Flurry of Snowshoeing Fun in Gunnison-Crested Butte, Colorado

Gourmet yurt dining, photography workshops, guided tours and new trails

GUNNISON-CRESTED BUTTE, Colo. (December 27, 2011) - A flurry of snowshoeing opportunities are happening this winter in Gunnison-Crested Butte, located in the beautiful Rocky Mountains in southwest Colorado.  Not only can snowshoeing be learned quickly by all ages, it's a terrific option for accessing outstanding subject matter for photographers and dining opportunities for gourmands and seeing the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.

Gourmet Dining on Snowshoes
Hop on a pair of 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 Jan. 1, Feb. 5 and March 18 from 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and costs $25 for adults and $10 for kids under age 12 (ski passes and rentals are extra).  Moonlight Yurt Dinner Tours are scheduled for Dec. 23; Jan. 14; Feb. 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).  Go to www.cbnordic.org or call (970) 349-1707 for reservations and all the details.

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. For times, equipment needed and registration, go to www.crestedbuttearts.org.

• January 22 - Let the Right Light In (Fane) & New Moon Milky Way (Czerwinski)
• 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
During Crested Butte Mountain Resort's Moonlight Snowshoe Tours on Jan. 9, Feb. 7, March 8 and April 6, enjoy the thrill of snowshoeing moonlit mountain trails after being transported by a 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.  Also check out the daily snowshoe tour of Snodgrass Mountain from 1- 4 p.m. that includes transportation.  The cost for all tours is $75 per person.  For information and reservations, call (970) 349-4554 or visit http://www.skicb.com/. 

For the first time, the Crested Butte Nordic Center will be offering backcountry snowshoe tours during the 2011/2012 season on Tuesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.  The tours cost $65 per person and will take participants to the beautiful Gothic, Washington Gulch or Slate River areas.  The Nordic Center also plans to introduce a marked snowshoe trails.  Go to www.cbnordic.org or call (970) 349-1707 for reservations.  Crested Butte Mountain Guides also offers backcountry snowshoeing adventures; visit http://www.crestedbutteguides.com/.

Western State College of Colorado's popular Wednesdays at Western has expanded to include winter.  A Snowshoeing Outing in the Woods led by Karen Immerso will be offered on Jan. 25 from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.  First-timers are encouraged to participate as beginner tips will be offered and a gentle pace set for the group. Transportation from WSC's campus to Gunnnison area trails and a sack lunch are included in the $25 cost but not equipment.  To register, call (800) 876 5309, ext 7.

Popular places to snowshoe in the Gunnison area are Hartman Rocks Multi-Use Recreation area and Mill Creek Trail.  Nearby, at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, located between Gunnison and Montrose, park rangers will lead a 2 ½ hour snowshoe tour every Saturday at 10 a.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. from Jan. 21 through March 4.  Snowshoes are available to borrow at no charge.  Call (970) 249-1914, ext. 423 for reservations and more information. 

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 with flights from Denver and during the winter season by American Airlines and Continental 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. 

Year-round 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 College, 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.

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 better-known communities of Gunnison, Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte.  Gunnison County is part of the West Elk Loop and Silver Thread Scenic & Historic Byways.

[###]

For a Word version of this press release, click on the link below

Contact:  

Beth Buehler    
Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association  
(970) 349-1168 or bethbuehler@qwestoffice.net  
www.GunnisonCrestedButte.com