Crested Butte, CO

[motomike]

Highlights of the trip are, well, riding the legendary trails of Crested Butte.... trail 401, Teocalli Ridge, Snodgrass, and so many more. We purposely arranged the trip to be there in the heart of the wildflower season, as well as hitting the Mountain State Cup race, and the beginning half of the Crested Butte Fat Tire Festival (from what I hear, the original, biggest, baddest, oldest bike festival in the world). We were staying at just under 10,000 feet, with most of the trails pointing upwards from there.

I'll cover the trip through the pics...

The view off our back patio. This is the village of Crested Butte Mountain, not to be confused with the town, which is about 2 miles down into the valley below(obviously, sweet singletrack in between the two). This was the only storm to hit during our trip, which wiped out the 1st days DH practice for the race.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/motomike/crestedbutte0241.jpg

Absolutely beautiful views everywhere you look here.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/motomike/crestedbutte0541.jpg

Beginning of Snodgrass Trail
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/motomike/crestedbutte0581.jpg

I think this trail is called Upper Upper Loop. Down the road from our condo.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/motomike/crestedbutte0741.jpg

This is on the Trail 401. I'm sure at least someone has heard of this trail. Absolutely legendary ride. This is around 12,000 feet as well, above Shoffield Pass. Pic is taken shortly after we hiked up through snow to get to the top.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/motomike/crestedbutte0941.jpg


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The town had a dirt jump park put in. Nothing huge, but good for some fun. Everything starts off of a 20ft+ mound they built.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/motomike/crestedbutte0871.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/motomike/crestedbutte0381.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/motomike/crestedbutte0411.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/motomike/crestedbutte0351.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/motomike/crestedbutte0331.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/motomike/crestedbutte0461.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/motomike/crestedbutte0521.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/motomike/crestedbutte0751.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/motomike/crestedbutte0851.jpg

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The bloody race. This was by far and away the hardest DH race I've ever done. For one, going from living in Greensboro at 700ft to the top of the DH start at like 12,000ft is just ridiculous. Second, it was somehow one of the most pedally courses I've done as well. We had to descend 1/2 way down the mtn just to get to the start. That in itself was a battle, with a mammoth kamikaze-esq run down with huge exposed cliffs and tight fast rocky swithbacks to get down.

Finally on course, it was a blast. I took my Enduro SL out because I heard it was gonna be a pedal fest. Still the 5 minute course managed to drop a lot of vert. After crossing the line, I was coughing up blood, and eventually barfed....twice. Never done that before.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/motomike/crestedbutte0591.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/motomike/crestedbutte0611.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/motomike/crestedbutte0651.jpg

"loose" is a good term for describing the course.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/motomike/crestedbutte0681.jpg


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Coming from the east coast, a few things stood out to me...

Only 2 sets of Industry Nine wheels were present that I saw, and one of them was on my buddy's bike.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/motomike/crestedbutte0561.jpg

Only a handful of Sundays were there, out of what, like 300-400 racers. Giant Glorys seemed to dominate.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/motomike/crestedbutte0621.jpg

Yeti. Know the name well. They were friggin everywhere.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/motomike/crestedbutte0571.jpg

This is the only Morewood I saw.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/motomike/crestedbutte0721.jpg

Its interesting how different it is out there.

~Mike

[dfinn]

how did you SL handle the DH course?

[motomike]

The SL was awesome on the DH course. I wish I could say the same about my lungs. ;)

[Jeremy R]

Awesome write up Mike.

[caputo1989]

That pic of the sunday is my teamate.

[manimal]

sounds like you had a blast! but, you wouldn't have coughed up blood if you weren't so friggin fat.
i'm gonna get up with art holis and the other greensboro PD bike unit boys that were out there on a PAID trip and figure out how i can get my bike unit out there for "training" ;)

[peter6061]

Nice write up and pics.

Crested Butte is my favorite place to ride. Haven't been since '05 so it's nice to see familiar pics. Thanks for the motivation to buy some plane tickets. Wonder if I could find a last minute cheap airline deal.....

This is the best time of year to be there IMO.

[SCTreeHugger]

Looks awesome.

How long is the riding season?

[Broken_Spoke]

Great pictures. Reminds me of when I was in high school there was a radio DJ that had gone there and when he talked about it called it Crusty Butt.

[wicked cool]

i'm going to school at western state next year and this just got me sooo stoked for it!!

[SkaredShtles]

Looks awesome.

How long is the riding season?
Crested Butte proper you could probably stretch from mid-May to October. The good stuff you can't really rely on for more than late June to mid-September.

Thanks for the pics! Great TR.

[SkaredShtles]

<snip>
This is the best time of year to be there IMO.
Naw... February's better. :D

http://www.skicb.com/site/static/images/winter/mountain/media/wallpaper/06_wincbwp800/021.jpg

[motomike]

Naw... February's better. :D



Speaking of... about 8 miles up Washington Gulch Rd., we came across what looked like a huge rainbow rail someone had built skiing/boarding backcountry. Pretty rad, I bet the winter there is amazing.

[Red Bull]

that looks like a really good time. i'm definitely jealous. the riding looks so different and exiting out there haha

[T-Pirate]

Tiiiiight. I haven't even seen my pics on a computer yet, they look dope though.

[OGRipper]

Great pics, really makes me want to bump up CB on my list of places to ride at some point.

[T-Pirate]

Some more that mike didn't post.

http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/2307/colorado005sbv0.jpg

http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/1983/colorado048sml6.jpg

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/4883/colorado064sdl0.jpg

I need to get my camera cleaned, those little black dots in half the pictures aren't on the lens and I can't figure out where they are. Guess I have some cloning out to do.

[Jimmy Chipwood]

Nice pics! My life revolves around the next time I am able to go to the Butte...

So many epics, so little time.

Next time you're there, camp out on Slate river road and ride singletrack to town(lower loop). Hit up Camp4 for coffee, breakfast at Teocalli Tamale, ride all day from town, ride singletrack back to camp, fire, sleep, repeat....

[ZHendo]

i really need to go there still. my dad has been wanting to go for awhile but now i want to go with him. i've coughed a little blood before, i've heard that it happens at high altitude because it is very dry air, and sucking air like you would in a race dries everything out and it eventually starts to bleed. think of it like chapped lips except in your lungs/throat.

[mud'n'sweat]

Sweet, my old home! I miss it much for sure. Maybe one day I'll move back with my wife.