The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
“There’s a bear denned up under the yurt”
They thought they were just applying for a conditional use permit…
Drew Cesati, director of Crested Butte Mountain Resort’s Mountain Sports Team, and John Sale, CBMR’s director of planning and permitting, approached the Mt. Crested Butte Town Council on December 1 to apply for a two-year renewal of a conditional use permit that allows the CBMST use of a yurt located on the north side of the Grand Lodge. Last winter, team athletes used the yurt as a central meeting place, locker and dressing room.
Apparently, the yurt also has a new full-time resident that doesn’t care whether it’s permitted or not. Once the council approved the two-year extension, with an understanding that CBMR wouldn’t come back for another term, Mt. Crested Butte Police Chief Hank Smith spoke up from the audience.
“We’re pretty sure we have a bear denned up under the yurt,” Smith said. “We should contact the DOW [Division of Wildlife] …soon.” Especially since Cesati said he was planning on getting into the yurt this weekend, and the CBMST is gearing up for its season.
“I spoke with Hank [Smith] after the meeting and he’s going to take care of it,” Cesati said. “The DOW will probably have to give it some tranquilizers and drag it out of there.”
According to Cesati, the CBMST has no plans for adopting the bruin as its new mascot.
