Winter Flights to Crested Butte! FYI

American Airlines 757 will be flying daily this winter from Dallas into Crested Butte/Gunnison Regional Airport.

Continental will also be providing direct daily service from Houston Dec. 15-Jan. 2, 2011 and on Saturdays from Jan. 2 -Mar. 31, 2012.

United will be providing 2 daily flights from Denver.

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.

Mt Belford, Sawatch Range: 14,197 feet

Mount Belford is a summit along the Northwest Ridge from the Missouri Gulch trailhead of the Sawatch Mountain Range. Mt. Belford is a Class 2 with Mild Exposure that is not along the immediate route, but in the area. 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 8 miles.

Mount Princeton is an Intermediate Skiing decent, it is rated:
D4 (slopes around 30 degrees, similar to an easier "Expert" run at a resort);
R2 (slightly more inherent danger than average backcountry ski routes);
Grade II (how long it takes to complete in average conditions- half a day).

The total elevation gain is 4,500 feet and the summit elevation is 14,197 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 Princeton, Sawatch Range: 14,197 feet

Mount Princeton is a summit along the East Slopes from the Mt. Princeton Road trailhead of the Sawatch Mountain Range. Mt. Princeton is a Class 2 with Mild Exposure, exposure measures how careful and concentrated your climbing must be, very close to the route with fewer route options.
Class 2 means more difficult hiking than class 1, and some hiking may be off the trail.

Mount Princeton is an Advanced Skiing decent, it is rated:
D7 (slopes around 40 degrees, few terrain obstacles such as trees and cliffs);
R2 (slightly more inherent danger than average backcountry ski routes);
Grade II (how long it takes to complete in average conditions- half a day).

The total elevation gain is 5,400 feet and the summit elevation is 14,197 feet, and the main trailhead is near the town of Nathrop near the Mt. Princeton Road.

The round trip hike to the summit and back to the trailhead is 13 miles if you start at the main trailhead (8,900'), 6.25 miles if you start near 11,000' on the road.

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.