Growler Series 2012- May 26-27

2012 GROWLER SERIES MTB/RUN SCHEDULE

May 26-27 – ORIGINAL GROWLER MOUNTAIN BIKE RACES
August 30 – Growler Series Mountain Bike #5 – Hartman Rocks Base Area
September 6 – Growler Series Trail Run #3 – Signal Peak Trail Run
September 13 – Growler Series Mountain Bike #6 – Hartman Rocks Base Area
September 29 – BIG SATURDAY! Pummeler’s Butt Trail Runs and Growler Series Mountain Bike Finals

REGISTRATION OPENS AT 430PM, RACING BEGINS AT 530PM. PLEASE ARRIVE EARLY TO AVOID THE LAST MINUTE CRUSH. YOU’LL GET A BETTER WARM-UP, TOO!

The 2012 Growler Series Mountain Bike Races offer the following categories:

• Short Course
• Long Course – Sport
• Long Course – Expert
• Little Kids Race – ages ? and up (kids race free)

There is not a beginner category because we cannot put together a true beginner’s course. Check out upper Jack’s Trail as it is fairly representative of most of the riding in the Growler Series courses. An important asset for less experienced riders is simply knowing when to get off of your bike and walk a difficult section. Walk today, Ride tomorrow! Typical trails in the Growler Series include Jack’s, Top ‘O the World, Gateway, Josies, Rocky Ridge, Skyline and Josho’s.

The 2012 Growler Series Trail Running Races will be about 5k (except the Signal Peak Race on Sept. 6th.)

A Holiday Cabaret- December 28 at 7:30pm

“A HOLIDAY CABARET WITH JAN HORVATH” presented by CB Mountain Theatre
Dec 28, 29

Description of Event: Bright lights come to the black box theatre as we welcome one of New York’s most glamorous Broadway stars, Jan Horvath. She played leading roles on Broadway in The Phantom of the Opera and CATS! Her theatrical and musical talents will warm hearts as we celebrate the Holidays together. Don’t be surprised if this prominent performer unites with some of Crested Butte’s local talent, making this a truly unique cabaret evening for the whole family.
Location of Event: The Mallardi Cabaret Theatre
Contact Information – 970-349-0366 www.cbmountaintheatre.org

Moonlight Snowshoe Tours, Mt. Crested Butte: December 10th

Moonlight Snowshoe Tours on
Mt. Crested Butte!
6:30pm-8:30pm!

http://www.skicb.com/cbmr/event-calendar.aspx

Discount Ski Tickets & Discount Ski Rentals

Ski Tickets: Soooo worth it and 15-25% off the window price. Ready to get them ordered! They will be in your condo or townhome or house when you arrive! Call Lucinda to help with purchasing! Her phone is: 954-304-5460 and her email is: lucindacb2010@hotmail.com. Just call or email Lucinda and she will send you the appropriate price sheet. Please see our site for instructions.

Eflin Sports in Crested Butte

Ski Rentals: Peak Sports, run by CB's Eflin family, is right at the base and is supplying our discount ski rentals. See regular pricing.They give 20% off this regular pricing if you use THEIR ONLINE RENTAL FORM. Once you've filled in their form, call to make sure all is well. Please see our site for instructions. Their phone is: 970-349-6121 . Once again, Lucinda can help. Watch the movie to see their location!

Maroon Bells Peaks, Elk Mountain Range: 14,156 and 14,014 feet

The Maroon Bells are two peaks in the Elk Mountains, Maroon Peak and North Maroon Peak. Their peaks are 14,156 and 14,014 feet, and they are 1/3 mile apart and 12 miles southwest of Aspen. Both peaks have an elevation gain of 4,500-4,800 feet, and both are accessed by the Maroon Lake trailhead.

The different between Maroon Peak and North Maroon Peak is the difficulty of the climbs. Maroon Peak has a difficulty of Class 3 and a 4/6 exposure, meaning a pretty serious exposure that could result in serious injury if you fell,hiking past the area will require some scrambling or short technical moves.

North Maroon Peak has a difficulty of Class 4, rope is often used on Class 4 routes because falls can be fatal; the terrain is often steep and dangerous, although some routes can be done without rope because the terrain is stable. The exposure of this peak is the same as the Maroon Peak.

Great Crested Butte Farmers' Market, October 9

Every Sunday the farmers' market will be open from 10am-2pm, and is located on 2nd and Elk Avenue. The market is always stocked fresh and full with organic and certified naturally home-grown veggies, fruit, and herbs, and pasture-raised and grass-fed meats, wild fish, and many other locally produced treats!

The market is also open at Crank's Plaza (at 5th and Maroon) on Thursdays, from 4pm-7pm.

For more information, visit Crested Butte Farmers' Market.

Missouri Mountain, Sawatch Range: 14,067 ft.

Missouri Mountain is a peak with a 14,067 foot elevation with its trailhead at the Missouri Gulch, and it is part of the Sawatch Mountain Range. Missouri Mountain is a Class 2 with Moderate Exposure, climbing must be more careful and concentrated on the immediate route that can be avoidable with slow hiking or scrambling.

The round trip length to the summit and back is 10.5 miles.
The total elevation gain is 4,500 feet and the summit elevation is 14,067 feet, and the main trailhead is the Missouri Gulch Trailhead, a 2WD dirt road. This road is closed 4 miles below the trailhead, at 9,200 feet during winter.

Mount Columbia, Sawatch Range: 14,073 feet

Mount Columbia is a summit along the West Slopes from the North Cottonwood Creek trailhead of the Sawatch Mountain Range. Mt. Columbia is a Class 2 with Mild Exposure, climbing must be more careful and concentrated very close to the route with fewer route options. Class 2 is a more difficult hiking than class 1, and some hiking may be off the trail. 

The round trip hike to the summit and back to the trailhead is 11.5 miles. Access to the trailhead is moderately difficult, a rough 2WD dirt road, that may require 4WD in early summer. The road is also closed 3 miles below the trailhead, at 9,200 feet in the winter.

The elevation gain of the peak from the trailhead to the peak is 4,250 feet, and the round-trip length of the trail is 11.5 miles.

Mt Oxford, Sawatch Range:14,153 feet

Mount Oxford is a summit connected to Mount Belford with its trailhead at the Missouri Gulch, and it is part of the Sawatch Mountain Range. Oxford is a Class 2 with Mild Exposure, climbing must be more careful and concentrated close to the route with fewer route options and some off-trail hiking.

The round trip length to the summit and back is 11 miles.

The total elevation gain is 5,800 feet and the summit elevation is 14,153 feet, and the main trailhead is the Missouri Gulch Trailhead, a 2WD dirt road. This road is closed 4 miles below the trailhead, at 9,200 feet during winter.

My New Favorite Hike- Lost Lake

Hike Lost Lake to 3 beautiful lakes!

3 miles of the most beaultiful vistas and views of mountains and lakes - 3 lakes, Lost Lake Slough, Lost Lake, and Dollar Lake. Unbelievable beauty.

Despite the name, you won't get lost. Go to CB, and take Whiterock out towards Irwin Lake. Where the road splits off to Irwin, take a left on Kebler. Keep going, and enjoy the view! when the aspens are all around you in a close woods for awhile, Lost Lake Campground will come up on the left, after Horseranch turnoff.Turn in and keep to the right and park as far as you can. It takes 35 minutes from CB to drive there.

Mountain Biking the Dyke Trail

Or.... where I learned I am a beginner-intermediate mountain biker, not an expert! Ouch! Ouch! Boom. The entrance to the Dyke trail is just above Irwin Lake on the left - don't go too far or you get to private land. This bike trail goes gently down for 5 miles. 

Have a non-biker drive to Horseranch to pick you up, as that is where the trail ends. However, an "easy" hiking trail can be an "expert" biking trail. And that's the case here. Rocks, branches, ups and downs. Easy walking, hard biking.

Huron Peak, Sawatch Range:14,003 ft.

Huron Peak is a summit along the North Ridge from the Clear Creek trailhead of the Sawatch Mountain Range. Huron Peak is a Class 2 with Mild Exposure, climbing must be more careful and concentrated very close to the route with fewer route options. Class 2 is a bit more difficult hiking than class 1, and some hiking may be off the trail.

The round trip hike to the summit and back to the trailhead is 6.75 miles, 11 miles if you hike up the entire road from Winfield. Access to the trailhead is moderately difficult, and closed near 9,200 feet in the winter.

The total elevation gain is 3,500 feet and the summit elevation is 14,003 feet. The trailhead is near Winfield at Clear Creek and begins at 10,560 feet.

Mt. Elbert, Sawatch Range: 14,433 feet

Mount Elbert is a summit along the Northeast Ridge route of the Sawatch Mountain Range. It's considered a Class 1 with Mild Exposure, not along the immediate route, but in the area. Class 1 means easy hiking, usually on a trail.
The round trip hike to the summit and back to the trailhead is 9 miles.

The total elevation gain is 4,700 feet and the summit elevation is 14,433 feet. The trailhead is near Leadville at North Elbert and begins at an elevation of 10,040 feet.

Colorado 14ers

14er- a mountain with an elevation above 14,000 feet.
Colorado contains 54 14ers, or 77% of the 14ers on the mainland United States, making it the highest state in the US.

In the next series of blogs, I will be talking about different 14ers in Colorado's Elk Mountain Range and surrounding areas and ranking them based on their difficulty.

Vinotok September 18-24th

The 26th Annual Vinotok Fall Harvest Festival is a time to celebrate the autumn equinox, the bounty of the summer's harvest, and a time for the community to gather before winter.

Sept 18th- Celebration of the Harvest Mother on Elk Avenue between 1st and 2nd streets- to celebrate and honor people's connection to the earth and the bounty she provides. There will be performances of Vinotok poetry starting at 10am.

       The festival begins with the weekly summer farmers' market on September 18th with additional Vinotok activities, including wreath making, grump boxes, street theatre, and more.

Sept. 19-21- the sharing the ancient traditions, multicultural stories and mythology of the festival at Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum from 7 - 9 p.m.

Liar's Night celebrates the tradition of tall tales, whoppers and adventure stories blown out of proportion that are shared on Thursday evening, Sept. 22 at The Eldo, beginning at 8 p.m.

The Community Feast, featuring regionally harvested dishes of roast pig, corn, mixed vegetables, potatoes and traditional Croatian and Slovenian foods, will be held on Friday, Sept. 23, 5:30 p.m. at the Crested Butte Depot. Local musicians, writers and poets will provide the entertainment.

The Saturday of Vinotok, Sept. 24, medieval characters accompanied by torchbearers and flag bearers roam the streets and enter restaurants singing harvest songs, dancing and inviting all to participate in the evening's festivities from 5-7:30 p.m. A street production will be held in front of The Eldo on Elk Avenue at 7:30 p.m.

Open for Winter Rentals!

20% off ski rentals from Eflin Sports

Located right at the base, Eflin Sports is offering 20% to renters from www.greatcrestedbuttelodging.com. Watch the website for links to book online as we get closer to the season!

New Lupine Trail

The new Lupine Trail! A brand new singletrack built by CBMBA and close to 200 volunteers last June. Watch the video and ride it virtually! Access it from the Saddle Ridge subdivision culdesac off Gothic Road. Absolutely no parking!! Best accessed from Upper Loop, ride down the bike path and down a short bit from Washington Gulch toward town. Turn right or northwest into Saddle Ridge. The trail ends on Smith Hill Road, turn left and downhill to Slate River Road.