Searching for Home

In early October our adventure went through sharp transition.  The signs were everywhere, winter was coming.  Life in the van and on the trail was going  to get real cold very soon.  Initially I thought we'd spend a leisurely month exploring Colorado and down into New Mexico looking for places to live eventually settling in sometime in late November.  It was obvious that the time to pick a ski town was sooner that later.  If we waited too long not only would we be spending some very cold nights at 10,000 feet but all the good jobs and places to live would be snatched up.

We rolled into Wellington to visit Gavin & Sheila at their new house. Wellington was sunny and warm and we just moseyed  around town exploring good places to eat and the pumpkin patch.  Their new house is incredible and we had lots of time to visit and prepare for the next phase of the journey.

I'd been working on a list since summer so we had some idea of where to start but there are just so many good options deciding on the one would be difficult.  Fortunately, several friends we would visit while in Colorado were not shy about advice or opinions on the best place to spend the winter.  Among the top candidates were - Wolf Creek, Carbondale (Aspen), Crested Butte, Telluride, Taos, Jackson and Squaw.

After Wellington we made a few stops in the Boulder/Nederland area, not because Boulder is high on the list, the Front Range seems too crowded, but that's where many of our friends are.  We were treated to some amazing hiking, free mountain biking (thanks Dale & Staci), a little town action in Boulder and lots of hospitality from everyone we were able to meet - Thank you all!  Despite the dense population in the area I was very impressed with all the cool stuff going on.  If someday we need to move back to a bigger city Boulder will certainly be on the list of candidates.

Front Range Hiking

The next consideration was Carbondale with Aspen close by.  Charlie & Elizabeth were very generous to host us for several days and show us all the great parts of their town.  It's a low key small town with great mtb riding nearby, hot springs on the river, beautiful mountains all around, 4 world class fly-fishing rivers and of course Aspen.  It was hard not to plant ourselves right then but gut instinct said, keep looking.

Charlie ripping Red Hill

As we crossed Kebler Pass through the largest aspen grove in Colorado (considered to be a single organism, one of the largest in the world) we were were back on familiar ground - dirt roads winding slowly through amazing mountain scenery with limitless opportunities to stop and explore.  We woke up in a campground near Crested Butte to fresh flakes.  As we went into town and flakes continued to fall both of us knew this could be a sign.

Fist Snow in Crested Butte

It took us a while to make the decision because there were still a number of places high on the list we hadn't explored.  Wolf Creek gets incredible snow, more than any resort in Colorado.  Telluride has amazing terrain and a cool town.  Taos is supposed to be in the El Nino path this year.  But we were starting to feel pressure.  Rooms were being rented quickly.  Hiring for the season was nearing a close.  Snowfall was beginning to pile up.

We spent some time exploring town, talking to friends, looking at available housing and everything was in our favor.  The mountain looks like a play ground!  One third of the terrain is designated "extreme limits" which just shouts adventure skiing.  I'm sure there will be "crowded" days but nothing compared to Alpy on a pow morning.  Snowfall was a big question mark (300in annual) but the El Nino forecast is promising for this area and locals claim the backcountry gets significantly more snow because Mt. CB is actually in a rain shadow.  Housing was available and affordable.  We may need to bring in a roommate to keep expenses low but we are far from the 10 person houses I lived at during college.  Ski town jobs seem to be in good supply.  We just need to seek out the ones that have higher pay.  The town is small and quaint.  We are already running into people we've met at different places.  We have some local connections here, friends from past adventures.  And the valley is full of opportunities - limitless backountry, nordic in town, a plethora of rivers, biking here & down valley (where it's warmer) and countless other activities.

Our new home

The details go on and on but that's the sum of factors that influenced our final decision.  As for the others on the list,  well, I can justify each; Wolf Cr. - mountain is far from town & somewhat flat, Telluride is expensive, Squaw will be a mad house, Taos has limited BC and so on.  Could there be a better place for us?  Maybe.  But I'll bet it's like most things, not better just different.  We will be very happy here in Crested Butte.

Mt. CB