crested butte

Okay, so you've snowmobiled Yellowstone, done Jackson Hole and the UpperPeninsula has finally run out of snow, or you've tired of cheap motels withpaper bath mats. Now you're ready for that ultimate snowmobile getaway.Where you can ride deep powder late into the season and be totally spoiledby concierge service, a fantastic dinner menu and nicely appointed accommodations.Being able to sit and sip cocktails in a fern bar/sun deck viewing mountainsof snow whilst the beautiful people clomping along in oversized plasticski boots seem fashionable.

This is Crested Butte. Television's Robin Leach and his "Lifestylesof the Rich and Famous" camera crew would definitely approve. Thisis literally the other side of Aspen, which lies 20 or so miles over themountains. Crested Butte is a hidden snowmobiler's getaway. Like most ofColorado, this area is best known for skiing. Snowboarders have learnedof the extreme nature of the area's deep snow that is measured in feet,not inches.

Crested Butte can get so extreme, it's a natural outgrowth of the area'spopularity that this year's Winter X Games are being hosted here. That "X"by the way stands for Extreme. While the area is well known to the radicalgroup of skiers and snowboarders who challenge themselves in the annualout of bounds competitions, this will be a first time venture for most snowmobilesnocross racers. But with footage being supplied by ESPN's two sports networksas well as ABC-TV, to nearly 190 countries worldwide, the extreme snowmobilingsegment of this event will create a new image for snowmobilers and openminds to this area as a serious snowmobiler's destination getaway.

Originally a back area mining town at the turn of the last century, CrestedButte offers nearly unmolested visage of wilderness-type alpine settingsthat can be reached by snowmobile. But keep in mind, this is an area wherehuge snow ridges do break loose and become fearsome avalanches. While itis a great area for snow play, it is an area that demands respect.

Whether you take a bushwhacking tour into the upper meadows, ride thetrail to out of the way Irwin Lodge, or even pack up your sleds and trailerto a quiet mountain lake for a day of fishing, this scenic Colorado getawayoffers a great variety in snowmobiling and amenities. There are the pizza joints of nearby Gunnison and more moderate lodging choices. Or you cango full tilt with concierge service at the Crested Butte Resort in a suitethat overlooks the mountains. There is variety here.

There is variety in getting to Crested Butte as well. You can drive andenjoy the mountain scenery. Or you can fly a 757 jet into Gunnison or comein on a 19-passenger cloud hopper from Denver. If you fly, don't worry,there are plenty of very good snowmobile rental operations in the area.About a half hour's drive from Crested Butte, Gunnison offers transportationservices and the character of an Old West community in its own right. So,if you prefer the more laid back cowboy approach instead of reveling inthe lifestyles of the rich and extreme, settle in at Gunnison. Either waycontact the following to help you make your decision. But, keep in mind,with nearly 1,000 press people heading to January's X Games, most of thegood places will be booked. But later, after the excitement has settled,you can enjoy your own extreme getaway in this soon to be well known partof Colorado.



For more information:

Gunnison County Chamber

500 East Tomichi

Gunnison, CO 81230

970/641-1501

Fax: 970-641-3467

Website: www.gunnison.com



Crested Butte Resort

P.O. Box 5013

400 Gothic Road

Mt. Crested Butte, CO 81225

800/451-5699