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Hanging Out In Crested Butte — Happy Birthday Mom!

Bookmark and Share            By Lou

Mom Dawson’s 78th year and she’s still strutting around Crested Butte like she owns the place. Must be that mountain air. Everyone say Happy B-Day!

Heading out for a hike today. Probably should have brought the skis but haven’t quite switched to summer ski mode yet, as the simplicity of just doing some hikes has been tempting after the long winter and spring of backcountry skiing.

But looking up at the beautiful Elk Mountains from here, I’m still blown away at how much snow is still glowing. You’d think we were in the Cascades or something. So more skiing soon.

For you locals wondering about road conditions: We drove the Silverado over Kebbler Pass. Considered using the Nissan Versa to save some gas money. Glad we didn’t. They’re in the process of chloride sliming the roadbed, so we were in 4-wheel-drive and sliding all over the place in the goo. Could have made it into “Mudder” magazine if I’d been bold enough to get out and take a photo (I wasn’t). Once on the dry road, the washboard was so bad it probably would have done something very nasty to the Versa. Beater trucks have their place. (After Kebbler, any truck is a beater.)

Next trip over here will be in the Jeep, on the 4×4 trails, we hope.

Thanks for all the comments on the land use issues we bring up. I know we’re not PC in that we don’t worship ever more Wilderness. But all we’re really advocating is balance. Where that balance exists is worth ranting about and even discussing, in my opinion.

Indeed, I’m wondering if we need a non-profit that’s simply dedicated to advocacy for backcountry recreation. Such would work to keep trailheads maintained, dry/gated roads opened in spring, stuff like that. Such would combine and attempt to balance advocacy for all forms of legal recreation, be they motorized or not. Interesting concept? As always, ready for comments.

Posted by Lou on July 2, 2008 | Filed Under Trip Reports 

previous post: Backcountry Skiing News Roundup — Sledders and Jumping Slugs
next post: Happy 4th!

Comments

6 Responses to “Hanging Out In Crested Butte — Happy Birthday Mom!”

  1. ray July 2nd, 2008 9:55 am

    i wish you peace and a very happy birthday!!!!!

    ray bem

  2. Mac July 2nd, 2008 3:18 pm

    A non-profit group to adovcate for back country recreational access? Sounds a lot like the Access Fund!
    Sure they’re mainly aimed at climbers but then to get to a climb, you’ve generally got to go through some backcountry, so their advocacy for recreational access and the provision of “recreational opportunities” on public land has benefits to all backcountry users.
    Check out http://www.accessfund.org

    Mac

  3. Lou July 2nd, 2008 3:35 pm

    Well aware of the Access Fund, thinking of something like that only for most other user groups, with total emphasis on recreation.

  4. DV8 July 2nd, 2008 8:13 pm

    Lou,

    Love the site, everything you have done for the sport, the input you had in the movie steep. You’ve made me fall back in love with skiing again after a racing career at a ski academy in Vermont.

    I’d like to bang out a 2-3 14ers in the next couple of weeks. Was wondering if you had any beta on peaks in either the Front Range or the Sawtooths that might be suitable this late in the year. Using a SkiTrab, F3 set-up so I don’t mind a good hike in.

    Thanks – Dan

  5. Lou July 2nd, 2008 8:39 pm

    Dan, what about the Elks? Snowmass and Castle are still skiable. As for Front Range, get on up to Greys/Torreys as I’m sure there is some summer skiing on those.

  6. DV8 July 3rd, 2008 7:24 pm

    Thank you Lou. I was just reading your book. Castle Peak it is!

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Welcome to Louis (Lou) Dawson's backcountry skiing information and opinion website. Lou's passion for the past forty years has been alpinism, climbing, mountaineering and skiing -- along with all manner of outdoor recreation. He has authored numerous books and articles about backcountry skiing and is well known as the first person to ski down all 54 of Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks, otherwise known as the Fourteeners! Books and free back country information here, and tons of Randonnee rando telemark info.

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