The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Silver Queen started running Wednesday; more terrain and Painter Boy expected Saturday
By Alissa Johnson
It’s beginning to look a lot like winter and Christmas this week, as snow continues to fall and Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) takes advantage of the turn in the weather to open more terrain. The Santa Ski and Crawl also hits the slopes this weekend, and the annual Christmas Tree Light Up Night takes place in the Lodge at Mountaineer Square on Saturday.
“It’s amazing how quickly the weather changed for us, which is great. We appreciate it,” said CBMR’s senior marketing manager Erica Rasmussen. It wasn’t all that long ago that hillsides were bare, and kids around town were still wearing shorts.
“It feels like winter, and the weather patterns are looking like winter is here to stay,” Rasmussen added
The new snow has helped CBMR open new terrain. The Silver Queen lift opened on Wednesday, with Upper Keystone, Upper Park and Triangle opening that same day. Painter Boy will open Saturday, along with Splains Gulch. The resort is making snow on Upper International and Lower Twister, which will be the next to open. And as always, winter weather will only aid efforts to open more terrain.
“The combination of optimal weather for snowmaking and strong natural snowfall is key as we progress to open more lifts and terrain,” Rasmussen said on Tuesday. “As of this morning there are up to 18 inches of snow in the forecast through Saturday, so steady snowfall as we have been seeing is greatly welcomed and we’re putting a ton of effort into opening terrain as it becomes possible.”
In the meantime, there is plenty of action in the base area. Rasmussen said Coal Breaker Coffee and the Montana ski tuner have been a hit. And the Umbrella Bar opens Saturday with a limited menu (and bathrooms) just in time for the Santa Ski and Crawl.
Uley’s will also open for the annual event, then close until December 14 when it opens back up for lunch. Dinner starts at Uley’s on December 21.
During Saturday’s Santa Ski and Crawl (see story on page 18), the resort is hoping to once again break the world record for the most skiers and snowboarders wearing Santa suits in a group ski. “It’s open to all ages and free to participate. You just need a Santa suit and a season pass or lift ticket,” Rasmussen said.
Lift tickets will be available for only $23 to anyone wearing a Santa suit comprised of a top, bottom, hat and beard. Registration opens at 8 a.m. at the base area, and Santas will gather at the Ice Bar at Uley’s Cabin starting at 2:30 p.m., with the group ski to the base area beginning at 3:30 p.m.
The base area fun will continue that evening with the Christmas Tree Light Up Night at the Lodge at Mountaineer Square courtyard at 5:30 p.m. Rasmussen says there will be hot chocolate, S’mores for roasting, and of course, a visit from Santa.
“He’ll be available for photos and to hear what’s on everyone’s wish list,” she confirmed.
With the holidays in full swing and more terrain openings anticipated, Rasmussen encouraged everyone to keep doing their snow dances.
“It’s exciting to see such a turn of the weather in the past few weeks, and we’re hopeful snowfall patterns continue for us. We’re thankful for having the amount of terrain and lifts open that we do, but continue to seek to open more as conditions allow,” Rasmussen said.
