The mountains surrounding Crested Butte offer a wide range of backcountry skiing adventures for skiers that “earn their turns”. Popular nearby tours include Red Lady bowl, which towers above town, Coney’s up Washington Gulch, and Snodgrass near the ski area. The mountains near Kebler Pass/ Irwin and Paradise Divide regularly receive the most snowfall in Colorado, averaging 500-600″ a year, comparing favorably to places like Utah’s Little Cottonwood canyon but without the crowds. Some of these areas are best accessed with a snowmobile. Backcountry skiers should seek instruction in avalanche safety and navigation before venturing into the backcountry- our local Irwin Guides are a great place to start. I am an avid backcountry skier (see the photo below) and I am always happy to share my extensive knowledge of the local mountains. For more information, you can check out the website that my wife and I run (14erskiers.com), and take a look at the book we wrote!
