Fun and creativity

The stoke around town Monday was big as word spread that not only was Hartman Rocks opening earlier than expected for biking, but that Crested Butte Mountain Resort was opening the Silver Queen this weekend. Add to that the announcement that next year’s season pass prices were not going up and that the weather forecast was shifting back to winter to celebrate the Silver Queen turning in late April and smiles were everywhere.
Heck, we could be riding sweet single track at the end of the week under sunny skies in 65 degree temps and riding a foot of lift-served fresh on Jokerville this Sunday. Now that’s a good weekend.
When I asked Erica Mueller about the motivation for the ski area to both open the Queen for a couple of days and not raise season pass prices, she used a few words that struck me: fun, creativity and optimism. In years past, I have banged on the ski area for, in my opinion, sometimes not striving for those things. But I have to give them a high five. Their analysis of the impact and success of the reduction in pass prices for a destination resort is good and it benefits those who took advantage of a super sweet resort ski season. It appears to have worked and there is no reason to raise the price $50 or $500—and they didn’t. Thank you.
The surprising and quirky decision to open the Queen seems like something to do just in the spirit of fun. And it is. The forecasted hope that it could lead to powder turns is an additional bonus. In the past year they’ve done some other good things. The new logo has that outdoor gear feel and has grown on people over the winter. Realizing that fewer airline seats were landing in the valley, they got to work marketing to the Front Range skier. And it worked. They allow dogs on the uphill ski policy when many ski areas don’t. The shift to use the mini golf arena for live music and the intention to do it more often in the coming year helps round out the resort experience. Social media at the resort is improved and working and, given the overall season, it just is feeling better.
It’s not all roses on the hill. The staff still up there is really good, but lean. I see some stress lines with some of the workers. I was going to bang CBMR for cutting down the old Lonesome Spruce Tree on Lower Keystone but I won’t. Chopping down a stalwart tree with character doesn’t make me happy but pretty much every other move they did this week does. So here’s a shout out to the young executive team heading the resort for trying some new, creative, fun and optimistic things at the resort. It’s a good direction.

Speaking of banging and good directions—the Crested Butte Town Council pulled out their iPhones and e-calendars to make sure they would have a quorum in town at the end of the month in case an “emergency council meeting” needed to be held. They weren’t worried about the mine or the watershed but wanted to make sure that if needed, there would be enough of them to address issues related to a birthday party for Jingles. Jingles is the cat that governs True Value. That just makes me happy. And it’s a reminder about this community that includes K-9s and felines. So here’s a high five to the Town Council for taking care of real (off-season) business. And making sure there is still some fun and creativity in the spring. Thanks.