Stardate 2019.551

Crested Butte
Hi folks! Recently, Snowcatcher and I visited one of our favorite haunts. Crested Butte sits at the base of the West Elk Mountains on the west, the Elk Mountains to the north, and the Sawatch Mountains to the east.


We arrived midday and had a beautiful afternoon ride. It was crystal clear all afternoon — no wind, no thunderstorms, dry trails, and lots of wildflowers. The following pics were shot from the Upper Lower Loop trail.



Crested Butte is considered by many to be the wildflower capitol of Colorado. Perhaps. Several hours to the southwest, in the San Juan Mountains, are some pretty awesome wildflower beds as well. Nonetheless, Crested Butte’s flowers are spectacular.





Below is Mount Crested Butte from the Slate River. We were riding the Lower Lower Loop trail, which begins in town and heads toward the snow. We didn’t have the time to ride to the snow, but it was close. Mount Crested Butte touches the sky at 12,162 feet.





In the background and several ridges over is Gothic Mountain, rising to 12,625 feet. It towers over the Rocky Mountain Biological Research station and the East River.




Thanks for reading.

Adios

Stardate 2015.499

Day Four RtR

Crested Butte

The ride to Crested Butte on Day Four was a nice contrast to the wet of the previous day. Originally, there were two options for this day. One option was the normal highway ride from Gunnison to Crested Butte. The second option was the Dirty 30. The Dirty 30 would travel up scenic Ohio Creek, climb and cross Ohio Pass, which is still a dirt road, then drop to Kebler Pass, before the final drop into Crested Butte. Ohio Pass is beautiful, however the powers that be nixed the optional route due to lingering snow and soggy conditions resulting from heavy spring rains.

The day turned out to be a rest day. I think I rolled into Crested Butte around 9 in the morning. Snowcatcher and I spent the day lounging around. Crested Butte proper is a historic mining town. There also exists a ski village a mile or so above old town at the ski area.



The southern terminus of the Elk Mountain Range is shown above. Teocalli Mountain touches the sky at 13,208 feet (state rank # 478) while 14,265 foot Castle Peak (state rank # 12) rises even higher behind Teocalli. I've summited Castle Peak several times, and it's a very scenic hike.



On the east side of town, Mount Crested Butte rises to 12,162 feet.



The little town's population just grew by 3,000.



Guess who?



Rising in the background is the Ruby Range. It's a sub-range of the Elk Range. The West Elk Range rises southwest of the Ruby Range.



'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe
All mimsy were the borogoves
And the mome raths outgrabe...



I took this shot because I want the old red Ford F250 sitting on the grass. The mountains rising in the background aren’t half-bad either.

Our next stop will take us 12,000 feet into the sky.

Adios