My favorite resort

Crested Butte is my favorite resort and will probably remain so for the forseable future.  Why?  because of the extreme variety of skiing available.  A single run from top to bottom can have you skiing steep terrain with multiple intersecting fall lines full of rock bands, tight trees, ice, powder, crud, wind slab, coral, slush, bumps, stumps and  rocks then onto groomed and ungroomed black runs, blue groomers and long wide green groomers you can rip nice carves on.  Now that is my kind of skiing.  

This resort is thought of by many as a resort for only fools like me but that is not the case.  There is far more high speed lift serviced beautiful wide green runs at this resort than Alta/Snowbird or Jackson Hole. Some of the greens can seem steep but the trails are wide and they ski easy.  Many of the green runs are in areas where you have little high speed traffic ripping through.

The Silver Queen lift is a high speed all the way to nearly the top from the base area.  From there an intermediate has a green trail and blue runs all the way back to the base area.  Views from many areas are the best in Colorado with several peaks over 14k.

The trail map rating is like any other resort in that the rating is specific to CB. I would really call it lower intermediate and up. Blues will seem challenging to upper intermediates and black diamonds with seem challenging to many advanced skiers.  Some of the black diamonds are steeper than some of the double black diamond areas. 

Early season can have most of the extreme limits closed as it takes a lot of snow to cover those areas. Better middle to late season as the resort is high in elevation.  Local knowledge is good to have in the exteme areas as you may find yourself in a situation where you are in over your head terrain wise or energy/strength wise.  Visibility of entire runs in the extreme areas is next to impossible as the terrain variation precludes seeing much of what you are electing to ski.   Once commited to a run you will find traversing out or climbing out to be very difficult.  There is a local trail map and explanations of the extreme limits that can be purchased that is not part of the trail maps.  First time skiers to CB would be wise to purchase one of these maps.  Do not venture off the beaten path without a buddy skier with you.  There are many areas inbound where help may not easily find you.

The kids program is good  for all levels.  I put my daughter into a couple of all day programs which freed me up to ski the extremes.  Yes, they will take your kid into some difficult terrain if that is what you want and your child is eager and capable.

Night life in town is not all that great but some spots can be had.  There is virtually nothing in Gunnison.  Many accomodations are close to the slopes but elevations for sleeping are at 9000+ feet.

I will return to Crested Butte as I cannot in all honesty stay away even if you can't get there from here.  The skiing is simply the best variety anywhere.