Snowmass Mountain, Elk Range: 14,092 feet

Snowmass Mountain is a summit along the East Slope in the Elk Mountains off the Snowmass Creek trailhead. Snowmass is a Class 3 with Moderate Exposure along the immediate route, avoidable with some slow hiking or scrambling. It is located within the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness of the White River National Forest.

The elevation of Snowmass Mountain is 14,092 feet, and the elevation gain is 5,800 feet. The trailhead is easy-access at Snowmass Creek and is part paved and part dirt. The round trip hike to the summit and back to the trailhead is 21.5 miles and is a nearly year-round alpine snow-climb ascent.

Note: this hike is usually done as an over-nighter.

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.

Facets of Winter- Crested Butte Center for the Arts- October 8, 2011

The Center screens AE Films' first full-length film, Facets of Winter. It has everything from an accomplished 14'er ski mountaineer to a disabled Iraq vet turned ski racer as well as some excellent CO comp skiers going straight down some killer lines. Something for everybody.

AE Films is a growing production operation based in Colorado focused primarily on our love of winter. AE Films was founded in 2007 on the premise of bringing real skiing, mountaineering and winter adventure to the public eye.

Focusing often on the real-life aspects of winter sports, AE Films' goal is to produce high quality movies that blur the line between action, art and documentary. Briefly summarized...you could be doing this.

SHOWTIME: 8:00 p.m.
DOORS OPEN: 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $5, available at The Alpineer or at the door the night of the show.

AE Ski Films website
For more info, visit the Crested Butte Arts website.

Gunnison Farmers' Market, October 8, 2011

The Gunnison farmers' market will be open from Saturday from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm, and is located on on Main and Virginia, in the heart of Gunnison's historic Main Street. There will be a wide variety of vendors selling fresh fruits and vegetables, baked goods, meat, eggs, yogurt, cheese, wine, granola, crafts and more! The majority of the produce is from the North Fork Valley, just on the other side of the West Elks, but there will be a handful of local vendors offering some of the finest, tastiest, Gunnison grown food.

For more information, visit Gunnison Farmers' Market.

Castle Peak, Elk Mountain Range: 14,265 feet

Castle Peak is the highest peak in the Elk Mountains at 14,265 feet, and the 12th highest peak in Colorado. It is on the Northeast Ridge of the Elk Mountains and is classified as a difficult level 2, and is an ideal beginner 14er that has an exciting and breathtaking summit ridge.

The exposure is a 3/6, meaning that there is a moderate level of exposure on the immediate route and some slow hiking or scrambling may be necessary on the trail. The length of the trail to the summit and back is 13 miles if you start at the main trailhead, 6.5 miles if you start hiking from 11,200 feet, although you must have a 4WD vehicle to park this high up on the mountain.

The elevation gain is 4,600' if you start at the main trailhead, 3,100 feet if you start at 11,200 feet. The Castle Creek trailhead is found by following Castle Creek Road out of Aspen. The trailhead follows a 2WD paved access to 9,750 feet, a rough 2WD access to 9,900 feet, a 4WD access to 12,800 feet by following Castle Creek up past the Montezuma Mine and into a basin north of Castle Peak.

Mt Yale, Sawatch Range: 14,196 feet

Mount Yale is a summit along the Southwest Slopes of the Sawatch Mountain Range. Mt. Yale is a Class 2 with Mild Exposure, climbing must be a bit more careful and concentrated close to the route and there are fewer route options.
Class 2 means 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 9.5 miles. The total elevation gain is 4,300 feet and the summit elevation is 14,196 feet, and the main trailhead is a paved road called Denny Creek Trailhead.

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.