The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
A diligent (and sometimes critical) reader sent me an email Monday evening just as I literally finished writing this piece. “So I thought you would like to read this before you have an editorial about how great the snow is…and how dangerous it is out there…” she wrote and she included an interesting piece on how Obamacare is tied to job loss. While her powers of clairvoyance (or maybe my predictability) are impressive, there are times to live in the moment. And the moment calls for a shout out to one of the things that makes living here worthwhile. Obamacare is important and flawed and worthy of discussion but this time I have to write about an epic snowstorm—We are a ski town, after all, and when it snows like it has, our mountain is one of the best.
First, some appreciation. Everyone in the High Lift or North Face lift line jokes about the lack of work being done in the valley as they spy the faces around them—but there’s a key crew who give it up for everyone else.
Thanks to those who work to make this place safe and livable when it is Duuuuumping like it has the past two weeks. I’m thinking specifically of the ski patrol and lift ops. The plow drivers, snow shovellers and cops. The Crested Butte avalanche forecasters and bus drivers. Without you men and women, we’d just be stuck in a storm with a silly name. As it is, we get Open Snow meteorologist Joel Gratz forecasting for Crested Butte bliss and we are able to navigate nirvana in a ski town. So thanks to all of you!
Now, let’s talk about the good…or the goods in this case. More than 16 feet of fresh is gracing the mountain this season—so far. It is one of those winters. The winters we live for. The winters that bring joy and smiles and adrenaline to those who don’t mind skiing a storm. Let’s also note that this type of winter should also bring top-notch wildflowers and boating and fishing to us in the summer. It might also add a few inches to Blue Mesa.
Resort skiing has been off the charts the last 14 days. It is a real high mountain winter and that’s when that piece of rock, with its industrial tourism infrastructure and chairlifts, shines. Every run is skiing well. The rocks are there but there are a lot fewer of them now than there were a month ago. The CBMR website is reporting that 43 inches of snow has fallen the last seven days. And this storm cycle has lasted more than ten. More than 200 inches have painted the hill this winter.
And for those who ride the snow, it has been fantastical. Social media is full of photos and videos of people enjoying the powder. There are photos of stop signs sunk below drifts. The fences are getting shorter and disappearing. The excitement is palpable on Facebook and Twitter and Instagram. People are enjoying the ride. The hoots and hollers are constant as skiers of all abilities cut the fresh snow. These days (compared to, say, 1990) it sure takes less time to cut it all up but when it snows like this, there is always tomorrow. Snow means fun in a ski town. It has been a lot of fun in Crested Butte.
The bad…
Now that fun comes at a price. Snow maintenance is necessary. It’s hard work shoveling and snowblowing. But the snowbanks that are being created will be the ones that are seen 50 years from now hanging as photos in the museum. The tunnels leading into the front doors of local houses, the people throwing snow up over their decks because there is nowhere else to put it are the memories of a legendary ski season. Backs are stiff, shoulders are sore and chiropractors must be busy.
There’s also the affliction known as Cabin Fever (see Steve Church article in the February 7 issue of the Crested Butte News). Cabin Fever can get real ugly. As someone mentioned to me after day 6 or 7 of the storm, for those who don’t ski or board, the forecast is one of pain. The foot of overnight snow isn’t about hitting High Life or Staircase; it’s about staying sane. It’s about moving snow out of the driveway or dealing with the snowbanks from the plows. It’s about not seeing the sun for days. That is testing. It’s about living in a harsh environment where the fun isn’t front and center. I feel bad for those who don’t play in the snow.
And to those who play a little extra during the ski day…be aware when you smoke weed on the hill. The hill is located on U.S. Forest Service property and so it is illegal to smoke pot there. It’s a stupid waste of time, money and resources for the feds to seek out pot smokers in the Glades but they apparently are…so be aware.
The ugly…
Unfortunately there are times when extreme weather can bring harsh consequences in a place like this. It happens more often here than at more “normal” locales. This week was no different. Some people out to enjoy the winter mountains were caught in an avalanche. One of them was killed. That is weirdly not abnormal here. We send our thoughts and condolences to those who are family and friends of the people impacted. There are times to be out there and times to stay away. This was a stay-away time. Hopefully others will learn a lesson from the tragedy of one more avalanche death in our neighborhood. These mountains provide so much pleasure but they must be respected.
And in times like these, it’s not just in the backcountry. When it warms up, the roofs shed and I’ve seen cars get smashed from sliding snow. Pets and people need to be on guard as well. It’s not easy to see around corners when snowbanks are literally 12 feet high so be wary driving or walking through intersections. And remember 2,000-pound machines don’t stop on a dime in this weather.
So be careful and aware and respectful out there. Yeah, the snow is great and we are lucky enough to have a group of professionals who run a ski area that provides safe riding during these wonderfully over-the-top but dangerous conditions. Enjoy it all. Push the boundaries but understand there are boundaries and responsibilities that come in such times.
