the second Gunnison News. Meanwhile, the Review-Press was sold and renamed the Gunnison Tribune. Net total is still two. A new Gunnison newspaper, the People’s Champion, was established in 1894 by supporters of People’s Party presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan. Net total is now three. The march toward the future began in December 1900, when Henry Freeman Lake, Jr., purchased the Gunnison News. Lake was a Michigan native who relocated to the area in 1895. He would be a player in Gunnison newspaper circles for almost 50 years. In January 1901, Lake purchased the People’s Champion and merged his two papers to become the Gunnison News-Champion, a masthead that would survive for just under 75 years. Gunnison was briefly back down to two papers. But it didn’t last long. The Gunnison Republican began publishing shortly thereafter, apparently to offer a competing voice. The Gunnison Tribune continued publishing until 1904, when Lake purchased it and folded it into his empire. The News-Champion and the Republican remained competitors until 1932, when Lake purchased the Republican and it, too, became part of the empire. Briefly, there was only the News-Champion. Another competing voice was quickly established in 1932. It was originally named The Gunnison Echo, but became the Gunnison Courier in January 1933. Again there were two. Henry Lake passed away at the age of 74 on Feb. 4, 1948. His family sold the Gunnison News-Champion to Wallace D. “Wally” and Vesta Foster that October. The Fosters purchased the Gunnison Courier in 1955, but kept it a separate paper and continued to publish both. Subscriptions included both papers. At the time, the Courier was published on Sundays and the News-Champion on Wednesdays. Another new paper, the Gunnison County Globe, began publishing in 1957. For the next 18 years things remained status quo. Gunnison was a three newspaper town, representing two editorial voices. Continued on page 70
ENOUGH SAID See us for your catering needs. We specialize in weddings and special events.
Bagels - Wraps - Sandwiches - Ice Cream - Milk Shakes Smoothies - Espresso Drinks - Kids Menu & More Fresh Baked Goods Everyday!
6am - 9pm Everyday 710 N. Main St. • Gunnison, Colorado • 641-2006 Come and enjoy our newly expanded sitting room with free WIFI! 2 0 1 0 G U I D E T O C O LO R A D O ’ S H I G H C O U N T R Y P L A Y G R O U N D
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Lodging Guide Almont • C.B. • C.B. South • Gunnison • Lake City • Mt. C.B. • Sargents
Nightly Rate Range
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Sauna
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Pet Friendly
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Pool
Non-Smoking Available
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Hot Tub
Handicap Access
Fishing Access
Fireplace
Exercise Facility
Cable/Satellite TV
Breakfast Included
BBQ Grill
Bar
Property Type*
See Ad Page
From B&Bs to campgrounds to fine hotels, the Gunnison Valley offers a great variety of overnight accommodations to meet your needs.
CRESTED BUTTE Alpine Getaways - 970-349-0539
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Cement Creek Ranch - 970-349-6512
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CB Int’l Lodge & Hostel - 970-349-0588
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Cristiana Guesthaus - 970-349-5326
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Elizabeth Anne Bed and Breakfast - 970-349-0147
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CB Property Management - 970-349-5780
Elk Mountain Lodge - 970-349-7533
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Inn at CB Boutique Hotel & Spa - 970-349-2111
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Old Town Inn - 970-349-6184 Peak Property Management & Sales - 970-349-6339
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Pioneer Guest Cabins - 970-349-5517
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Call Call $25-$250
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Purple Mountain Lodge - 970-349-5888
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The Ruby of Crested Butte - 800-390-1338
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Affordable Inns Tomichi Village - 970-641-1131
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Blue Mesa Ranch & RV Resort - 970-642-4150
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GUNNISON ABC Motel - 970-641-2400
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Alpine Inn - 970-641-2804
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Days Inn - 970-641-0608
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Ferro’s Blue Mesa Ranch & Store - 970-641-4671
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Gunnison Lakeside Resort Inc. - 970-641-0477
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Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites - 970-641-1288
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Island Acres Motel - 970-641-1442
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Kreuger Ranch - 970-210-0600 Long Holiday Motel - 970-641-0536
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Rates reflect year round seasonal lowest to highest prices. 68 |
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Wildwood Resort & Cabin Rentals - 970-641-1663
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Western Motel - 970-641-1722
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Water Wheel Inn - 970-641-1650
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Waunita Hot Springs Ranch - 970-641-1266
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Gunnison KOA Kampground - 970-641-1358
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See Ad Page
Ca R/Ca
ALMONT Almont Resort - 970-641-4009 Harmel’s Ranch Resort - 970-641-1740 Lost Canyon Resort - 970-641-0181
Ca
Three Rivers Resort - 970-641-1303
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LAKE CITY Alpine Moose Lodge - 800-650-1221
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Alpine Village - 970-944-2266
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At the Lake - 386-467-2499 Castle Lakes Campground & Cabins - 970-944-2622 Cozy Corner - 970-944-2229
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Lakeview Property Management - 970-944-2401 Linny’s Stay and Play - 970-944-2408 Matterhorn Mountain Motel - 970-944-2210
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Silver Spur Motel - 970-944-2231
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Squire’s River Front Cabins - 970-944-7779
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Wagon Wheel Cabins - 970-944-2264
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MT. CB Elevation Hotel & Spa - 970-251-3000
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CBMR Properties, Inc. - 800-544-8448
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CB Lodging Co. & Property Mgmt - 800-451-5699
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Crested Butte Ski Condo - 509-783-7048
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Grand Lodge CB - 970-349-8000
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Nordic Inn - 970-349-5542
74
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OTHER Inn at Arrowhead (Cimarron) - 970-862-8206
82
Powderhorn Guest Ranch - 970-641-0220
R
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Quartz Creek Lodge (Pitkin) - 970-641-6174
Ca
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Tomichi Creek Trading Post (Sargents) - 970-641-0674
Ca/CG/ RV
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Legend: Bed & Breakfast = B, Cabins = Ca, Campground = CG, Condos = C, Hotel = H, Inn = I, Motel = M, Ranch = R, Recreational Vehicles = RV 2 0 1 0 G U I D E T O C O LO R A D O ’ S H I G H C O U N T R Y P L A Y G R O U N D
| 69
Join us for
««iÌ âiÀÃÊUÊ7À>«ÃÊ , ViÊ Ü ÃÊUÊ* Ì>ÃÊUÊ- Õ«Ê -> >`ÊUÊ iÀÊ-«iV > Ã "«i Ê Õ V Ê> `Ê iÀ 212 Elk Ave., Crested Butte (970)349-0897
Henry F. Lake, Jr.
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• Multiple room layouts with fully stocked kitchens • Pet friendly • Superb views • Easy access to restaurants, fishing, hiking/biking trails and Hartman Rocks • Park-like setting with outdoor firepits, grills and picnic areas • Ample parking for boats and trailers • Vintage charm and ambience • Environmentally friendly • Recently upgraded
Island Acres Resort 38339 W. Hwy 50, Gunnison, CO 970 . 641 . 1442 www.islandacresresort.com
70 |
2 01 0 G U N N I S O N CO U N T RY M AGA Z I N E
In July 1975, Sams Communications purchased the two Foster papers and the Globe. All three were merged to create the Gunnison Country Times, effective Aug. 18, 1975. Return to local roots 1975 to present The 35-year saga of the Gunnison Country Times began when Perkins D. Sams and his wife Elizabeth Bradley Sams achieved their dream of owning a small town newspaper. They were Texans who began visiting the county in the 1950s and moved here full time in the 1960s, living along the Taylor River. Their Sams Communications purchased all three Gunnison newspapers in July 1975 and within a few weeks had combined them all into one — the Times, which was published once a week. Mrs. Sams served as publisher for the first year. A single-car accident on Taylor River Road claimed her life on Aug. 1, 1976. Mr. Sams then stepped into the leadership role for the next 14 years. On Dec. 1, 1990, he sold the Times to Jerry L. Brock, who had owned several small newspapers on the Front Range and truly loved the newspaper business, according to his friend Mike Ritchey. Brock formed Gunnison Communications, Inc., serving
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garlicmikes.com 2674 Highway 135 Just North of Gunnison
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Perkins D. Sams
•
as its president and relying on local staff to produce the Times. In 1993, Ritchey and his business partner Tony Daranyi started the Telluride Daily Planet newspaper in its namesake city. They also produced the Montrose County Shopper. Printing for both was done primarily in Cortez. Over time, the distance became a burden. A conversation with Brock about purchasing a printing press to be centrally located in Montrose turned into an offer by Brock to sell them the Times and the Mountain Sun newspaper in Crested Butte. On March 8, 1995, the sale was completed. The Ritchey-Daranyi team became copublishers and during the years they owned the Times, changes were made. The paper had been expanded to five-days-a-week (Tuesdays through Saturdays) while Brock owned it. This was cut back to weekly. A renewed emphasis on reporters truly covering local news took root. Their idea of centrally printing all of their publications in Montrose also became reality in 1998. The winds of change were blowing again, though. Jeremy L. Halbreich, who had been a major corporate player in Dallas-Fort Worth media for many years, decided he wanted Continued on page 72
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| 71
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Clean! â&#x20AC;˘ Comfortable! Affordable!
970-641-2400 â&#x20AC;˘ 212 E. Tomichi Avenue â&#x20AC;˘ Gunnison
Downtown Gunnison '). Dehj^ CW_d Ijh[[j Â&#x161; /-& ,*'#8H;M
Jim Smidl (shown here) and his partner Ken Bundy in 1946 built the building that houses the Gunnison Country Times today.
to build his own news group. He formed American Consolidated Media, LP, in 1998 and the following spring made Ritchey and Daranyi an offer they couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t refuse for all of their holdings. On April 28, 1999, Halbreich announced the acquisition. Again, the paper was operated â&#x20AC;&#x153;remote controlâ&#x20AC;? by outside ownership interests. Ritchey was disappointed with the direction the Times was going and began to regret selling it, believing that Gunnison deserved something better than what was being produced. An inquiry was made and, for whatever reason, Halbreich was willing to sell the Times back to Ritchey. Through his Rosebud of Gunnison, LLC, Ritchey reacquired the Gunnison Country Times on June 28, 2001, with the intention of making the â&#x20AC;&#x153;course correctionâ&#x20AC;? he believed was necessary and ultimately finding a new owner that would continue to produce a high-quality, locally-owned newspaper. He found two owners. Which brings us to the present. When he reacquired the Times, Ritchey â&#x20AC;&#x153;inheritedâ&#x20AC;? Stephen J. Pierotti, who had joined the production team in 2000. Ritchey also encouraged former reporter Chris Dickey to return in the position of managing editor, which he did, effective Jan. 1, 2002. Pierottiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s love of production and graphics and Dickeyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s love of journalism â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and the long hours and hard work both were willing to perform in the pursuit of excellence â&#x20AC;&#x201D; impressed Ritchey. On Jan. 6, 2006, Pierotti and Dickey bought Ritchey out, formed Gunnison Country Publications, LLC, and became co-owners of the Gunnison Country Times. Ritchey and his wife, Susan, still live in Gunnison, pleased that community journalism continues to be alive and well here. â&#x2013; (This article first appeared in the Gunnison Country Timesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;A Glance into Historyâ&#x20AC;? column on April 16, 2009)
72 |
2 01 0 G U N N I S O N CO U N T RY M AGA Z I N E
Gunnison’s Premier Wine & Martini Bar
Bar
OPEN Tuesday-Saturday
&
5pm-Midnight
Bistro
Serving Dinner Tuesday - Saturday 5pm - 10pm Featuring Regionally Grown Products Tuesday Sushi Nights
Voted People’s Choice Best Drinking Establishment & Best Bartender!
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GOT WINE.
Lots of wine!!
Voted
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Gunnison Valley’s largest selection of BEER, fine WINE, CHAMPAGNE, LIQUOR and CIGARS!
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Drive-thru service and delivery available!
Laminating Services 211 North Main (Hwy 135)
Next door to Bank of the West ~ Downtown Gunnison
970-641-3693
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| 73
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74 |
2 01 0 G U N N I S O N CO U N T RY M AGA Z I N E
.
The Gunnison Valley Observatory. Courtesy photo
T
he Gunnison Valley Observatory Board oversees the publicly-owned, 30-inch telescope which is housed just south of town, near Hartman Rocks. They have a full 2010 viewing season planned. The spring and fall â&#x20AC;&#x153;shoulderâ&#x20AC;? seasons will feature public viewing sessions most Friday evenings. For a small donation, people will be able to view planets, stars, nebula and galaxies through the big, dome-housed telescope and a smaller amateur scope located outside. The gates will open at 8 p.m. and no reservations are required. Nights are chilly, so dress warmly. A â&#x20AC;&#x153;Summer Nights Programâ&#x20AC;? will be held on Friday and Saturday nights starting on July 2. Viewers are invited to come and enjoy a mini-lecture on a variety of interesting astronomy topics and then view the night sky through the 30-inch telescope and several amateur telescopes. Gates for the Summer Nights Programs will open at 8 p.m. Suggested donation for the Summer Series is $5 for adults and $3 for children. New this viewing season will be monthly â&#x20AC;&#x153;Members-Onlyâ&#x20AC;? events. These events will include socializing with other members and knowledgeable astronomers, astronomy presentations, a chance to use the facilityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s scopes or learn to use your own scope, and special viewing sessions.
Rock y t r o s e s e R R r e v i R y Rocke R rt On the Gunnison River
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Completely Furnished Completely FurKitchenettes Cabins with Cabins with Kitch and Fireplaces and Fir
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Several levels of membership are available at the Gunnison Valley Observatory. The observatory is located at 2804 County Road 38 (Gold Basin Road). From Gunnison, go west on Hwy. 50 from town, then turn left on the road to Hartman Rocks. Continue around the airport runway, then travel south for about a mile. The observatory is on your left. Information on all of the general community and special member-only viewing nights is available on the GVO website at gunnisonobservatory.org, or on the valley-wide community events calendar at gcbcalendar. com. As is heard at the observatory: Carpe Noctem â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Seize the Night. â&#x2013;
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| 75
A wide-open meadow. A quiet stream. No crowds. That’s what fishing in the Gunnison Basin is all about. Photo by Allan Ivy
For a high-mountain desert, we sure have a lot of water FISHING EVENTS 10th Annual Taylor Park Marina Fishing Derby, June 12 Cash prizes will be presented for longest northern pike, largest pike by weight, most pike caught and largest trout caught in the Taylor Park Reservoir. Registration begins at 6 a.m., with eligible fishing times between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. The entry fee is $30 per person. Registration for the kids’ division is free (non-cash prizes). Everyone receives a door prize. For information, contact Taylor Park Marina at 970.641.2922 or 719.395.6484 or visit www.taylorparkmarina.com.
Continued on page 78
76 |
2 01 0 G U N N I S O N CO U N T RY M AGA Z I N E
Blue Mesa Reservoir is known for attracting anglers looking to land ‘the big one.’
Courtesy photo
52 WEEKS A YEAR
WE COVER THE NEWS OF THE VALLEY
SUBSCRIBE TODAY Call (970) 641-1414, write to subscribe@gunnisontimes.com, stop by our office at 218 N. Wisconsin St. in Gunnison or visit www.gunnisontimes.com.
Ninth Annual Caddis Cup Fly-fishing Tournament, July 15â&#x20AC;&#x201C;16 Catch the biggest flopper or tell the biggest whopper during the Crested Butte Land Trust Caddis Cup fly-fishing tournament. Participants are invited to an opening barbecue at the beautiful Cement Creek Ranch, where guides are matched with competitors to plot strategy. The next morning, each pair heads into the wilds for catch-and-release fly-fishing adventures in the valleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most prized (and secret) fishing holes. At dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s end, everyone gathers for prizes, beer and tall fish tales, all on behalf of land conservation. The event entry fee is $600. Registration can be taken by phone at 970.349.1206, by e-mail at events@cblandtrust.org. Superfly Fishing Tournament, Sept. 10â&#x20AC;&#x201C;11 The Gunnison Angling Society, founded in 1969 and a local chapter of Trout Unlimited, is hosting its 20th annual Superfly fishing tournament on Sept. 10â&#x20AC;&#x201C;11. The tournament will be a classic two-fly contest, meaning each two-person team has to choose the two flies they will be fishing with
For the most part, rafting the Gunnison River is a gentle float. Until you get to the Whitewater Park just west of town.
Courtesy photo
for the duration of the tournament to catch as many inches of trout as possible. A reception will be held in Almont on Friday night to discuss rules, meet guides
and draw locations for the next morning and afternoon. One section of private water and one public section will be fished in two competitive sessions on Saturday, conclud-
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â&#x20AC;˘ Pints and Samplers, Growlers and Kegs-to-Go â&#x20AC;˘ Wine and Food, too! â&#x20AC;˘ (2) Big-Screen TVâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;˘ Chill on the Paradise Patio
135
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2 01 0 G U N N I S O N CO U N T RY M AGA Z I N E
RAFTING EVENTS Of course, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great rafting â&#x20AC;&#x201D; from mild to wild â&#x20AC;&#x201D; in the Gunnison Basin throughout the summer and fall. The Taylor and Gunnison rivers offer a variety of options, from angling floats to thrilling whitewater adventures. There are plenty of guides available locally to help you on your way. There is also one all-encompassing festival that celebrates our local river resource and culture. The Gunnison River Festival, June 24-27 Most of these events take place at the Gunnison Whitewater Park, located on the western outskirts of town. On Thursday, June 24, registration takes place from 4-6 p.m. at the IOOF Park in downtown Gunnison. There will also be music and a reception downtown. Friday, June 25, is qualifying day and event registration. A kayak freestyle rodeo takes place at the Gunnison Whitewater Park. Saturday is the big day of the fest, including the following events: 9 a.m., Community River Parade, from North Bridge to the Whitewater Park; 10 a.m., competitive raft race, North Bridge to Whitewater Park; Brick Trick Contest; Kids Fun Zone (all day at Whitewater Park); Noon, river board exhibition; 2:30 p.m., Kayak Slalom Race; 3:30 p.m., Hooligan Race; All day, Foamy Boat Race at Whitewater Park; and an after-party at a location TBD. Sunday, June 27, brings the Taylor Canyon Enduro (Whitewater Put-in to Confluence, 12 miles) at 9 a.m. The Upper Taylor Down River Race takes contestants from the Whitewater Put-in to South Bank, beginning at 10 a.m. The Taylor River Poker Run, starting at noon, takes participants from the 5-Mile Put-in to the Confluence. And itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all topped off with awards and music in Almont. â&#x2013;
Unlock
Paradise ww o w.P e s. c rem i t r e ier-Mountain-Prop
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2 01 0 G U N N I S O N CO U N T RY M AGA Z I N E
One wrong turn ...
and then a lot of good decisions
Clear thinking prevents lost-skier ordeal from turning tragic. A first-hand account
Kent Strickland was exhausted, dehydrated and had mild cases of frostbite, but otherwise was in fine shape as he ‘de-briefed’ with rescue personnel (middle picture) after spending two nights lost on ‘the wrong side’ of Monarch Mountain without food, water or shelter. On left, he shows where he took the wrong turn. On right, he’s seen celebrating with Monarch personnel in Salida. Courtesy photos and (middle) photo by the Salida Mountain Mail
by Kent Strickland
“
I
f the snow doesn’t come to you, you go to the snow. This was my rationale as I set out on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2006, from my home in Taos, N.M., to Salida, a short three-hour drive into a totally different weather pattern. The local ski area, Monarch Mountain, had been blessed with abundant precipitation and the forecast was for more. I had never skied Monarch, known as a smaller, family-oriented area 20 miles west of Salida on U.S. Hwy. 50, at the top of Monarch Pass. They had opened 700 acres of steep, expert terrain, previously accessible only by guided snowcat tour. The challenge was similar to what I’d become accustomed to at Taos, and I was eager to try my new skis in deep, natural snow. After spending the night in a nearby lodge, I checked out early Wednesday morning, Jan. 4, and was on the chairlift at the 9 a.m. opening. My plan was to ski as much of the lift-served area as possible in a couple of hours, take the 20-minute hike into the new area for a final run, then drive home in time to catch the Texas/USC NCAA Championship football game. Although my wife, Elise, and I had agreed I might stay another day if the snow was particularly good, such was not my intent as the day unfolded. The weather was a bit
In fact, I was headed 90 degrees astray, out of bounds, down the wrong side of the Continental Divide and into an area called No Name Creek. You know it’s not a good place if it’s got no name.
” blustery, the snow was good, not great, and I really wanted to see the game with her anyway. About 11 a.m., after receiving a briefing and a map from the Ski Patrol on the new terrain, called Mirkwood Basin, I started the uphill hike from the top of the 11,800 ft. high lift, eager for a challenging finale to the morning. After 10 minutes or so, a break in the boundary rope and a trail sign told me I’d arrived at a good drop-in point. “Funny,” I thought, “that was pretty easy for a supposed 20 minute hike.” I waited for someone else to come along, either as a “buddy” or just to ensure I was in the right spot. No one came along, and after about 20 minutes, with the wind whipping up more snow and things getting colder, off I went. After all, I’d been well briefed and had a map, right?
Wrong! I had absolutely no idea that I’d gone only one-third of the way to the drop-in point. Or that the trail sign was only to point skiers further in the same direction. Or that next to the break in the rope were additional small signs warning of the ski area boundary. For whatever reason, I hadn’t seen them and had mistakenly interpreted the break in the rope as an opening into Mirkwood Basin. In fact, I was headed 90 degrees astray, out of bounds, down the wrong side of the Continental Divide and into an area called “No Name Creek.” You know it’s not a good place if it’s got no name. My first 10 turns were all I’d hoped for. Good snow, wide open terrain and ... no tracks. Approaching the tree line, I felt “dialed in” and Continued on page 82
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ready for some tree skiing, one of my favorite pastimes. I soon screeched to a halt. I must be off to the side of the run, I thought. This was unnavigable. The dense trees and underbrush were too thick for anyone, not just me. All I could do was traverse back and forth, heading slightly downhill. I was thankful, not for the last time, that I had my helmet, which helped block the low branches and twigs that otherwise would have pulverized my face. But I wasn’t getting anywhere. No thinnedout trees, no clearings, no signs of a ski area anywhere. Just the same dense forest. The feeling that this was more than a missed trail began to set in. I had violated a cardinal rule by skiing alone into unfamiliar territory. It was totally my fault, and the thought that I might be in over my head gave me the first and only panicky feeling I was to have. “I do not want this to turn into a search and rescue operation,” I told myself over and over. I stopped to rest, took several deep breaths and thought about the situation. I had no backcountry skiing or camping experience, no compass, GPS, or sun to re-orient myself. It seemed important to somehow get out of the woods. And the quickest way would be to find a creek or drainage gully and follow it downhill. Eventually, it would run into something — probably back to the Monarch parking lot, I thought. I had no idea I was on the other side of the mountain. I found the desired gully and its small, trickling creek. It turned into a mixed blessing. Very soon, the underbrush was so thick, the only way ahead was to take off my skis and walk in the creek. The water was only an inch or two deep and I thought I could keep my feet dry. Bad idea. Soon the water started seeping into my boots. Lesson No. 1: When you’re lost and have no idea what you’re doing, it’s best to stay 25 to 50 yards above the creek and work forward parallel to it. The vegetation is less dense, you can avoid fallen trees and you won’t get your feet wet. With the first on-the-job training session complete, I moved ahead with greater confidence. Although breaking trail was still difficult and the snow conditions varied all the way from bottomless powder to breakable crust, at least I felt I was getting somewhere. I recalled how my prep school soccer coach, Julius Corrubia, would shout, “No bitching”, as he’d send the team running laps when practice wasn’t going well. This was tough sledding and not going particularly well, but it was do-able and I wasn’t going to complain.
“Good thing I’m alone,” I thought. No wasted energy debating which way was best through the trees, the crud and the creek. No apologies needed for bad decisions. “Just me and my wet feet. ... Keep moving and no bitching.” Finally, I entered a small circular clearing — perhaps 100 feet in diameter — where the land flattened out and the trees mercifully yielded to what likely was a frozen wetland. I checked my watch: 2:30 p.m. I had been breaking trail for over three hours. I was pretty tired, and the clearing acted as a logical break in the intensive and somewhat panic-driven march to get out of the dense forest. I paused and contemplated the next move. Taking a detailed look around the clearing, I spotted what appeared to be a small road on the far side. “How about that!” I exclaimed. “Now we’re really getting somewhere!” I felt my
“
I really need to prepare for two nights and days. Elise would have no reason to be alarmed after the first night, since we’d agreed I might stay over if the snow was good .
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” mood change from desperate to almost cocky in a matter of minutes. I felt back in control of the situation, seeing a clear path to safety. The remaining scenario seemed clear: I would take the road through the trees, inconspicuously ski into the Monarch parking lot at whatever hour of the day or night, calmly unlock my car, stow my equipment, change into the clothes I’d left in the back seat, drive off down the mountain and no one — outside of Elise — would ever know what almost happened. First things first, however. The road was untracked, with about two-to-three feet of snowpack. But at least it ran parallel to the creek and slightly downhill. Gravity made the going a lot easier. This continued for another hour, when a set of snowmobile tracks ap-
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www.gunnisonrealestateandrentals.com Continued on page 84 2 0 1 0 G U I D E T O C O LO R A D O ’ S H I G H C O U N T R Y P L A Y G R O U N D
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peared in the middle of the road. I could tell they were relatively fresh, maybe a day or so old, and covered with an inch or two of new snow. In any case, they gave support to my skis and made progress almost like walking on a groomed slope. The snowmobiler must have come down the road, decided heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d gone far enough, turned around and retraced his same track. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Surely, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll walk out of this shortly,â&#x20AC;? I thought. Well, maybe not. The road soon began to head away from the creek and therefore slightly uphill. No question I was going to follow the road, rather than the creek, but the uphill part soon became exhausting. The snowmobile tracks were only about a foot wide. If either a pole or a ski wandered outside that track, the â&#x20AC;&#x153;post-holeâ&#x20AC;? effect took over and all support suddenly collapsed. Down I went. The net result: very slow progress and extraordinary effort expended. It was now 4:15 p.m., the temperature dropping and daylight ebbing away. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d been working vigorously for almost five hours. I needed to make a decision to either press on or stop. Stopping, of course, meant abandoning the objective foremost in my mind: Do not let this turn into a search and rescue, with the accompanying danger to others and the personal
Kent Strickland and his wife of 35 years, Elise. Photo by Lisa Kloberdanz
embarrassment. On the other hand, I realized the need to conserve energy for the night and whatever might occur the next day. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As a matter of fact,â&#x20AC;? I immediately thought, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I really need to prepare for two nights and days.â&#x20AC;? Elise would have no reason to be alarmed after the first night, since weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d agreed I might stay over if the snow was good. Despite the lingering thoughts that safety might be â&#x20AC;&#x153;just around the next bend in the road,â&#x20AC;? I chose to stop. Furthermore, I decided I would stay put and wait for a rescue rather than continuing the hike tomorrow. The plan was set, but how in the world would I execute it? The first thing that came to mind was a
snow cave. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d never seen or used one, but it sounded like a good idea. So I spent the next half hour tunneling under the snowpack with my ski boots and hands until I reached bare ground. I wound up with a hollowed-out, six-foot long by two-foot wide by one-foot high chamber. In the process, I generated a lot of heat. It felt really good, but I burned a lot of energy in the process and was approaching the point of exhaustion. So after congratulating myself that the â&#x20AC;&#x153;caveâ&#x20AC;? had not collapsed, it was time for a rest. I carefully slid face-up into the opening, laid down on my back, and ... zap: Instant chill. All the built-up heat went into the ground in a New York minute and I started to shiver. Lesson No. 2: Snow caves, unless you know what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re doing, are over-rated. Now, the reality was setting in. I had no shelter, was almost exhausted, daylight was almost gone, and there was no prospect of anything improving. I think in these circumstances, the brain somehow automatically focuses on whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important, disregarding ancillary information and feelings. It was tunnel vision on a totalbody scale, and I felt my whole self concentrating on one thing: keeping warm. Not really warm, just warm enough. All the niceties â&#x20AC;&#x201D;
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like having dinner, getting out of these wet ski boots â&#x20AC;&#x201D; went into the background for the next two nights. Having skied for 54 years, I knew what was needed to stay warm. If your fingertips are cold, bend over at the waist, parallel to the ground, and vigorously swing your arms back and forth, forcing the blood into your hands. If you are cold all over, get moving and generate your own heat with activity. So, before it was completely dark, I put on my skis and packed a 15-to-20 yard racetrack pattern into this Forest Service road. Then, without skis, I boot-packed the same area. All this to ensure I could walk rapidly around in the dark without post-holing or falling. Then, from the tailings of the abandoned snow cave, I formed two mounds about three feet apart, and put my skis upside down on top of them to make a bench. Finally, two crude snow-packed steps to take me from bare ground up to the racetrack, with ski poles on either side to act as hand rails. My â&#x20AC;&#x153;campsiteâ&#x20AC;? was complete, and I felt a sense of ownership, of having eliminated some of the unknowns, maybe even a feeling of some comfort in what I had created. I sat down on my bench for the first deep-breath relaxation in six hours. Mentally
â&#x20AC;&#x153;
Not as strong as I thought, I mumbled to myself. No matter, because today is rescue day!
â&#x20AC;? assessing the situation, the bad news: This mess was all my fault. Even worse, I had no idea where Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d gone astray. And I had to forget about getting out unassisted. The good news: I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sick, wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t injured, there was no blowing snow, and I had a plan to keep warm until help arrived. I loosened my ski boots a notch, lowered my goggles into place to keep every possible skin exposure to a minimum, and sort of â&#x20AC;&#x153;settled in.â&#x20AC;? This was going to work out OK. It was now dark and it was cold, and the shivers told me it was time to take a few laps. So up the steps and around the track 12 times I went before enough heat quieted the shivering. Then I sat down for awhile, and when the shivers came back, up I went again. This was to be the pattern for that night, the next day, the second night and half of the
following day. Many people have asked me, â&#x20AC;&#x153;What did you do while you were lost?â&#x20AC;? Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d tell them, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nothing. I sat until I shivered, then I did laps until I got warmer.â&#x20AC;? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very boring, but true. The cycle repeated itself, over and over. I never got hungry and never slept. I also did my best to keep reasonably hydrated. This meant eating snow, and I made it standard procedure to scoop a small amount on each lap of the track. Once, I tried stuffing snow into my small Platypus plastic flask and put it against my torso on an inside pocket. Stuffing snow into the narrow top of the flask took about 15 minutes, but I thought it would be worthwhile. Five hours later, the last of Continued on page 87
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I was looking forward to another cold night. I felt capable of coming through it OK, just not excited. My legs were getting tired of tromping up the two stairs and my throat was getting raspy from eating snow. Night No. 2 was much like night No. 1, without the mountain lion. At some point during the night, I started imagining the shadowy presence of two friends stranded with me, each with a different reason for being cold. For “Tom,” the hands were first to go. For “Dave,” it was the entire body. I would say to myself, “Well, I’ve got to get up, because Tom needs help.” Similarly, I would walk the track if “Dave” was most in need. This wasn’t a mind game I devised to keep me active. It just happened. One of my real-life friends later suggested that Tom and Dave were guardian angels, prompting me to do what was necessary for my own survival. Perhaps. I’m in no position to dispute it. As the sun rose on Day 3, so did the temperatures. By mid-morning, I was able to remove my goggles and helmet. The sun slivers felt good, however brief, and I played tag with them as they danced between the trees.
be the highlight of my day, and this was about all I could hope for. Once again, bad assumption. At this location, with the steep slope, the sun never rose above tree line and squinted only in short-lived slivers through the trees, yielding little warmth. The temperatures remained close to the single digits of the night, and my daytime routine would have to follow the same nighttime pattern.
“
I never got hungry and never slept.
” By mid-afternoon, it was evident I would spend a second night encamped. If Elise had become alarmed, she would have blown the whistle early in the morning, and search and rescue would likely have found me by now. This was what I had assumed from the beginning, so it was no surprise. However, I can’t say
Continued on page 88
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the snow finally melted, leaving less than two ounces to drink! Lesson No. 3: Well, you get the idea. ... That first night, I swore I saw a mountain lion’s outline in the trees, just waiting for me to get back to my bench. I stopped walking, waved my arms, tried to look big like they tell you, and made nasty growling noises. He or she didn’t move. Then I lifted my amber goggles and guess what? No more mountain lion! A mirage? Yes, for sure, but also an adrenalin rush which warmed things up a bit. The overriding impression this night was the almost constant commercial air traffic overhead. I would see the lights first, then the sounds, and wonder where they were from and where they were going. I thought of my prep school classmate, Hank Hoffman, former Air Force colonel and now retired American Airlines captain. “You’re nice and cozy up there, Hank, and I’m freezing my butt off down here. Laugh all you want, but I will be around to tell you about it at our 50th class reunion.” The night was shorter than I expected. That was good. As the southeastern sky brightened, I began to orient myself. I could only deduce I was in no man’s land. My job was to keep warm, and my exact location was academic. Soaking in the sun’s warmth as it rose looked to
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I was comfortable enough to get curious. Maybe I had enough strength to take a look around. I gently pulled my skis and poles from their positions, put them on and very slowly started to herringbone up the hill. Everything felt different. The snowmobile tracks felt as narrow as a tightrope, and the steps Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d executed for hours on Wednesday seemed foreign. Even using my arms to pull forward, I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the strength to get halfway up the hill. Turning around was also a chore, and I was relieved just to coast back to camp. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Not as strong as I thought,â&#x20AC;? I mumbled to myself. â&#x20AC;&#x153;No matter,â&#x20AC;? I reasoned. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Because today is rescue day!â&#x20AC;? I had suppressed this thought since sunrise, but now it came to the foreground. â&#x20AC;&#x153;After two nights, Elise will have surely blown the whistle, notified whoever, and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re probably on the way now.â&#x20AC;? But I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help thinking, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Well, what if they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t come? Am I OK for a third night?â&#x20AC;? I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like the prospect, and my brain overflowed with scenarios, all of which said today had to be the day. It was 1 p.m. when I next looked at my watch. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re coming today, they should be here by now,â&#x20AC;? I said to myself, acknowledg-
ing that small piece of pessimism lingering in my background thoughts. I remember this disturbing thought churning around for several minutes. And then it happened: Just like a Hollywood screenplay, I heard the faint sound of a snowmobile to the west, getting louder each second. I knew it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t going to fade away because Forest Service roads arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t that numerous. If I could hear it, he or she had to be on my road. Sure enough, â&#x20AC;&#x2122;round the bend and down the hill came a snowmobile and rider with a search and rescue bib on his chest. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not sure what prompted me, but I snapped to â&#x20AC;&#x153;Attentionâ&#x20AC;? and gave my best military salute as the snowmobile came to a stop. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m the guy youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for,â&#x20AC;? I said when the engine stopped. The rider said nothing, pulled up his helmet, and took off what seemed like 15 layers of masks, pullovers and whatnots before his face and mouth were finally visible. He reached into a pocket, pulled out a piece of paper and said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Paul Kent Strickland?â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yes, and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m very glad to see you!â&#x20AC;? I replied. (Kent Strickland grew up in Michigan and
has been an avid downhill skier since age 10. Following military service, he spent 29 years as a financial planner for IBM in San Francisco, Atlanta and Boulder, retiring in 1996. He and his wife of 35 years, Elise Backinger, now live in Salida with their two dogs, where they hike, bike and never miss a powder day at Monarch.) â&#x2013; Authorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Note: Vern Kelso, a local native and longtime veteran of the search and rescue team, was the man who rescued me. And this account was written prior to his tragic death in an avalanche on March 12, 2010. Whatever lessons or benefits that may result from this story are hereby dedicated to Vern, and the example he set for us all. Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Note: Mr. Strickland has also compiled a very interesting account of what took place â&#x20AC;&#x153;behind the scenesâ&#x20AC;? to make this life-saving rescue come to fruition. Everything came together like clockwork, and he is rightfully very grateful and very complimentary toward the folks involved. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to read that full account, please e-mail me at editor@gunnisontimes. com and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll gladly send you his un-edited version of those events.
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Advertiser’s Index outdoors, events, and festivals
Red Mountain Logworks
45
Art in the Park - AAUW
27
Rock N Roll Sports
32
Cattlemen’s Days Association
22
Rocky Mountain Gear
39
Church Directory
20
Rose Petal
39
Crested Butte Arts Alliance
29
Six Points
23
Crested Butte Arts Festival
12
Spin a Christmas Tale
38
Crested Butte Center for the Arts
19
Tee’z Me Screenprinting
44
The Bookworm
73
The Wine House
38
Crested Butte Mountain Resort
8, 26, 34, 60, 86
Crested Butte Music Festival
28
Crested Butte Wildflower Festival
25
Dos Rios Golf Club
27
Fantasy Ranch
60
Gunnison Arts Center
21
Gunnison River Festival
23
Gunnison Rotary
9
Gunnison Trails
31
Gunnison Valley Farmers Market
25
Pioneer Museum Raven Rider Stables Tenderfoot Outfitters Three Rivers Resort & Outfitting Tough Enough To Wear Pink
6 26 26 & 51 3 15
shopping and retail
Trader’s Rendezvous
5
Treads N’ Threads
7
Western Lumber
38
Western World
7
services, health, and medical B & B Printers
48
Bryce Builders LLC
51
Colorado Fitness/Sanctuary Yoga
45
Family Dentistry
45
Greatland Log Homes
47
Greatland Engineering
60
Gunnison CB Tourism Association
46
Gunnison Community School
46
Gunnison Country Collision
53
Gunnison Family Medical Center
59
Gunnison Shipping
60 58
Alley Hats
37
Back at the Ranch
38
Boom-a-rang
37
Gunnison County Substance Abuse Prevention Project
Circus Train
43
Gunnison Valley Family Physicians
47
Gunnison Valley Hospital
52
Harding Company Architect & Builders
57
Insurance Center
Gene Taylor’s
5, 34, 87
Western State College Director of Public Relations
16 & 17
restaurants and lodging A-B-C Motel
72
The Bean
71
Brick Cellar
73
Crested Butte Brewing Company
78
django’s
92
Double Dragon
72
Garlic Mike’s
71
Gunnisack
64
Gunnison Brewery
72
Gunnison Lakeside Resort
80
Holiday Inn Express
71
Inn at Arrowhead
82
Island Acres Motel
70
K.O.A.
33
Marios
66
Matterhorn Mountain Motel & Cabin
57
Mochas
67
Nordic Inn
74
Ol’ Miner Steakhouse, Inc.
66 & 67
Palisades Restaurant & Saloon
74
Pitas in Paradise
70
Rockey River Resort
75
Sugah’s Cafe
75
Western Motel
84
realtors and lenders Clarke Agency
82
Community Banks of Colorado
85
53
Fuller Western Real Estate
88
Interiors with Oohs and Ahhs
41
Gunnison Bank & Trust
83
44
J Reeser Architect, LLC
59
83
High Mountain Liquor
73
John Roberts Motorworks
48
Gunnison Real Estate & Rentals LLC
Hope & Glory
44
Mt. Emmons Molly CO.
61
Gunnison Savings and Loan
80
Ice Mountain Jewelry
47
Mindy Costanzo Real Estate
2
59
Miller Furniture
37
Richard Almgren Insurance Agency Inc Squeeky Clean Auto Wash
57
GL Computer Services, Inc.
45
Gunnison Fly Shop
43
Gunnison Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
50
Gunnison Vitamin & Health Food
Napa Auto Parts
50
Pfisters Handworks
51
Peak Properties Management & Sales
75
Premier Mountain Properties
79
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Calendar of Events weekly summer events Sundays @ Seven (Free Summer Concerts) Presented by the Gunnison Arts Center, Legion Park, Gunnison, May 30 through August 29 Crested Butte Farmers’ Market, Elk Avenue & First Street, Crested Butte, Sundays June 13 through September 26 Alpenglow (Free Summer Concerts) Presented by CB Center for the Arts, Town Park & CB South, Mondays June 28 through August 16 Friday @ Five at the Gunnison Art Center, Live Music on the Patio, Gunnison, May 28 through August 27 First Friday Gallery Crawl & Music, Various Galleries & Locations, Gunnison, Year Round
5
11
12 12
18 – 20
19
19
Gunnison Farmer’s Market, Virginia Avenue & Main Street, Gunnison, Saturdays, June 26 through October 9 (see ad page 25)
19 – 20
ArtWalk Evening, Galleries in Crested Butte, Last Thursday of the Month June 24 through September 30
19 – 20
Live! From Mt. Crested Butte (Free Summer Concerts), Red Lady Stage at Ski Area Base, Wednesdays July 7 through August 25 Wednesdays at Western State College, Different Activities/Topics Each Week, June 23 through August 25 Gunnison Valley Observatory Public Viewing Nights, Gunnison, most Fridays and Saturdays, May 14 through September 24
20 – Sept. 15
23 – 27 24
24 – 27
may 28 – 30
29
30
24 Hours of Gunnison Glory Climb-A-Thon, Hartman Rocks Multi-use Recreation Area, Gunnison 3rd Annual Sage Burner 50k/25k Run, Hartman Rocks Multi-use Recreation Area, Gunnison Original Growler Mountain Bike Race, Hartman Rocks Multi-use Recreation Area, Gunnison
june
25
26
26 – 27 1 – 30 5
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24 – 27, 30
June in the Rockies, Valleywide National Trails Day – Trail Work Day with Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association, Crested Butte Area
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26 – 27
Fishing Derby for Kids, Jorgensen Park, Gunnison Gunnison Golf Classic Presented by Gunnison Valley Health Foundation, Dos Rios Golf Club, Gunnison Taylor Park Marina Fishing Derby, Taylor Park Reservoir Summer Variety Show, Presented by Crested Butte Mountain Theatre, Mallardi Cabaret Theatre Crested Butte Writers Conference, Elevation Hotel & Spa, Mt. Crested Butte Tough Enough to Wear Pink Golf Tournament, Dos Rios Golf Club, Gunnison Readers in the Rockies, Elevation Hotel & Spa, Mt. Crested Butte Gunsmoke-n-Gunnison, Fred R. Field Western Heritage Center Directors’ Workshop Weekend, Presented by Crested Butte Mountain Theatre, Mallardi Cabaret Theatre Tour de Forks (gourmet dining series), Presented by Crested Butte Center for the Arts, Various Locations Crested Butte Fat Tire Bike Week, Various Locations 101st Army Band Concert, Western State College’s Quigley Band Shell, Gunnison Gunnison River Festival, Gunnison Whitewater Park, Downtown Gunnison & Other Locations “Bye Bye Birdie,” Presented by Crested Butte Mountain Theatre, Crested Butte Center for the Arts 36th Annual Western State College-Colorado Brass Band Concert, WSC Quigley Band Shell, Gunnison 11th Annual Breeding Bird Survey (Volunteer Opportunity), Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Gothic Wildflower Rush Cross Country & Downhill Bike Races, Crested Butte Mountain Resort, Mt. Crested Butte Bridges of the Butte (24-hour townie bike tour), Presented by the Adaptive Sports Center, Crested Butte
26 – 27
Bayou in the Butte (New Orleans-Style Music & Jazz), Town Park, Crested Butte
july 1–3
2
3 3
3–4
3 – Aug. 5 4
6–8
7, 14, 21, 28 9 – 10
9 – 18
11
12 – 18
15 – 16
15, 22, 29
17 – 18
22 – 25
22 – 25
“Bye Bye Birdie,” Presented by Crested Butte Mountain Theatre, Crested Butte Center for the Arts Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum’s Black & White Ball, Crested Butte Gunnison Loco-Motive MultiSport Race, Gunnison Day of the Arts, Presented by Crested Butte Arts Alliance, Crested Butte Center for the Arts Jack Russell Terrier Trials, Fred R. Field Western Heritage Center, Gunnison Crested Butte Music Festival, Various Locations Independence Day Activities in Gunnison, Crested Butte & Mt. Crested Butte Crested Butte Music Festival’s Bluegrass Kids Camp with Bearfoot, Crested Butte Mountain Resort Public Policy Forum of Crested Butte Crested Butte Music Festival’s Bluegrass Weekend, Crested Butte Mountain Resort Gunnison Cattlemen’s Days, Fred R. Field Western Heritage Center & Other Locations AWE Fest - Artists of the West Elks Summer Festival, Elk Avenue, Crested Butte Crested Butte Wildflower Festival, Various Locations, Based at Crested Butte Nordic Center Crested Butte Land Trust Caddis Cup Fly-Fishing Tournament PowerAde Pinnacle Summer Race Series (Mountain Biking), Mt. Crested Butte Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters National Show, Oh-BeJoyful Gallery, Crested Butte Crested Butte Land Trust Wine & Food Festival, Various Locations Writing the Rockies: The Gunnison Creative Writers Workshop, Western State College
22 – 25, 29 – 31
24 – 25
25 31 – Aug. 1
“Charlie Cox Runs With Scissors,” Presented by Crested Butte Mountain Theatre, Mallardi Cabaret Theatre Gunsmoke-n-Gunnison, Fred R. Field Western Heritage Center Gunnison Art in the Park, Legion Park Crested Butte Arts Festival, Elk Avenue
28
28 – 29
1 – 30 2–5
1–2
1–5 4
4, 11, 18, 25 5, 12
6–8 7
15
19 – 21
20 – 22
21
21 – 22
23 26 – 29
Crested Butte Arts Festival, Elk Avenue Crested Butte Open Golf Tournament & Gala Dinner, Presented by the Adaptive Sports Center Crested Butte Music Festival, Various Locations Historic Preservation Dinner, Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Gothic Public Policy Forum of Crested Butte PowerAde Pinnacle Summer Race Series (Mountain Biking), Mt. Crested Butte Dos Rios Open, Dos Rios Gold Club, Gunnison 10th Annual Living Journeys Summit Hike (benefits people living with cancer), Mt. Crested Butte Artists of the West Elks Summer Festival, Elk Avenue, Crested Butte Carvin Up Colorado (Chainsaw Carving), Legion Park, Gunnison Gunnison Car Show, Jorgenson Park, Downtown & Breakfast Cruise to Crested Butte High Octane Arts & Crafts Festival, Legion Park, Gunnison 24 Hours in the Sage (Bike Race), Hartman Rocks MultiUse Recreational Area, Gunnison Chefs on the Edge, Crested Butte Center for the Arts “The Robber Bridegroom,” Presented by Crested Butte Mountain Theatre, Mallardi Cabaret Theatre 27 – 29 Aerial Weekend (Hang-Gliding & Paragliding)
october 1–3
4–5
4, 11, 18, 25
5, 12, 19, 26
11
11 – 12
12 – 13
18
18 – 19 19
20 – 25 23 – 26, 30
25
26
September Splendor in the Rockies, Valleywide “The Robber Bridegroom,” Presented by Crested Butte Mountain Theatre, Mallardi Cabaret Theatre The People’s Fair (Arts, Crafts & More), Elk Avenue, Crested Butte Gunnison Farmers’ Market, Virginia Avenue & Main Street Crested Butte Farmers’ Market, Elk Avenue & First Street Fall Festival of Beers & Chili Cook-Off, Ski Base, Mt. Crested Butte 34th Annual Pearl Pass Mountain Bike Tour, Crested Butte Wooden Nickel Fall Golf Classic, Club at Crested Butte Cow Pasture Golf Tournament, Presented by Gunnison Ranchland Conservation Legacy Gunnison Western Heritage Festival, Gunnison Crested Butte to Gunnison MountainAir Marathon & Half Marathon Vinotok Fall Harvest Festival, Crested Butte “Moon Over Buffalo,” Presented by Crested Butte Mountain Theatre, Mallardi Cabaret Theatre Taste of Caring Dinner Gunnison Valley Health Foundation, Marchitelli’s Gourmet Noodle, CB Crested Butte Fall Colors Classic (1/2 marathon), Presented by Gunnison Valley Health Foundation
“Moon Over Buffalo,” Presented by Crested Butte Mountain Theatre, Mallardi Cabaret Theatre
november 4–7
september
august 1
Organized by Crested Butte Soaring Society, Crested Butte 5th Annual Butte Bouldering Bonanza, Skyland Boulders, Crested Butte Gunsmoke-n-Gunnison, Fred R. Field Western Heritage Center
14
20
20 24 26 – 28
Teens on Stage, Presented by Crested Butte Mountain Theatre, Mallardi Cabaret Theatre Holiday Fashion Show, Fred R. Field Western Heritage Center, Gunnison Sugar Plum Festival, Fred R. Field Western Heritage Center, Gunnison Crested Butte Nordic Center Opens for the Season Crested Butte Mountain Resort Opens for the Season Crested Butte Nordic Center’s Thanksgiving Training Camp
december 2 3 4 4
4
11 12
18 21
21 31
31
Learn to Skate Ski for Free, Crested Butte Nordic Center Night of Lights, Main Street, Gunnison Citizens’ 10K Classic Race, Crested Butte Nordic Center Holiday Open Houses, Downtown Businesses, Gunnison Light Up Night & Holiday Parade, Elk Avenue, Crested Butte Citizens’ 10K Skate Race, Crested Butte Nordic Center Christmas Variety Show, Presented by Crested Butte Mountain Theatre, Mallardi Cabaret Theatre Citizens’ 15K Skiathalon Race, Crested Butte Nordic Center Full Moon Nordic Ski & Snowshoe Tour to the Yurt, CB Nordic Center Moonlight Snowshoe Tour, Crested Butte Mountain Resort Crested Butte Mountain Resort’s New Year’s Eve Celebration, Torchlight Parade & Fireworks Frozen Buns Resolution Run (5K), Presented by Gunnison Valley Health Foundation, Crested Butte
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