(Locals) best of the mountain

Crested Butte has always been full of hard-chargers when it comes to skiing and riding (and plenty of other sports). We tracked down some of our biggest snow fans in town to share their insider scoop and recommendations.  —Katherine Nettles

John Norton

former CBMR CEO

Years in CB:  28

Go-to run(s): Funnel, Spellbound to Staircase, and the Headwall. I love, love, love the Headwall. I like to do it first thing after getting off the Queen. People will often say “Let’s warm up first,” and I say by the time we ride the T-Bar and ski the Halfpipe, we’ll be warmed up! As I get older, I find I can’t ski those runs all day and find myself seeking out slightly goofball, out of the way runs where I can rest up. The bumps underneath Paradise at the top. Skier’s left of Gold Link, taking a hard right on Gus’ Way off the Teo Lift, the Smith Hill bumps. Columbine Hill. Favorites to end the day are Sylvanite and Buckley. Buckley always seems to hold some of the best snow on the mountain, and I can’t explain why.

Favorite ski memory: So many. After a boozy dinner at Twister, foregoing the cat ride down the mountain and zipping into body bags to slide down instead. Putting in the North Face lift. Seeing the Allman Brothers at the Rafters, (Dickie Betts played for two-and-a-half hours and I don’t remember him once opening his eyes). Trying to ride my 26” mountain bike down Crystal, which was stupider than the body bag trip. Starting the uphill program in 2002 when there were just a handful of us doing it. And maybe the best was helping teach our three daughters to ski, and them all going on to compete in the US Extremes. One, Liz, went on to win the Colorado Freeski Championship in the early 2000s.

Favorite aprés: Hard to answer! My favorites are extinct: Rafters, Artichoke, and Avalanche. My vision of a perfect aprés is music, standing up, hanging with people I didn’t necessarily ski with, and sometimes dancing in ski boots. We now offer what I call a subdued aprés. I’ll sometimes stop at Elevation or A Bar Above for a drink, but both are a far cry from what we had back in the day!

Ben Somrak

6th generation Crested Buttian and local builder

Years in CB: Born and raised!

Go-to run(s): While it’s undoubtable that the dynamic of the almighty powder day here has changed over the years as front rangers and tourists from afar flock to our incredible mountain, growing up here I had my fresh powder morning routine. Get in line first thing in the morning at the Silver Queen and head straight to the High Lift. Sure, everyone else is going all the way to the top to get some Headwall or Teo Bowl action, but me? I’m quickly getting off at midway and quickly traversing to the skiers left of Paradise Cliffs for about 12 short-n-sweet, deep and untouched turns, knowing my sacrifice for the shorter run is about to pay off since I’ll be headed up the North Face lift before everyone else that went for their longer first run. In hopes that the Million Dollar access is open, I’ll head straight out to Phoenix Steps for some steep and deep fun and if the mood and timing is right… it’s time to disregard the blazing orange large signs warning you of ‘cliff area’ (it’s true) and try my luck straight down Dead End Chutes for some technical and carefully thought out billy-goat style skiing to top off a great first run.

Favorite aprés: After the day is done, it’s always fun to meet up with friends on the patio of Jose for a drink or head to town for an early-belly-up-to-the-bar at Ryce for some affordable and awesome dinner and drinks. Go early and beat the crowds, your patience and rumbling stomach will thank you later.

Advice: You don’t have to be extreme or an adventure freak to simply enjoy all the mountain has to offer. The front side is going to be nice and quiet on a powder day, and while all the crazy locals are tearing up the extreme limits, you can have long runs like International all to yourself and lap the front side in peace and serenity with incredible views of the magical town below.  Or for more intermediate skiers and those with their young kids like I have in tow these days, head over to Prospect for some scenic and mellow runs that have just the right amount of pitch to have some fun on. The side stashes are always good!

Andy Eflin

son of ski area founder

Years in CB: Born and raised!

Go-to run(s): Eflin’s Way (named for his father) then back up the High Lift to Morning Glory in Teo Bowl.

Favorite aprés spot: Jose’s for a $5 PBR tall boy and crab wontons at Ryce.

Favorite ski memory: Going on ski/snow picnics with my family on Mt. CB. One time my brother and I jumped off a rock near Aspen Park Road and got stuck in the powder so badly that our parents had to help dig us out.

Erica Rasmussen

director of Snowsports Foundation

Years in CB: 14

Go-to run(s): Now that I have two kiddos starting to love to ski, hot laps on Painter Boy are our family favorite! But if I’m cruising alone I love my own hot laps on International because it’s fast, fun and beautiful!

Favorite aprés spot: Pizza at the Secret Stash is great for families, or dinner at the Public House if it’s a date night! Also, the Umbrella Bar in the afternoon on sunny days is fun for everyone!

Favorite ski memory: I’ll never forget my first time hiking and skiing the peak. I truly felt like I was on top of the world. I’m so excited for my kids to ski it with me someday!

Advice: There is so much history behind our ski area and so much to learn, from all the mountains that surround us to the history behind all the trail names! As a parent, it’s really fun to share that with my kids. For visitors who want to learn more about our area, stopping by the Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum on Elk Avenue will be worth your while!

“Soozie Chapstick”

leisure pro

Years in CB: 33 

Go-to run(s): Depends on the day and the time of year… there are so many-—lots I can’t divulge 😉 Whether it’s a powder day, bright sunshine corn or a flat light hard pack day I make the most of multiple go-tos all season.

And for real, I don’t really know all the names of the ski runs after so many years so I make them up – we have fun with that.

It’s always exciting when the run that passes Twister Warming House (aka Uley’s Cabin) opens up after doing hot laps on the same run off Red Lady Lift before we have enough snow to open up other parts of the mountain. Double Top Glades is always an early season favorite before the t-bars start spinning. Once the t-bars are open the world is our oyster and the go-tos are endless.

Favorite ski memory:  Pretty much any rope drop I’ve gotten with my friends or family, hooting and hollering as we ski down an untracked field of pow sharing the same groove and rush of excitement.

Favorite après: Anywhere you can go to at the base is a good option for different reasons. I mix it up throughout the winter. There used to be more options for us ski bums (dollar slices at the Bakery, Budweisers on the deck at the old Saloon on a sunny spring afternoon or the expanding table of friends taking over the Avalanche) but we still have some good drinks and eats to enjoy after a fun day of swooshing down the slopes.