The snow is lying deep in the central Colorado mountains, which makes them paradisaical for snowshoers. Snowshoeing opportunities abound. Check out these opportunities in the Gunnison-Crested Butte area:
Gourmet Dining on Snowshoes
Use snowshoes (or Nordic skis) for an easy trip to a delicious brunch or dinner at the yurt prepared by personal chef Tim Egelhoff. Brunch at the Nordic Center’s Magic Meadows Yurt is available February 5 and March 18 from 10:30 a.m .to 12:30 p.m. The cost is $25 for adults, $10 for kids under age 12 (ski passes and rentals are extra). Moonlight Yurt Dinner Tours are scheduled for February 7, 14, 19 and March 8 and 17. Doors open at 6 p.m. and dinner is served at 6:30 p.m. The cost is $65 for adults and $30 for children under age 12 (includes a trail pass and equipment rental but not gratuity or alcohol). Reserve online or call 970-349-1707 for reservations.
Photography Workshops
Art and snowshoeing do mix, and local professional photographers Xavier Fane and Raynor Czerwinski are out to prove just that with six new photography
workshops offered from January through March. Learn how to photograph winter in a number of ways, accessing subject matter on snowshoes or Nordic skis. Workshops cost $55 each and include a Nordic pass but not
equipment. More information and registration is available online. Here are the dates:
• February 19 – Catching the Action (Fane) & Photographing the Earth Shadow (Czerwinski)
• March 18 – Playing With the Stars (Fane) & Winter Landscape
Photography (Czerwinski)
Guided Tours for All Levels
Crested Butte Mountain Resort’s Moonlight Snowshoe Tours (February 7, March 8 and April 6) offer the joy of snowshoeing moonlit mountain trails after being transported to the start by snowcat. Guided daytime snowshoe tours on ski area trails are offered daily at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. with snowshoes, poles, water, a light snack and a lift ride included in the cost for the two-mile outing. There are also daily tours of of Snodgrass Mountain from 1 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost for all tours is $75 per person, including transportation. For
information and reservations, go online or call 970-349-4554.
Backcountry Tours
The Crested Butte Nordic Center introduces backcountry snowshoe tours during the on Tuesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cost is $65 per person and will take participants to the beautiful Gothic, Washington Gulch or Slate River areas. Information is available online ot by calling 970- 349-1707 for
reservations. Crested Butte Mountain Guides also offers backcountry
snowshoeing adventures.
