March 25, 2009 - Just back from Crested Butte, Colorado after an excellent Spring Break getaway! We had never been to Crested Butte and were pleasantly surprised when we arrived to find a quaint little mountain town similar to what I remember Breckenridge was like before it became so commercialized.
Crested Butte is located about 25 miles north of Gunnison (if you don't know where Gunnison is, time to pull out your globe)... It too about 4 and a half hours to get there from Denver, but the drive is spectacular. As Ellen commented, it was a much nicer road to travel than simply getting on an interstate and setting the cruise control. We saw elk and deer along the way and some beautiful Colorado back country.
The boys picked up where they left off in Steamboat and both took another lesson on the slopes. Connor started the day as a level two and finished as a level four. We were fortunate that the crowds were small so his "group" lesson turned out to only include him. So he essentially had a private lesson. Lucky guy! But he is now linking turns and riding heel side or toe side equally well. For those that know, that's pretty darn good for a kid who has been on a board for exactly two days! Ryan started the day on as a level two skier and finished as a level three! He is now able to ski in a snow plow, stop himself at will, and can turn and navigate through a set of cones. Huge progress for Ryan in such a short time! We are very proud of both of them!
The kids all enjoyed a nice dip in the hot tub after hitting the slopes for some well deserved relaxation. Ellen and Randy even had a chance to read a book (a fleeting luxury these days) while the kids entertained each other.
Other highlights in case you find yourself in Crested Butte in the future... The Secret Stash is a must if passing through... A little hard to find, but great pizza and local dishes (try the Philly cheese steak pizza) and Camp 4 Coffee makes a mean cup of cocoa, and avoid Donita's Mexican Food (we think they just misspelled their name "Don't Eat Us") not good!
