What I Did for My Mud Season Vacation – Crested Butte Mountain Guides Report

Even the guides get away. Down in Gunnison County Crested Butte Mountain Guides staff and guides are beginning to return to town after their off-season adventures elsewhere. There wasn’t a lot of mud this season. When you live in paradise sometimes you’ve just got to leave every now and again if only to remind yourself how wonderful it is to call Crested Butte or any other Colorado mountain town home.

It’s early June and things do not really start kicking off until the 15th in our high mountain towns. Here’s a photo essay and report from Tiff at CBMG on what Crested Butte Mountain Guide’s have been up to for the past couple of months…

“This spring I went on a climbing trip to Joshua Tree, CA and Red Rocks, NV. After four days of climbing in Joshua Tree we started our drive across the Mojave Desert to Las Vegas. While driving we saw the Kelso Sand Dunes and they were calling our name. We did a quick detour and scrambled to the top of the tallest dune, where we grabbed this Summit shot. The random detour was, for me, one of the most memorable moments of the trip.” -Laura Chase (CBMG guide)

Despite our best efforts we counldn’t get CBMG guide Scott Krankkala to send us a pic from time spent in Mexico with his family this off-season (we were hoping for a beach pic with the standard issue umbrella drink). Instead he was way more excited to tell us about the early season climbing he did in the Black Canyon.

“I spent most of my off season working on a wind farm in Abilene, TX, and perfecting my ability to grow a handlebar mustache.” -Kyle Mattingly (CBMG Guide) Kyle included a pic of his new mustache, but knowing how his wife feels about it we thought it best not to put it on the blog.

“I started off the mud season getting the last bits of snow on the San Juan Hut Tour. Five different huts, six days, eight people on the most incredible trip ever. Shortly after I spent 5 days on a solo bike trip in Utah trying to get into shape, and clearing my mind. Solo time was followed by a climbing extravaganza out at Indian Creek with great friends, dance parties, and lots of crack climbing. After licking my wounds in Indian Creek we headed out to California for some skiing, alpine climbing, and good ol’ Yosemite climbing.” -Amy Stevens (CBMG Guide)

“This is me and my dog ‘Moose’ hanging out on the Oregon coast, where I spent a couple weeks traveling, camping and of course enjoying good beer with my girlfriend. It was a perfect end to my winter!” – Patrick Erley (CBMG Guide)

CBMG Guide Evan Ross spent his off-season putting in some long miles on his mountain bike in preperation for the upcoming bike races of the summer. In an extreamly rare moment of stillness we caught him enjoying the view in Fruita, CO.

While most of us tried to avoid working during the off-season , CBMG Owner/Lead Guide Jayson Simons-Jones was hard at it in Valdez, AK teaching two back to back ski mountaineering courses. Yeah, judging by this pic we don’t feel too sorry for him either.

And then there’s me, Tiff, CBMG General Manager. I started my off-season vacation with a climbing trip to Shelf Road. From there I headed to Fruita where I attempted to step out of my biking comfort zone and started playing with steeper drops. Three trips over the handle bars and several ibuprofen later I drove to Buena Vista, CO and rounded out my vaca with some whitewater kayaking on the Arkansas River. Pretty perfect.

Newly rejuvenated and back home from our vacations we’re now ready to help folks make the most of their summer vacation to Crested Butte. Want to hike from Crested Butte to Aspen in a day? We’ll show you the way and give you lunch while we’re at it. Want to get the family out for a day of rock climbing? We’d love to show you the “ropes”. Want to experience Crested Butte’s infamous single track? Let our guides help you pick the perfect trail to suit your skills, ability and goals. Already familiar with the CB bike trails, but want to experience them in the new way? Check out our vehicle-supported overnight mountain bike trips. Want to stand on the top of a mountain and take it all in? Take advantage of our Peak of the Week Summer Hiking series.

We all love visiting new places, but in the end there’s no place like home, especially when home for us, it is Crested Butte.

-Tiff, Crested Butte Mountain Guides

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Photo Credits: Crested Butte Mountain Guides

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