Everyone’s gut says summer is going off.
The numbers aren’t all tabulated but the streets don’t lie. It’s busy. People are zipping on the mountain and buying t-shirts and chicken on Elk Avenue. It feels like a good summer bump from the tourism perspective this 2011.
Lord knows the snow plug below Emerald Lake has made Gothic Road a parking lot on the weekends. And there is never not a line at the post office these days. The outdoor sidewalk dining is packed and, compared to the last few summers, even our friends the bears seem to be getting pushed out by all the people, with less mid-summer bruin activity than usual. They’ll be back soon enough.
This weekend’s Arts Festival signals the traditional Crested Butte totem that things will begin to slow down soon. It’s a big, social event and a hallmark of the Crested Butte summer. The schools outside the valley will soon start up so the visiting families will take their leave. The days start to turn just a tad to remind us we are at 9,000 feet and season ski passes come back on sale.

So here’s a shout out to the myriad summer improvements like the zip line above Peachtree, the Lupine Trail and new events like all the bike races coming to the valley. Heck, Lance Armstrong even decided to get up off his couch in Aspen and take a ride this past weekend in a couple of our backcountry valleys.
I think we should also thank all the people who make this stuff happen. There is a big group of local organizers who have been working for months on the bike races. The USA Pro Challenge is bringing some of the most well-known competitive bikers in the world to our valley later this month and I’ve seen these local bike guys working their asses off to pull it off. Their efforts made last weekend’s Alpine Odyssey bike event come off pretty seamless and I have no doubt the big event on August 23 will be great.
In that same vein, the number of people who volunteer their time and energy and expertise to make every other great event happen in a Crested Butte summer is, if you stop and think about it, astounding.
Crested Butte Bike Week. A Plein Air art gathering. Public Policy Forums and Alpenglows and Lives in Mt. Crested Buttes. The Crested Butte Music Festival. The Wildflower Fest. The Summit Hike. Cattlemen’s, the Gunnison Car Show, the Fourth of July hubbub and one of the summer crescendos with this weekend’s Crested Butte Arts Festival. I know there are more that aren’t mentioned. Heck, throw in things like trail building days, efforts to bring little events like a Father’s Day car show, Townie takeovers, Epic relays, a Black and White Ball and 24-hour Bridge tours, a weird fishing tournament at Irwin and who knows what else and it adds up to a pretty incredible effort that is paying off.
There are hundreds of locals who take the time to teach or help or clean up and just be there to make sure these unique events happen and make Crested Butte a special place. It wouldn’t happen without the people. Our people. So thanks to all of you. And you are making events blossom that keep Crested Butte just strange enough to be fun and open and inviting.

August always tails off compared to July in terms of tourist numbers (and heat). The monsoons will start up again and the days will get shorter and a bit chillier. It will soon be time to take a breath and find some rest between activities. So as we wave goodbye to one of the busiest Julys we’ve ever experienced, give a pat on the back to those people who make it all happen.
Thanks, everyone.

Battle nations best at
Firecracker 50

While a majority of America woke up on Monday, the Fourth of July, focused on eating and drinking their way through the day to celebrate their freedom, 750 bike racers lined up in downtown Breckenridge, Colo. for the Firecracker 50. Among the throngs of pedal mashers was a contingent from Gunnison Valley cycling team, Team Alpine Orthopaedics (Team AO). Read More »

A can of worms?

Quizno’s Pro Challenge organizers Aaron Huckstep and Richard Bond came to the Town Council March 7  to see if they could erect two 30-foot-tall banners promoting the event. The banners were sent by the race organizing committee to the various host towns.
“Under the rules, we know the banners can only go up a week before the event but we would like to put them up during busy times before the event to capture those people that might be interested in coming back,” said Huckstep. “We are looking at times like spring break, Fat Tire Bike Week, July Fourth, Ride the Rockies… We want to give people notice there is a great event coming and they should consider coming back.” Read More »

Grant fund projected to grow to $1.8 million in five years

The Mt. Crested Butte town council divvied up $40,000 at their regular meeting Tuesday, March 1, spreading admissions tax revenues around to four local non-profits. All but one walked away with what they’d asked for. Read More »

A summer of bikers and runners coming up

It will be a summer of sport and spandex in Crested Butte and the valley. Read More »

Everyone is being creative

Since the town of Crested Butte implemented a voluntary but highly encouraged recycling program for special events in town about two years ago, more than 30 tons of cardboard, and 150 cubic yards of mixed recyclables like glass and plastic has gone to the recycling center instead of the landfill. Read More »

Transportation news
Williams told the council that the Rural Transportation Authority had awarded a contract to Alpine Express to run the down-valley shuttles. She said Alpine Express officials had yet to sign the contract but plan to do so. Last year, the Mountain Express handled the duties. Read More »

Dear Community:
Wow, what a great Fat Tire Bike Week and July 4th! Neither of these events would have been possible without the help and support of a lot of individuals and organizations. I would like to take this opportunity to humbly thank them all: Read More »

Plans being laid for smoother ride next year

For most of the nearly 200 people involved, the Chainless Townie Bike Race was a resounding success, even if they ended up walking a townie down Kebler Pass Road with tacks in the tires. That happened to more than a few participants. And it looks like the race, hopefully not the tacking, will happen again next year. Read More »

Success in XTERRA and mountain bike races

For the past several summers Gunnison Valley resident Jenny Smith threw herself into the XTERRA off road triathlon racing circuit. Read More »