FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Beth Buehler
Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association
(970) 901-6970 cell, (712) 300-6600 or bethbuehler4@gmail.com
www.GunnisonCrestedButte.com
Nordic Skiing Mecca in Gunnison-Crested Butte, Colorado
More than 100K of groomed trails & 25 cross-country events this winter
GUNNISON-CRESTED BUTTE, Colo. (November 1, 2012) — The Gunnison-Crested Butte
Valley, located in southwest Colorado, is a Nordic skiing hot spot with trails and events to satisfy
all levels of skiers. Groomed Nordic trails now number more than 100K, backcountry routes are
plentiful, and a jam-packed calendar of 25 events offer opportunities to have fun and stay in shape.
New Moon & Milky Way Photography Workshops & Ski for Hope
Join Raynor Czerwinski, a local professional photographer, on a cross-country ski and
photography tour out to the historic town of Gothic (four miles one way on moderate terrain or 1.5
to 2 hours). Stay overnight in the Maroon Hut, a cabin owned by Rocky Mountain Biological
Laboratory, and spend the evening photographing the sun set and the full moon rise over historic
buildings and dramatic mountain scenery. Participants must provide equipment, a sleeping bag and
food. The workshops are being offered on Jan. 11, Feb. 25 and March 11 for $225 through the Art
Studio of the Center for the Arts, www.crestedbuttearts.org.
The second annual Ski for Hope Nordic Challenge on March 2 will take place on Crested Butte
Nordic trails. The challenge will include a 25 kilometer competitive race, 3 kilometer race for kids
and a ski-a-thon that is a fun event for all ages. Ski-a-thon participants will be encouraged to collect
pledges per lap, and prizes will be awarded for most funds raised, team efforts, most laps, best
costume and more. Registration is $30. All proceeds benefit Living Journeys, Gunnison County’s
community cancer support network. Go to www.livingjourneys.org.
Gunnison Nordic Club & Black Canyon of the Gunnison
The Gunnison Nordic Club is offering three events for all levels of skiers this season and will
continue to groom approximately 45 kilometers of trails at Van Tuyl Ranch, Hartman Rocks MultiUse Recreation Area, city parks, and Mill Creek located north of Gunnison.
New this year is a Full Moon Hartman Rocks Ski Tour on Dec. 28 at 6:30 p.m. Bring the entire
family and enjoy a beautiful ski or snowshoe on trails with Gunnison Nordic Club guides. Hot
chocolate and treats will be served indoors after the tour. There is no cost to participate, but bring
your own gear. The annual Kenny Mac Ski Fest on Jan. 26 is a great opportunity to race, tour and
have some fun at Hartman Rocks. Details and costs will be posted at www.gunnisonnordic.org.
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202 East Georgia
Gunnison, CO 81230-2433
Phone: 970-641-7992 – Fax: 970-641-7994
GunnisonCrestedButte.com
Nordic Skiing in Gunnison-Crested Butte, page 2
Enjoy a Nordic ski or snowshoe to a Full Moon Bonfire at Van Tuyl Ranch on Feb. 22 at 7 p.m.
Hot cocoa and treats will be served. All ages are welcome to this free event (must provide your
own equipment).
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, located between Gunnison and Montrose, will be
grooming South Rim Drive from the visitor center to High Point for skate and classical skiing.
Call (970) 249-1914, ext. 423 or (970) 641-2337, ext. 205 for more information.
Crested Butte Nordic Center
The Crested Butte Nordic Center is a full-service cross-country ski center providing lessons and
complete rental packages for skate and classical skiing, as well as ice skating and snowshoeing.
The Nordic Center maintains more than 55 kilometers of groomed trails and will be open from Nov.
17, 2012 – April 7, 2013. For information and event registration, call (970) 349-1707 or visit
www.cbnordic.org.
Citizens’ Races are scheduled for Dec. 15, 22, Jan. 5, 12 and 19, with the race format and length
changing each week. Participants must register at the Nordic Center by 9:30 a.m. on race day, with
the start at 10 p.m. The cost is $12 for adults, $10 for CBNC members and $2 for kinds under 12.
Yurt Dinners are held on the full moon or around holidays and involve an easy snowshoe or
Nordic ski (one mile each way) to Magic Meadows for a five-course dinner prepared by local chef
Josephine Kellett of Creative Catering. Doors open at 6 p.m., and dinner is served at 6:30 p.m. on
Dec. 23, 28, Jan. 26, Feb. 14, 24, and March 26. Guests chose between chicken cordon bleu, steak
au poivre, encrusted filet of salmon and vegetarian strudel for the entrée. The cost is $70 for adults
and $35 for kids under 12 and includes a trail pass and equipment rental but not gratuity or alcohol.
A New Year’s Eve Yurt Dinner runs from 7 – 10 p.m. and includes a five-course dinner, wine, beer,
live music by Alpine Soul, a trail pass and rental equipment for $90 per person. A New Year’s Eve
Yurt Party starts at 10:30 p.m. and includes wine, beer, snacks, DJ music and a trail pass for $35.
Learn to Skate Ski for Free! clinics are offered at 1 p.m. on three Thursdays this season: Jan. 3,
Feb. 7 and March 7. Reduced-priced ski rentals are available.
27th Annual Alley Loop Nordic Marathon on Feb. 2 is part of the American Ski Marathon Series
and is an American Birkebeiner qualifier. Starting and finishing on Elk Avenue and winding
through alleyways, streets and trails located on the outskirts of town, Alley Loop features course
lengths of 1.5K, 3K, 5K, 10K, 21K and 42K, allowing all skill levels and ages to participate (many
in costume). Registration costs and start times vary. New this year is a Friday night Pub Ski on Elk
Avenue between participating bars.
Gothic Mountain Tour (previously known as the Super Tour) is a 22.5K backcountry ski event
slated for Feb. 16. It’s a race for those who like to go fast, or it can be skied as a loosely-guided
tour. The tour starts at 9 a.m. in the town of Crested Butte with skiers working their way up to
Crested Butte Mountain Resort, Gothic and more before finishing at the Nordic Center’s Magic
Meadows Yurt for food and beverage.
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Nordic Skiing in Gunnison-Crested Butte, page 3
This is a challenging ski with a steep 2,000-foot climb and a sometimes fast downhill. Shovels,
probes, beacons, full skins and a COSAR card are required. The cost is $35.
Backcountry Nordic skiing and snowshoe tours are for those who want to adventure off groomed
trails. Full-day tours start at 9 a.m. and include lunch, while half-day tours are three hours and start
at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. or by appointment. The cost is $65 per person for half day and $95 per
person for full day, including transportation, rentals and a guide. Advance reservations and a twoperson minimum are required.
Visitor Information & Personalized Vacation Packages
To find out more about Gunnison County or to book personalized vacation packages, call the
Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association’s toll-free line, (800) 814-8893, or visit
www.GunnisonCrestedButte.com. Find the Tourism Association on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/gcbta or follow us on www.twitter.com/gcbta.
The Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport is served year-round by United Airlines and during
the winter season by American Airlines.
About Gunnison-Crested Butte, Colorado
Gunnison-Crested Butte is nestled among almost two million acres of pristine wilderness in
southwest Colorado. Winter sports enthusiasts know the area for its world-class alpine skiing and
snowboarding at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing
and ice fishing. Gunnison-Crested Butte is also a haven for outdoor summer activities. In the
warmer months, visitors can choose from recreational activities such as hiking, climbing, mountain
biking, boating, whitewater rafting, kayaking, fly-fishing, camping and horseback riding. Yearround visitors enjoy distinctive restaurants, unique shops and stimulating cultural opportunities, and
have a wide range of lodging options — from rustic inns to guest cabins and bed-and-breakfasts to
full-service resort hotels.
Gunnison, county seat and a real western town, is home to the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional
Airport, Gunnison Whitewater Park, Gunnison Valley Observatory, Pioneer Museum and Western
State Colorado University, which offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in liberal arts and sciences
and pre-professional fields. Both Crested Butte and Gunnison have thriving historic central
business districts packed with shopping and dining opportunities.
Recognized as the “Official Wildflower Capital of Colorado” by the Colorado Legislature and one
of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s “Dozen Distinctive Destinations” in 2008, Crested
Butte is 28 miles from Gunnison and the site of rich mining, ranching and skiing heritage and home
to the Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum and Mountain Bike Hall of Fame. Only three
miles up the road is the resort village of Mt. Crested Butte, home to the ski area, an active base
area, the area’s conference center, and outstanding hiking and biking trails.
Marble is located in the Upper Crystal River Valley along the Elk Mountains and is the gateway to
nearby Crystal, home to one of the most photographed mill sites in the country. Marble has seven
sites on the National Register of Historic Places and is the location of the Yule Marble Quarry.
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Nordic Skiing in Gunnison-Crested Butte, page 4
In Gunnison County, visitors will find the Curecanti National Recreation Area, where dinosaur
fossils were recently discovered; the Blue Mesa Reservoir, Colorado’s largest body of water and
home to the largest Kokanee salmon fishery in the United States; and The Black Canyon of the
Gunnison, one of our country’s newest national parks. Gunnison County includes the quaint and
historic towns of Pitkin, Gothic, Tin Cup, Marble, Powderhorn, Almont and Crystal, plus the betterknown communities of Gunnison, Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte. Gunnison County is part of
the West Elk Loop and Silver Thread Scenic & Historic Byways.
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