January in the Rockies - Great Deals & Adventure in Gunnison-Crested Butte

January is an ideal time to visit Gunnison-Crested Butte, Colorado.  There are less-crowded slopes, amazing conditions, great deals and a jam-packed calendar of events, plus Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Jan. 17 offers a great chance to sneak in a three-day weekend getaway.  


January 2011 Calendar of Events
1            "A Tuna Christmas" Presented by CB Mountain Theatre, Mallardi Cabaret Theatre
1 - 2     International Ski Federation Slalom Races, Crested Butte Mountain Resort
2 - 9     College Ski Week, Crested Butte Mountain Resort
6            Learn to Skate Ski for Free, Crested Butte Nordic Center
7            First Friday Gallery Crawl & Music, Various Galleries & Locations, Gunnison
8            Citizens' Race-15K Skiathalon, Crested Butte Nordic Center
12 - 19 Military Appreciation Week by Crested Butte Mountain Resort
15         Citizens' Race - 20K Classic, Crested Butte Nordic Center
15 - 16 USASA Half Pipe & Slopestyle Competitions, Crested Butte Mountain Resort
15        The Play-Ground Theatre Co.: Fairy Tale Theatre, Crested Butte Center for the Arts
16        9th Annual Wedding Show by the Gunnison-Crested Butte Wedding Council, Lodge at
             Mountaineer Square, Mt. Crested Butte
19        Full Moon Yurt Dinner Tour, Crested Butte Nordic Center
19        Moonlight Snowshoe Tour, Crested Butte Mountain Resort
22        Citizens' Race - 20K Skate, Crested Butte Nordic Center
27        ArtWalk Evening, Studios & Galleries in Downtown Crested Butte
28        Drew Emmitt Band with Special Guest Spring Creek, CB Center for the Arts
29        CAMP Ski Mountaineering Race (Randonnee Rally), Crested Butte Mountain Resort
29        Gunnison Nordic Ski Fest, Hartman Rocks Multi-Use Recreation Area, Gunnison
30        Brunch at the Magic Meadows Yurt Hosted by Crested Butte Nordic Center
31        Second City: All-Stars Improv, Crested Butte Center for the Arts

Crested Butte Nordic Center pulls out all the stops for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing adventure in January.  

• A Learn to Skate Ski for Free! clinic will be offered at 1 p.m. on Jan. 6.
• Locals and visitors alike are welcome to participate in Citizens' Races on Jan. 8 (15K skiathlon), Jan. 15 (20K classic) and Jan. 22 (20K skate). Participants must register at the Nordic Center by 9:30 a.m. on race day. The cost is $12 for adults, $5 for ages 8 - 17, and free for ages 7 and under.
• Put on Nordic skis or snowshoes to attend the Full Moon Yurt Dinner on Jan. 19 and enjoy gourmet cuisine prepared by local chefs. It's an easy journey to Magic Meadows with dinner beginning at 6:30 p.m. The cost is $65 per person, which includes a trail pass and equipment rentals or $45 if you already have a pass and equipment. Kids under 12 cost $30.
• For dinner and "Skate Ski for Free" reservations and information about any of these events, call the Crested Butte Nordic Center at (970) 349-1707 or visit http://www.cbnordic.org/.

The Gunnison Nordic Club's annual Nordic Ski Fest also offers a chance to get on skinny skis for a day of ski racing and touring/skiing for all ages.  For information, visit http://www.gunnisonnordic.net/.  

Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) not only offers world-class skiing and riding, there's snowshoeing, tubing, ice skating, bungee trampolines, dining, shopping and great events.

• Take a snowcat ride to the top of Red Lady Express Lift and snowshoe on trails back to the base area during CBMR's Moonlight Snowshoe Tour on Jan. 19. The cost is $75 per person. Time to be announced.
• The CAMP Ski Mountaineering Race - Randonnee Rally on Jan. 29 requires competitors to ski their way up, down and across the ski area's legendary Extreme Limits terrain. The rally begins at 8 a.m. and is part of a U.S. series. Take part in or watch men's and women's racing and recreational divisions and team categories. Go to http://www.ussma.org/.
• Other January events include International Ski Federation Slalom Races, College Ski Week, Military Appreciation Week and USASA Half Pipe & Slopestyle Competitions.
• For information and reservations, call (970) 349-4554 or visit http://www.skicb.com/.

If that isn't enough, there are options for art, music, theatre and wedding planning.  

• Crested Butte Mountain Theatre's last evening of the comedy "A Tuna Christmas" will take place on Jan. 1 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $10 for students. Call (970) 349-0366 or visit http://www.cbmt.weebly.com/.
• To kick off the month right, enjoy great art in Gunnison at the First Friday Gallery Crawl & Music on Jan. 7 from 5 - 7 p.m. Refreshments, on-site artists and great socializing are highlights. Call Gunnison Gallery at (970) 641-6111 for information.
• Crested Butte Center for the Arts Winter Season offers three great performances in January: The Play-Ground Theatre Co.'s "Fairy Tale Theatre" on Jan. 15, Drew Emmitt Band with special guest Spring Creek on Jan. 28; and Second City - All-Stars Improv on Jan. 31. For times and ticket prices, visit http://www.crestedbuttearts.org/ or call (970) 349-7487.
• Gather great ideas at the Gunnison-Crested Butte Wedding Council's 9th annual Wedding Show on Jan. 16 from 2 - 5 p.m. at The Lodge at Mountaineer Square in Mt. Crested Butte. Meet all types of vendors, sample foods, enjoy music and check out the freebies. Crested Butte Mountain Resort is offering a rate of $129 for one night's lodging at Elevation Hotel and Spa for those attending. Visit http://www.gunnisoncrestedbutteweddings.com/.
• Check out the wide array of art galleries in downtown Crested Butte on Jan. 27 during ArtWalk Evening from 5 - 8 p.m. Light refreshments, music and on-site artists are featured at many of the locations. For more information, go to http://www.awearts.org/.

January Lodging & Ski Deals
The family-owned Nordic Inn in Mt. Crested Butte has a Winter Playtime package available from Jan. 3 - Feb. 18, 2011.  The deal for two people includes three nights lodging and two days skiing for only $618.00 ($309.00 per person).  Call (800) 542-7669 and visit http://www.nordicinncb.com/.

Break In Your New Gear This New Year with two nights lodging at The Ruby of Crested Butte bed and breakfast and two days of skiing at CBMR from Jan. 3 - 13, 2011, for $135 per person, per night.  Book before Christmas Day and receive an additional 10 percent off your stay. Or Wine Down from the Holidays at The Ruby from Jan. 19 - Feb. 4, 2011, and enjoy two nights' lodging, two lift tickets and a bottle of wine for $425.  Both packages include a gourmet breakfast served each morning of your stay.  Call (800) 390-1338 or visit http://www.therubyofcrestedbutte.com/.

The Three Great Resorts package is ideal for anyone driving over Monarch Pass to the Gunnison-Crested Butte area.  The package starts at $227 per person and includes three nights' lodging at Three Rivers Resort in Almont, two days of skiing/riding at Crested Butte Mountain Resort and one day of skiing/riding at Monarch Mountain. The deal is based on double occupancy in a lodge room featuring a queen-size bed, futon, kitchenette and full private bath, but additional lodging options and lengths of stay are available. Reservations must be received at least 48 hours in advance of stay, and the offer is valid from Jan. 3 - Feb. 19, 2011 and March 27 - April 3, 2011.  

Through Crested Butte Lodging & Property Management, enjoy Grand Lodge Savings of 15 percent off stays of two to three nights and 20 percent off visits of four or more nights in this Mt. Crested Butte property from Jan. 2 - Feb. 17, 2011.  Visit http://www.crestedbuttelodging.com/ or call (888) 412-7310.

Enjoy some of the best conditions of the season and an additional night of lodging and day of skiing for free with Crested Butte Mountain Resort's 4th Night & 4th Day Free package.  Purchase three nights' lodging and three days of lift tickets between Jan. 3 - March 10, 2011, and receive a fourth night of lodging and fourth day of skiing free. Blackout dates apply. Call Crested Butte Vacations at (800) 600-2803 or visit http://www.skicb.com/.

The Old Town Inn in Crested Butte is offering a Height of Winter package offered from Jan. 3 - 27, 2011, that includes daily lift tickets, lodging, breakfast and other hotel amenities (homemade cookies fresh from the oven each afternoon, high-speed wireless, etc.) for only $116 per person, per night for double occupancy and $93 per person, per night for a family of four in a two-queen room. If you would prefer to substitute another winter activity with this package, no problem! Call (888) 349-6184 or visit http://www.oldtowninn.net/.