by Aden Zydo

Created on: August 23, 2007   Last Updated: September 19, 2007

Crested Butte: The Original Western Ski Town.

There are many great ski resorts in Colorado to choose from if you are planning a ski vacation. But, if you are interested in actually taking up residence in one of Colorado's ski towns, look no further than Crested Butte. Here's why:

The Mountain:

With 16 lifts serving just over 1,100 acres and almost 2,800 vertical feet, the mountain is big enough to keep any skier or snowboarder thrilled, but small enough to ensure a laid-back, relaxed and comfortable skiing experience. Crested Butte Mountain is most well-known for its extreme terrain showcased by the annual US Extreme Freeskiing Championships. But, don't worry if you are not Glenn Plake or Wendy Fisher. The mountain has plenty of terrain for skiers and snowboarders of all ability levels.

The Weather and the Snow:

Crested Butte is characterized by big dumps of light, dry snow followed by long periods of cold, crisp, sunny weather. The resort lies at the edge of the Gunnison Basin, known for the cold air masses that settle in beneath the surrounding mountain ranges.

The nearby town of Gunnison logged the coldest temperature in the nation for 170 days between 1995 and 2005, ranking third in the nation in this statistic. A low temperature reading of negative 40 degrees is not unusual in the winter months. Despite this, the average high temperature during the day in the middle of January is a comfortable (for skiing) plus 25 degrees. So, unless you plan to ski at night, don't worry about the cold. This cold, but usually clear, crisp weather, keeps the snow light and dry until that next big storm comes along. The mountain averages about 280 inches of snow per year, which is plenty in this environment.

The Town Itself:

Locals call Crested Butte the "anti-resort." Its main street is called Elk Avenue, and you may very well see elk strolling down the middle of it. Founded in 1880 as a mining and supply outpost, the town is, in fact, a national historic district. Being there you come to the understanding that no one really planned for this place to be the world-class ski town that it is today. It just happened. Other resorts spend millions of dollars trying replicate what Crested Butte naturally is. It is, in other words, one of the few truly original western ski towns. That just simply cannot be replicated.

With a population of approximately 1,500, it is a small town, but large enough to support a robust line-up of festivals, a wide array of restaurants, and a thriving local

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