STOR advises county to proceed with engineering study

During a Gunnison County Sustainable Tourism and Outdoor Recreation (STOR) Committee meeting last week, the charged topic of the county’s proposed multimodal path between Crested Butte and Crested Butte South got most of the airtime as committee members discussed whether the current proposal along Highway 135 should be abandoned completely or followed through to determine engineering costs. Some STOR members and other attendees argued for an alternate alignment away from the highway, even if it will take more time and money. After a discussion of potential other routes, challenges and legal concerns, the committee recommended that Gunnison County commissioners and their planning staff continue their current directive and finish a partial engineering study for the trail along Highway 135 in the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) right of way. 

Finishing the engineering study will not preclude a potential alternative alignment, however, and the committee agreed to discuss it again once the study is finished and more information on costs is available.

The county hosted an open house to share its trail alignment options last month and has received extensive feedback from community members who hoped for a trail alignment set back farther from the highway on a more scenic route between the communities. 

Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association (CBMBA) also spoke out in opposition to a highway alignment, and the county agreed to extend the survey deadline to October 8. 

As the STOR committee took up the topic, Laura Puckett Daniels, the county commissioner representative on the STOR committee, commented that the controversy over alignment along a highway or through private property has been around a while. She noted that minutes from a previous 2002 trails commission meeting were “almost verbatim to the current discussion.” But she urged everyone to keep working on it. 

Puckett Daniels apologized that the county did not, in the weeks leading up to the open house forum and in the concurrent survey process, provide enough public engagement. “It’s become clear to us that the public was not included enough,” she said. “We made some assumptions, and we could have done a better job communicating.” 

 Cathie Pagano, assistant county manager for community and economic development, gave a presentation on the “long and winding road” of seeking stakeholder consensus for the multimodal path, an effort that started more than 20 years ago. She reviewed the county’s recent efforts to engage with private property owners along three alternate off-highway pathways, including an extension off Teocalli Road, through the Spann Ranch’s property up to Buckhorn or from the Spann Ranchland to the private Hidden River Ranches Road. But Pagano said they proved unsuccessful in securing a route off the CDOT right of way with the needed property owners. “While they support the trail in general and certainly alignment along the highway, they were not interested at all in alignment across their property,” she summarized.

County attorney Matthew Hoyt reviewed how using eminent domain could work, since some alternative trail proponents asked for the county to explore that option. He said the process would roughly require preparatory research, subcontracted attorney fees, expert witnesses and court costs amounting to an estimated $590,000–925,000 per property, or about $6 to $9 million total. Then the county would be purchasing the lands from approximately 11 different property owners, for an estimated $1 million per property, totaling around $20 million just to acquire the property, prior to any development of it. Hoyt said these were rough estimates and that expenses could be higher. He also said that while some of this work could be accomplished internally by the county attorney’s office, it would take away legal resources from other county-priority projects, such as affordable housing, the Mt. Emmons mine land exchange, and the recently published Land Management Plan for the Gunnison National Forest. Hoyt said it could take between four to eight years just to acquire the properties through eminent domain, not including the time it would take to build the trail.

The county’s engineering study, being conducted by Design Workshop and Collins Engineers, was not complete yet so they could not yet compare estimated costs for the three alternative plans within the CDOT right of way.  

One property owner, Spann Ranches Inc., has agreed to work with the county and sell about a half-mile strip of land at the north end of CB South to the county for $1 million and in exchange for being tied into CB South water, sewer, electric and roads and being allowed to further subdivide the land at a density similar to CB South. Hoyt explained that the county cannot make land use decisions as part of a transaction, however, and that even if a deal was reached with the Spanns there were at least 11 other properties owners whom the County would need to negotiate with and possibly sue to obtain their respective properties for a public trail.

Doug Washburn, who is part of the Spann ranching family, attended the meeting and said the family’s strong preference is that a trail not run alongside the highway and interfere with their cattle drives and irrigation.

“Our stance has always been that we don’t want to sell any ground for another bike trail. But the way the community has changed and the way that highway has changed, we want to avoid that highway at all costs. And we want less commotion out there,” he said. Construction of a trail and further interrupting the ranch’s water flow across the highway and culverts would create more problems for them, Washburn said. 

He said it would be safer for their operations to just go through their property in the sagebrush uphill of their irrigation ditch. 

Pagano noted that there were no other private property owners that agreed this location was the right place and were interested in negotiations for a trail alignment on their property.

Washburn said some of the neighboring landowners might be more open to some incentives like being granted access to further subdivision, water, sewer, electricity and roads as well. “I understand from the county attorney that that’s not possible, but there are ways to be creative in this day and age,” he suggested, including the involvement of other organizations.

Washburn said if the county were to build the trail along the highway, the Spann family would no longer be willing to offer their property for any additional trails.

“I’ve spent a ridiculous amount on this trail that I don’t want at all. But if we’re going to do it, let’s do it in the right place.”

Derek Harwell, CB South Property Owners’ Association manager, said he has heard a lot from his association’s members who want an alignment off the highway. He said CB South is isolated, and a trail off the roadway would be the most inviting and usable way to connect CB South to the North Valley.

“A commuter trail sells the vision short,” he said.

Committee chair Jake Jones said the decision before the STOR Committee was to give direction to the commissioners to either continue their high-level engineering study “or to sort of walk away from this process potentially and allow others to carry the torch.”

Puckett Daniels said while she could not speak for the whole board of county commissioners, she would personally rather stop a process if it wasn’t the right fit for the community. 

Puckett Daniels said there could be some unintended consequences to any trail alignment.

“Ranching is under a lot of pressures…and if they give up and sell and move on we would not have the open meadows…things would be really, real different here if ag goes away,” she said.

Joellen Fonken spoke from the audience to remind the committee that she had been on the trails commission in the past and the original vision was for a Gunnison to CB trail.

She also reminded the committee members that often these things take small steps forward, with private property easements that don’t connect until something changes down the line.

Jones, who also serves as executive director of the CB Land Trust, explained that acquiring land from willing landowners is the only model the Land Trust follows. He echoed Fonken’s point that there have been easements that went nowhere and later found a connection, such as with the Lupine Trail. “The notion of taking property involuntarily is something I’m not willing to discuss,” he said, and would end with the Land Trust removing itself from the STOR Committee.

Ian Billick, mayor of Crested Butte, agreed that he doesn’t support eminent domain. But he suggested finishing the current highway right-of-way engineering plan to get a sense of what it would cost. “Then we could narrow in on a decision, maybe do a survey,” he said. “I think there’s going to be a lot of value in that study.” 

Derrick Nehrenberg, MetRec district manager, agreed it would make sense to finish the engineering study.

Jones made an informal motion to advise the county to continue with Design Workshop on the current planning process. Steve Gurrieri, a committee member representing the Gunnison County Stockgrowers’ Association, amended the motion to include the suggestion of working with the Spann/Washburn family and all neighbors impacted by the process. The committee members present voted unanimously in favor, and Pagano said the county will take that suggestion into account and continue with the current process.

The county has extended the survey for community members to weigh in until October 8, which can be found along with more information about the process at https://www.gunnisoncounty.org/1048/Crested-Butte-to-Crested-Butte-South-mul.

The engineering study is expected to be complete by the end of the year, but Pagano said with the public survey extended they might extend the contract into January.

40 miles by foot and/or bike

While the winter ski version of Crested Butte Nordic’s Grand Traverse race from Crested Butte to Aspen has been long established, the summer version has gained massive momentum over the past nine years and for the 10^th time runners will line up Saturday morning, September 2 in Mt. Crested Butte bound for Aspen in the Montane Grand Traverse Mountain Run race. The next morning, 150 bikers will line up in downtown Aspen bound for Crested Butte as part of the Montane Grand Traverse Mountain Bike race.

“The mountain bike race sold out before the ski race even happened,” says Crested Butte Nordic Events Director Becky Nation.

Both races roughly follow the winter ski route taking runners one day and bikers the following day on a 40-mile tour of the Elk Mountains between Crested Butte and Aspen reaching over 12,000 feet in altitude at one point. The run has 6,000 feet of vertical gain stretched out over the 40 miles while the mountain bikers have 7,800 feet of vertical gain total throughout the race.

While the courses are relatively well-established for both events, race organizers made some tweaks to cutoff spots for the running race. Typically, if runners did not make it to Star Pass, the high point of the course, by a certain time, they were turned around and sent back to Crested Butte. This year the cutoff station has been moved closer to Crested Butte to allow runners an opportunity to at least make it to Taylor Pass. Then, if they are struggling, they can get to Aspen easier and to their families and friends waiting for them in Aspen.

“We did that in an effort to keep people moving toward Aspen,” says Nation. “It will take a minimum pace of an 18-minute mile to get to the finish line.”

Runners will leave from the Emmons Road parking lot at 6 a.m. covering trails at the base of Crested Butte Mountain before jumping onto the Upper Loop. They will then turn onto Brush Creek Road, jump onto the Canal Trail, return to Brush Creek Road and eventually head up Trail 400 up and over Star Pass with Taylor Pass and Richmond Ridge between them and the finish line in Ajax Park. Nation expects the leaders to reach the finish line by noon.

Bikers depart Aspen at 7 a.m. on Sunday, September 3 and have a soul-crushing start heading straight up Aspen Mountain for 3,000 feet before following nearly the same route as the runners backwards. Nation expects the top riders to cross the finish line by the base of the Silver Queen lift at 11 a.m.

Among the expected 350 runners and 150 bikers racing are 70 athletes who will run to Aspen on Saturday and then turn around and bike the next day back to Crested Butte. Among those 70 are folks gunning for the Triple Crown award with the individuals posting the fastest combined times between the ski race back in March, the running race and the bike race taking the men’s and women’s titles.

Thanks to a grant from TAPP, there is prize money for the top five men and women runners and top five men and women bikers with the winners taking home $1,000 in cash. 

New this year are cash awards for the Triple Crown winners. Funds from the admissions tax grant in the town of Mt. Crested Butte will provide $200 for the Triple Crown men’s and women’s winners. Also new this year, Icebreaker has prize packages for the Trailblazer Award, the first man and woman to reach Star Pass in the running race.

There will be no live tracking of racers out on course, but Crested Butte Nordic encourages friends, fans and families to line the start of the running race at 6 a.m. to send runners off into the morning air and then gather at the finish line Sunday to bring in the mountain bikers after they have spent 40 miles in the saddle.

High water runoff should be close. Cool weather a “windfall”

By Mark Reaman and Katherine Nettles

Local lore has it that when the snow is halfway gone from a certain meadow on Mt. Emmons (lookers’ right of the bowl from town), that indicates the peak of the spring runoff. As of Wednesday, that Red Lady meadow was showing bare ground on its lower half, so the high water mark looks to be close as the snow melt continues throughout the valley.

The snow melt has created a threat of flooding in various parts of the valley for months, however cooler temperatures have kept a workable balance so far, according to local emergency personnel. Safety personnel from throughout Gunnison County have gathered regularly this spring to discuss how to handle the danger that comes with flooding after a winter that left a lot of dense snow high in the mountains. The cold spring temperatures, especially overnight, have helped to slow and regulate the snow melt and lower the threat of a big flood. 

In a report to the Crested Butte town council on Monday, the town staff shared that Coal Creek has the potential to flood. The town is monitoring the creek regularly and the report said “flooding may occur if Coal Creek carries more than 400 cfs (cubic feet per second). On May 26, the creek was flowing at 240-280 cfs.”

The town and county officials have been clear that property owners are responsible for protecting private property against flooding. “Sandbags are a great mechanism for protection efforts,” the report states. “Property owners can only protect the building and/or home, not the land around it. They also cannot sandbag the top of the bank… if you sandbag your land or the bank, this may cause the displacement of floodwaters elsewhere in town. Please note, if someone displaces floodwaters, they could be liable for damages.”

The town is also warning to keep people and dogs away from the water “as the risk of being swept away is high.”

According to Gunnison County emergency management director Scott Morrill, the colder recent weather has been a windfall. “So far, so good. We really could not have asked for better weather for runoff. It’s been just about perfect,” Morrill said in an e-mail to the Crested Butte News on Tuesday.

“According to National Weather Service and the Colorado River Basin Forecast Center there have been moderating/diminishing flows due to the cool, wet weather,” wrote Morrill. 

Slightly warmer (but still average) temperatures ahead and dryer air moving into the area over the next few days could mean another high water peak, he said.

“Based on weather models, they are thinking we could see another peak on some rivers/creeks, similar to what we saw late May /early June,” he said.

Longer term weather models for the next six to 14 days show continuing cooler temperatures and above normal moisture, much like what the area has experienced this spring and early summer so far.  

Morrill concluded that the North Fork area is likely past its peak, and flows there should begin to diminish.

For more information, Gunnison County has an updated flood information webpage. (https://www.gunnisoncounty.org/851/Flood-Info).

Take heart as we will soon shift the local lore and start measuring the height of the skunk cabbage to get an idea of how deep the snow will be in the coming winter.

Please respect the venue

By Than Acuff 

Nestled in the Elk Mountains is Oh Be Joyful creek, a special place amongst avid kayakers. Situated out the Slate River drainage, Oh Be Joyful creek pours down from the basin behind Mt. Emmons and into the Slate River. It is a class V steep creek run rife with waterfalls, slide rapids and make or break moves. While on the to-do list of many avid kayakers, it’s also the venue for the Oh Be Joyful kayak race slated this year for Saturday, June 3.

Tim Kegerman, Jack Barker and Dan Hicks are credited with the first descent of Oh Be Joyful back in 1992 and as interest grew, talk of hosting a race circulated amongst the growing throngs of steep creek kayakers and the first race was held in 1995. The race has seen many iterations over the years and disappeared for a short stretch but has been reborn over the past six years thanks to the effort, interest and energy of Paul Raymond.

“I’ve run creeks all over the Front Range, in Chile and all of the ones around here,” says Raymond. “Oh Be Joyful is my favorite one ever. That’s what brought me to the valley. It’s world known, it’s a big deal. People plan trips to Colorado to come to Crested Butte just to run Oh Be Joyful.”

Raymond, a former intern with High Country Conservation Advocates (HCCA), took over the reins of organizing the race six years ago and teamed up with HCCA to put it on. While providing a venue for kayakers to test their meddle against, or with, their peers, the event is also an opportunity to highlight the work of HCCA, specifically in regard to water resources.

“We do everything through HCCA to put this on,” says Raymond. “It’s basically a HCCA event and I volunteer my time and whatever funds are left after covering the cost of the event will be donated back to HCCA. I’m glad they’re on board.”

It’s no secret that we are coming off a great winter and the mountains remain stuffed with snow up high and Raymond believes water levels could be perfect for the event. Ultimately, it all comes down to the weather leading up to the race.

“That’s the million dollar question,” says Raymond. “I paddled a lap yesterday and it was great. Right now it is hovering around medium flows, and depending on the weather, could get into a great high-medium or even a little bit on the high side by race day. So overall I’d say things are working out about how I thought they would.” 

Twenty are registered for the race as of press time and Raymond expects a flurry of late entries as he hopes to reach the permit limit of 40 racers total to generate funds for HCCA. He implores that those who wish to watch the race, do so in a responsible manner.

“I would like the least number of cars as possible out there so please bike or walk out there,” says Raymond. “The trail is still a little snowy and muddy in places so we would like to ask anyone coming to watch to be prepared for early season spring conditions, and to be especially careful and gentle to the land.”

With that in mind, all spectators must stay on the Oh Be Joyful Campground side of the creek i.e., river left as you’re looking downstream.

“Hike up from the Oh Be Joyful side, not the Gunsight Bridge side,” asks Raymond. “Mind the ropes and signs and stay on the trail we have marked. We want to keep people contained and minimize the impact.”

Racers get two runs down the creek with the first round slated to start at noon and the second round around 2 p.m. Raymond has collected a pile of prizes including a gravel bike fork from Zinn Cycles, prizes from the Surf Hotel and Chateau in Buena Vista and the support of Precise Painting every year.

Information, volunteer sign up and race registration for the event can all be found on the Oh Be Joyful Race Facebook page or Eventbrite.

Schutt property near Crested Butte fits into open space mission

A conservation easement (CE) worth $3 million on 107 acres of land just southeast of the town of Crested Butte has closed. Visible on the right of the highway as you enter town, the Schutt property is now prohibited from further development and thus will preserve significant wetland habitat, river corridor access and access to the Deli Trail while offering future opportunities for landscape scale restoration projects in the Slate River corridor near town.

The Crested Butte Land Trust (CBLT) will hold the easement while the town was the primary funder of the CE, providing $750,000 or 45% of the total cost. According to CBLT executive director Jake Jones, the Gunnison County Land Preservation Fund contributed $125,000, 1% for Open Space added $125,000, Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) came through with $127,000 and the CBLT contributed $535,000. The roughly other half of the value was donated by Suzanne and Bob Schutt who have owned the property for more than 30 years.

“CBLT has been working with Suzanne and Bob since 2020 on the conservation easement,” explained Jones. “The Schutt family retains ownership of the property and the future development rights have been extinguished through the conservation easement deed. The entire property is conserved, and the parcel contains high quality wetlands and wildlife habitat. Public access via the winter ski trail is permanently protected, the Deli Trail can be re-aligned/straightened where the corner fence is currently located. The view corridor is permanently protected and cattle grazing is allowed.”

Given that most of the property is considered high value wetlands, Jones said that it was important to protect the parcel since future development would not have been off the table. “While the character of the property is dominated by the meanders of the Slate River and associated meadows and wetlands, there are 17 or more acres of uplands within the floodplain that were eligible for development prior to creating the conservation easement,” Jones said. “It is an ideal use of the town’s Real Estate Transfer Tax (RETT) funds. We are proud to help put these funds to work.”

The Schutts too are pleased the land they purchased in the 1980s will be preserved. “We are very happy to be able to be part of preserving the legacy of “the meadow” in perpetuity,” they commented in an email. “What a joy to know that people will continue to come into town and see that glorious green ranch property which is iconic in the Crested Butte landscape. Over the years, the meadow became even more treasured as homes were built all around us in the valley. The purchase of the Town Ranch contiguous with our property created an oasis and a wildlife refuge.”

Jones said in the big picture, the conservation of the Schutt property creates the southern bookend of the Land Trust’s three-decade effort along the floor of the Slate River Valley focused on wetland habitat, water attenuation, cattle grazing and seasonally appropriate recreation. “Beginning with the Land Trust’s first acquisition of 55 acres at the confluence of Coal Creek and the Slate River in the mid-90s, followed by numerous fee acquisitions and conservation easements from Gunsight Bridge northwest of town to the boundary of the Riverbend subdivision southeast of town, the Schutt CE will ensure that this portion of the high-quality wetlands and wildlife habitat found in the upper valley will be protected forever,” he said. “There is more land eligible for this type of conservation in the valley and the Land Trust is thrilled to work with Suzanne and Bob to protect this critical piece of the puzzle.”

Town stoked with the CE

The Crested Butte Recreation, Open Space and Trails supervisor Joey Carpenter said the action fit into the town’s conservation values including recreational access, wildlife habitat and scenic vistas. “It preserves recreational access by perpetuating the right to float on the lower Slate through the property, Nordic trail access in the winter and a small section of the Deli Trail in the summer,” he said. “In addition, it preserves a well utilized ungulate migration corridor as well as wetland habitat in the Slate River floodplain and permanently protects scenic vistas near the entrance to town that our community has valued for so long. CBLT worked hard for over two years to ensure the structure of the easement was fitting for the dedicated open space funding of the town derived from the RETT. We appreciate the CBLT’s continued partnership in building relationships with landowners and constructing complex conservation deals that ultimately make it to the finish line.”

After this transaction, the Crested Butte Open Space portion of the RETT sits at approximately $3 million. Carpenter said based on the 2023 budget, the estimated 2023 RETT balance for open space will end up at around $1.79 million. He explained that the biggest ticket item for 2023 is the payout of $2 million to the Mount Emmons Mining Company for disposal of mining claims in the areas west of town which is projected to be completed concurrently with the federal land exchange and conservation easement planned in the area.

As for the Schutt CE, he said, “The completion of the conservation easement contributes to a total of more than 550 directly connected acres in the lower Slate River wetlands that town has been involved in conserving through acquisition and funding from Town Ranch, Verzuh, McCormick Ranch and now the Schutt property. These landscape scale conservation efforts offer restoration opportunities into the future that could revitalize the lower Slate River wetlands well beyond our lifetimes.”

Jones too emphasized that the Crested Butte Land Trust’s mission is diverse and includes the protection of land for wildlife, ranching, recreation and iconic views. “In the case of the conservation easement on the Schutt property, each of these values are on display,” he said. “The property has been historically grazed and continues to be available for grazing. In regard to wildlife and recreation, the free to the public, winter-only ski trail across the property goes away in the spring when the land comes alive again and the animals return, year after year. The Schutt conservation easement not only fulfills the Land Trust’s mission, but also the missions of 1% for Open Space, the Gunnison County Land Preservation Fund, Great Outdoors Colorado lottery fund and the Town’s Real Estate Transfer Tax fund which was created by a voter mandate to protect land rich with conservation values.”

“The deer, elk, and other wildlife are protected,” concluded the Schutts. “Nordic skiing will continue, and families will enjoy biking surrounded by all that beauty. It is a blessing that the Crested Butte Land Trust is such a vibrant part of this community. “

The CE transaction officially closed on January 11.

Don’t forget to turn your clocks back this weekend. It’s fall back so Daylight Saving Time is ending at 2 a.m. this coming Sunday morning. Falling back will mean it gets dark earlier in the afternoon and given that the days are shortening, this can be a rough patch for a bit so don’t forget to check in on your friends and neighbors who might be most impacted by shorter days. The good news is for those who get up early–and like pretty sunrises. The sun will set on Sunday in Crested Butte at 5:02 p.m. The official CB sunrise on Monday, November 7 will be 6:42 a.m. instead of 7:39 as it was on Saturday. Just FYI — you will be springing forward your clocks at 2 a.m. on March 12.

Don’t forget to vote. Like me, I’m guessing a bunch of people have already filled out their ballots and that’s a good thing. Returning them before Tuesday makes it easier for the county clerk’s election office to stay on top of the vote counting this coming Tuesday. Don’t forget it is too late to mail your ballot back but there are drop boxes located throughout the county including one at CB South and another at Crank’s Plaza at the Crested Butte town hall. Next year there will be one in front of the Mt. CB Town Hall! You can also vote in person and get the ubiquitous but stylish “I voted” sticker on Tuesday…but why wait? 

Again, in order to make it easier on the county election staff, don’t put it off until the last minute. Gunnison County Clerk Kathy Simillion said as of early this week her office had only received 2,747 ballots which she described as “some of the slowest returns I’ve seen in a long time. Getting early ballots back really helps to get the tabulation done earlier on election night.”

Speaking of voting, if you haven’t done it yet and are looking for some guidance, don’t forget we have already made our endorsements for the local ballot issues (solid yes on 6A, a less robust but still yes on 5A and 6B) and the Gunnison County commissioner’s race (vote for Laura Puckett Daniels). 

A couple of other things you might want to think about: Senator Michael Bennet has been a good advocate for our community in a number of ways, including over the Mt. Emmons issue, so he deserves your strong ballot support. As conservative New York Times columnist Bret Stephens described Bennet this week, he is a moderate and thoughtful political leader. Thoughtful, moderate and a friend of Crested Butte and the Gunnison Valley. That’s a good combo and all good reasons to fill in the oval for Michael Bennet. And while our congresswoman Lauren Boebert might make for good anger television like a sour Mean Girls episode, she seems more intent on getting attention than caring about our little slice of the world so go with Adam Frisch who suddenly looks like he has a small chance to win in this district.

On a few of the state issues, I see no reason to vote to allow wine sales in grocery stores for simple “convenience” and it is something that could hurt some locally owned businesses so vote no on Proposition 125. 

The proposal to reduce the state’s individual and corporate income tax rate from 4.55% to 4.4%, Proposition 121, will mostly help those that already have a lot of money while stretching the state budget. It is estimated that 75% of Colorado taxpayers will save less than $63 a year while those making more than $1 million will save more than $6,600 annually. It will also lower Colorado tax revenue collected by about $412 million. While not every tax dollar collected in Colorado is spent wisely (more should go to schools), sucking $400 million more from the general fund could impact programs and services so I’d recommend voting against Proposition 121. 

And magic mushrooms are on the ballot with Proposition 122. Welcome to Colorado people.  Presented as a way to carefully use psychedelics to treat some anxiety and depression issues, allowing access to natural substances to help people in a controlled environment through licensed “healing centers” sounds pretty good.

Don’t forget that official road maintenance on Cottonwood Pass on the BV side ended November 1. It can certainly be good for a bit after that, but I’ve known people who pushed the limit after a few inches of snow in town and regretted the decision as their vehicle found itself high-centered feet deep in the snowbanks above Taylor Park. From the Gunnison County perspective, Cottonwood will officially be closed as of November 7.

Kebler Pass Road is a bit more nebulous as Gunnison County tries to keep it passable through the second rifle hunting season which ends this year on November 6. Of course, weather is the key. 

Don’t forget that CB’s parking regs officially started Tuesday. It will get serious once the snow really sticks and you might find yourself with a ticket (or tow bill) if you’re parked on the wrong side of the street.

Don’t forget that if you live in CB and love recreating in November there are choices in these seasonal transition times. Many people have taken the short trek up Kebler to get in some early skiing – both AT and Nordic. Lily Lake is always a good first taste of winter and the taste was apparently delicious last week. I’ve chosen to keep going south and reveling in the dirt. Even with some snow on the sides of the trails, the Gunni singletrack has been pretty nice for late season mountain biking. It is such a treasure to be able to have that at our fingertips. While a roundtrip probably cost me a little less than $12 in gas this year compared to just over $9 last year, it is worth every penny to be able to keep spinning in the high desert.

And finally, don’t forget to look around. Just look around and breathe. The transition from summer to winter can be stark but so absolutely beautiful up here in the high country. The blue skies, the white mountaintops, the migrating wildlife — whether it be elk or geese or those neighbors who prefer spending winter in the surf instead of on the slopes. Remember too, that those here now really want to be here and that is a tie that binds us all together.

The reality is we are surrounded by nature’s beauty, and you can see it from a bench on Elk Avenue, from the Rec Path or Highway 135 or just walking the dog in the local neighborhood. But it sometimes takes a quick reset or at least a few seconds of slowing down your breath in the ever colder thin air to again appreciate what is our great fortune. Don’t forget to appreciate the reasons you came here in the first place…it wasn’t to go to more meetings. We are all indeed fortunate…and that is something to truly not forget.

—Mark Reaman

Permitting system will remain same as last year

[  By Katherine Nettles  ]

It’s that time of year when the snow starts to fly, and for Irwin residents that also means it’s time to plan for snowmobiling in and out of their homesites. With limited parking at the U.S. Forest Service parking lots at the Kebler winter trailhead, the number of overnight parking permits Gunnison County issues each winter is also limited. After discussion on October 18 with staff and an Irwin residential representative, Gunnison County Commissioners decided that for the upcoming winter the permitting process should remain the same as it was in 2021, and the county will therefore begin issuing permits to those eligible beginning October 31.

Gunnison County assistant county manager for public works Martin Schmidt presented his recommendation to commissioners, and being relatively new to his position in public works, Schmidt said he had researched the county’s permitting system and its history dating back to the 1990s. He concluded that there is a relatively consistent approach in place to maintain for the time being and recommended two permits offered per permitted residence, one snowmobile trailer tag per vehicle permit, and up to five snowmobile tags per residence.

Permits will be issued for vehicles, trailers and snowmobiles, on a first-come, first-served basis, beginning Monday, Oct. 31 at 7 a.m. Ticketing and towing of unpermitted vehicles and trailers would begin on December 9. Permits will be attached to building/septic permits as in previous years, to ensure compliance with building codes.

Schmidt and commissioner Roland Mason reviewed how a potential land exchange between the Forest Service, Gunnison County and Mount Emmons Mining Company (MEMC) to facilitate a permanent mineral withdraw for Mt. Emmons/Red Lady could transfer the two separate Kebler trailhead parking lots, one designated for day use and one for overnight residential parking, from the Forest Service to the county. The agreement has been in the works for several months but there are still some details to be worked out between the parties. 

“We are making a decision today about this year’s process. We actually have a meeting with commissioners coming up to discuss how that might be altered in the event of a land exchange,” said Schmidt.

Trailer parking permits will be available again this year since the legal question in place last year (the trailer parking was on contested land) has been cleared up. Permits will cost $125 apiece, but Schmidt noted, “This doesn’t cover the cost,” and is based on what has been done in the past. 

Kristy Murrin, vice president of the Irwin Community Association, spoke to the limited parking, spacing issues and expectations of further growth. 

There are 56 parking spaces available, and she suggested that some homeowners obtain permits and don’t use them, and spots shrink because of snow build-up. “Really establishing good communication, so if residents need to clear those vehicles out within a day,” she said, would be helpful between the county, Forest Service and residents. She said if plowing was not available for a time and then parking spaces get smaller, leniency on roadside parking would be appreciated. “The threat of being towed,” she said, is stressful. Another challenge with the first-come, first-served permit approach is that some people get permits for just the Christmas season when they visit, and full-time residents are at risk of missing out on their permit. 

County attorney Matthew Hoyt said there is no legal way to prioritize full-time residents versus part-time users. “So this is the best way,” Hoyt said, though it is not perfect.

Murrin said the community is growing, even in full-time residents. She listed three new homes being built in the next year for full-time use, predicting “I can see the number of residents there doubling.”

She said she and other residents have appreciated the improved parking areas and communication over the last couple years, and that getting two permits per house is important because so many people have roommates. 

Mason said that if the land exchange comes through, the county will have more freedom to work on many of the issues she had raised. In the meantime, commissioners approved of the winter trailhead plan as presented.

Looking at 20-year administrative mineral withdrawal

[  By Mark Reaman  ]

It took the signature of U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday, October 12 but Crested Butte’s Red Lady mountain was provided some major protection and breathing room as the Biden administration began the process of considering and potentially implementing a 20-year administrative mineral withdrawal on public lands that include those on Mt. Emmons.

The direction came as part of the ceremony making Camp Hale near Vail a new National Monument, but Biden also included protections for the Thompson Divide area that extend over to Mt. Emmons. While not the end of the struggle to permanently protect Mt. Emmons, it is another significant action in what feels like the fourth quarter of the game that has lasted more than 45 years. Local representatives from Gunnison County, the Town of Crested Butte and High Country Conservation Advocates (HCCA) all attended the ceremony and praised the move.

“The closing off of the area surrounding Mt. Emmons to mining is a monumental step forward that our community and High Country Conservation Advocates have been working toward for decades,” said HCCA’s Red Lady program director Julie Nania, who was at the signing ceremony on Wednesday. “Withdrawing the Thompson Divide and Mt. Emmons areas from mining will help preserve our ranching economy in the North Fork and accomplishes a critical step in the effort to keep Mt. Emmons mine-free.” 

Two-year public process leading to potential 20-year withdrawal

As for the process that is now set in motion, the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service submitted a joint withdrawal petition and application to Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland. Secretary Haaland’s approval of the petition and publication of a notice in the Federal Register will initiate a two-year segregation that will prohibit new mining claims and the issuance of new federal mineral leases on approximately 224,794 acres in the Thompson Divide area. During this time, the Forest Service and the BLM will seek public comment and conduct a science-based environmental analysis.

The two-year segregation of lands initiated by this proposal prohibits the location of new mining claims or the issuance of new mineral leasing within portions of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests (GMUG), White River National Forest, and BLM public lands. The action does not affect water rights, activities on private lands or valid existing rights.

Publication of the Federal Register notice will also initiate a 90-day public comment period on the proposed withdrawal. Additionally, the agencies will begin preparing an environmental analysis to inform whether the lands should be withdrawn for a period of up to 20 years.

While not permanent like a legislative withdrawal would be if ultimately approved by Congress, Biden’s action extends long sought-after protections for Red Lady. The hope by those involved in the fight to eliminate any possibility of mining in that area is that an administrative withdrawal would provide the time to obtain a permanent solution to the mining threat that has hovered for decades over the mountain that overlooks Crested Butte.

The legislative mineral withdrawal was included as part of senator Michael Bennett’s CORE Act proposal that was stalled in Congress earlier this year. It was also supported by senator John Hickenlooper but opposed by congresswoman Lauren Boebert. 

Local officials thrilled with movement

Gunnison County commissioner Jonathan Houck has been part of the Red Lady process for years and was honored to be invited to the Wednesday ceremony. “Beginning the process of a 20-year administrative withdrawal of the Thompson Divide area is a huge leap in the direction that citizens of Gunnison County have desired for decades,” he said. “A good swath of the Thompson Divide area is in Northern Gunnison County and this action includes the mining claims associated with Mt. Emmons. For all 10 years I have served as a commissioner, these public lands designations and conservation efforts have been front and center and the CORE Act has been the mechanism to move four individual public lands bills forward. While we celebrate the much deserved Camp Hale designation and the movement on the Thompson Divide Withdrawal and Protection Act, we will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of making those mineral withdrawals permanent and to have the Curecanti National Recreation Area Boundary Act passed in its entirety.”

Crested Butte mayor Ian Billick was also at the signing ceremony and said the move is indeed a major step. “The quest to see the Red Lady protected is a deep part of the identity of the Town of Crested Butte. We’re excited to see the importance of this issue to our community recognized nationally through the President’s recent action,” he said. “This is an important, but not final, step. We now look forward to seeing the land exchange between the Mount Emmons Mining Company (MEMC) and the USFS completed.”

That land exchange is part of the continuing effort to fully prohibit mining and development on Mt. Emmons while protecting water and local recreation opportunities. The land exchange is in the works between the MEMC and the U.S. Forest Service. Basically, it would give MEMC approximately 450 acres of land on Mt. Emmons from the Forest Service where the water treatment plant that manages water from Coal Creek is located. That water ultimately supplies the town of Crested Butte’s water. The idea is that with MEMC owning the land, it can upgrade the treatment plant more quickly and efficiently than if it had to go through a federal review process. The USFS would get the Three Peaks Ranch up Ohio Creek on Carbon Mountain. As part of the exchange, a Conservation Easement (CE) to be held by the Crested Butte Land Trust and a mining extinguishment agreement addressing mining and future development on the property would be implemented. Skiers would have permission to climb to the top of Red Lady Bowl. Public comment on the proposed land exchange is being taken by the Forest Service until October 17.  

But for now, local officials are celebrating the Biden move. “We’ve been waiting to celebrate a withdrawal like this for decades and would like to thank our Colorado representatives and President Biden for putting this into action,” concluded Nania. “This effort will protect our clean air and water while we continue to pursue the long-term protections included in the CORE Act.”

“This countywide community has a long track record of not giving up or relenting when it comes to things they are passionate about. For decades, eliminating the threat of mining on Mt. Emmons has galvanized the Crested Butte community, and in turn spread to the whole valley,” summarized Houck. “We should never forget how many hands have carried that torch and know that today’s significant milestone is built on the hard work of so many. Public Lands are the life blood of Gunnison County, and I am so proud of the citizens enduring dedication to stewardship and thoughtful conservation. We earned these protections together as a community, as a valley, as a county made up of friends and neighbors who know that endurance and grit still mean something when it comes to getting things done.”

Gunnison Arts Center:
• Main Gallery: “Home Again” by Connie Schlepp Weiskopf (runs thru September 30).
• Cafe Gallery: “Bodies at Rest” by Paige Stewart (runs thru September 30).
• Tredway Gallery: “Combining Art & Technology Beautifully” by AxtionArt (runs thru September 30).
CB Center for the Arts:
• Kinder Padon Gallery: “Western Heritage Show” (runs thru September 30).

THURSDAY 8
• 7:30 a.m. Open AA meeting: Crack of Dawn Group topic discussion, Union Congregational Church, 349-5711.
• 7:30-8:30 a.m. Crested Butte Rotary Club weekly presentation featuring Chelsea Stangl (personal development/leadership/communication) at the CB Center for the Arts.
• 4-5:30 p.m. St. Mary’s Garage open for shoppers and donations.
• 4-6 p.m. CB South Farmer’s Market at Red Mountain Park (runs thru 9/29).
• 5-6 p.m. Oh Be Joyful/Gunnison Food Pantry Food Bank at 625 Maroon Ave. 970-349-6237. (1st and 3rd Thursdays)
• 5-9 p.m. Bob Ross Night at the Gunnison Arts Center, gunnisonartscenter.org.
• 5:30-7 p.m. Supreme Court Update with Richard Allen at the CB Library, 349-6535.
• 6:30 p.m. Open AA meeting: 11 Step Meditation at Union Congregational Church, 349-5711.
• 7 p.m. Monthly Sacred Feminine Circle gathering in the back room of Union Congregational Church at Fourth Street and Maroon Avenue.

FRIDAY 9
• 9:30 a.m. Annual Meeting for the Gunnison County Pioneer & Historical Society at the Gunnison Pioneer Museum.
• 10-11:30 a.m. Historic Elk Avenue Walking Tours with the Crested Butte Museum, meet in front of museum at 4th and Elk, 970-349-1880.
• noon Closed AA meeting: Readings from Living Sober at Union Congregational Church, 349-5711.
• 1 p.m. Special tour of Gunnison-Beckwith Expedition artifacts at the Gunnison Pioneer Museum.
• 4-6 p.m. Outlaw Bike Party at the Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum.
• 5-7 p.m. Western Heritage Show gallery reception at the CB Center for the Arts, crestedbuttearts.org.
• 9 p.m. Rebirth Brass Band plays at the Public House in CB, publichousecb.com/live-music/.
• 9:30 p.m. Rachel Van Slyke plays at The Wooden Nickel.

SATURDAY 10
• 7:30 a.m. Open AA meeting: Big Book Study at Union Congregational Church, 349-5711.
• 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Civic Engagement Day with the League of Women Voters of the Gunnison Valley at IOOF Park in Gunnison.
• 11 a.m.-4 p.m. 24th Annual Chili and Beer Festival at the Mt. CB base area.
• 6:30 p.m. Open AA meeting: Literature at Union Congregational Church, 349-5711.

SUNDAY 11
• 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Crested Butte Farmer’s Market on Elk Avenue.
• 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Artists of Crested Butte’s Art Market in the parking lot at the top of Elk Avenue.
• 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. “C.J. Day” at the Gunnison Pioneer Museum, open house with light refreshments.
• noon-4 p.m. Bridges of the Butte Townie Tour with the Adaptive Sports Center, basecamp at Third and Elk, adaptivesports.org/events.
• noon-5 p.m. Celebration of Life for Levi Parr at the Big Mine Ice Arena and CB Skate Park.
• 5 p.m. All Saints in the Mountains Episcopal Church service at UCC, 403 Maroon Ave.
• 6 p.m. Open AA meeting: Topic Discussion at Union Congregational Church, 349-5711.

MONDAY 12
• 7:30 p.m. Open AA meeting: Favorite Big Book Reading at Union Congregational Church, 349-5711.
• 6 p.m. Navigating Grief & Loss Support Group online & in-person, free, livingjourneys.org/calendar.

TUESDAY 13
• 7:30 a.m. Open AA meeting: Mediation AA & Al-Anon at Union Congregational Church, 349-5711.
• 11:30 a.m. Kick-Off Meeting of the League of Women Voters of the Gunnison Valley at Mentors Eighth Street School in Gunnison at Eighth St. and Tomichi Ave.
• noon Closed AA meeting: Readings from Came to Believe at Union Congregational Church, 349-5711.
• 4-5:30 p.m. St. Mary’s Garage open for shoppers and donations.
• 5:30 p.m. Town of Crested Butte Vacation Rental Regulations Update at the Crested Butte Town Hall or ZOOM, crestedbutte-co.gov.
• 7 p.m. TICtalks on Sixth with the Community Foundation of the Gunnison Valley at the CB Center for the Arts, cfgv.org/tictalks.

WEDNESDAY 14
• 8:30 a.m. Free T’ai Chi sessions at Three Ladies Park, all levels welcome.
• 10-11:30 a.m. Elk Avenue Walking Tours with the Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum, meet in front of museum at Fourth and Elk, 970-349-1880.
• noon Closed AA meeting: 12 Step & 12 Tradition Study at Union Congregational Church, 349-5711.
• noon Yoga in the Garden at the Mt. Crested Butte Wedding Garden pavillion (Wednesdays thru 9/28).
• 4-6 p.m. US Forest Service open house on the proposed Mount Emmons land exchange at the Crested Butte Town Hall.
• 5:30-7 p.m. Mid-Week on Main Street live music at IOOF Park in Gunnison.
• 5:30-7:30 p.m. Community Discussion with GCSAPP at Rainbow Park in CB.
• 8 p.m. Adult pickup basketball at the CBCS high school gym, enter through the doors by Tommy V Field.

Sun, suffering, beer and cash

[  by Than Acuff  ]

Here we go again. Or, here they go again, I ain’t going nowhere. The Montane Grand Traverse Mountain Run and Bike presented by CB Nordic and Black Diamond is set for this weekend as 350 runners will run from Crested Butte to Aspen, 150 bikers will ride from Aspen to Crested Butte and some will do both.

The two races have gained traction throughout the first eight years of existence building off the success of the winter race as well as the surge in long distance running and biking. Not to mention the uniqueness of the event tying two classic ski towns together via ski, run and bike racing. In fact, both races filled up in record time compared to past years as they provide just the right amount of challenge along a spectacular course that reaches an altitude of 12,336 feet at Star Pass.

“I feel bad because I wasn’t as able to open up the wait list as much this year,” says CB Nordic events director Becky Nation. “People are holding onto their bibs.”

The weekend kicks off Saturday, September 3 at 6 a.m. when runners start in the Mt. Emmons parking lot across from CB Sports and head to the lower section of the Westside Trail, through St. Moritz and then out the Upper Loop, Bridges and Upper, Upper Loop before turning onto Brush Creek Road and head into the mountains. The course follows, more or less, the same course as the winter ski race that includes Star Pass, Taylor Pass, Richmond Ridge and a thigh-pounding, cartilage-pressing 3,000-foot descent down Aspen Mountain to the finish line. All told the course is 40.5 miles long with close to 5,000 feet of climbing strewn throughout the course.

Racers will be met at the finish line with free beer from Aspen Brewing Company and a catered meal including a vegan option. In addition, the top six men and top six women will take home some cash with the winners each getting $1,000 thanks to a grant from the Gunnison County Tourism and Prosperity Partnership (TAPP). Based on times last year, Nation expects the men’s winner to cross the line in Aspen sometime around noon and the women’s winner to cross around 1 p.m.

Then, on Sunday, September 4, 150 bikers will line up at Ajax Park in Aspen for a neutral roll out to the base of Aspen Mountain before turning uphill for an opening 3,000-foot ascent over the first five miles of the bike course.

“It’s a punch in the gut,” says Nation.

Bikers will then follow the same course as the runners, more or less, but in reverse before finishing at the Crested Butte Mountain resort base area by the Silver Queen lift. The bike course has a little more to it with 6,000-feet of climbing throughout the 41.02 miles and, based off times from last year, Nation expects the men’s winner to cross around 11 a.m. and the women’s winner coming in at around 12 or 12:30 p.m. 

They will also be greeted by cold beer from Aspen Brewing Company, a lunch with a vegan option and some cash as the top six in both the men’s and women’s races will get paid with $1,000 going to the winners.

There will be prizes awarded to top finishers among the folks who opted to run one day and ride the next and the Triple Crown winners will be announced lauding the efforts of the man and woman who have the lowest combined times from the ski race last winter and the run and bike race this summer.

Got friends or family in the race? There will be no live tracking, but CB Nordic will update those that missed cutoff times or pulled out of the race on their Twitter feed @emgtskirace and/or on the Grand Traverse Facebook page.

For a complete course breakdown and any additional information go to thegrandtraverse.org.