MT. CRESTED BUTTE (12,162’)

July 24, 2018

By Tim Briese

1.6 miles, 800’ elevation gain, 1:30 roundtrip time

I needed an easy climb today, as I was feeling weak and fatigued, and Brian graciously agreed that we climb Mt. Crested Butte. It turned out to be a great choice and made for a fun outing. We went to the Adventure Lodge at the Mt. Crested Butte Ski Area and purchased lift tickets for the Silver Queen lift for 23 dollars each. We boarded the lift nearby and took a ride of about fifteen minutes to the top of the lift at about 11,500’ where we disembarked.

mt crested butte is a dramatic looking peak from the ski village

the silver queen lift

a sign at the top of the lift describing the trail to the summit

brian at the beginning of the trail

At 1020 we began the short hike to the top on an excellent trail. There were lots of other people doing the same thing. The dirt trail took us up to a minor saddle then dropped down a bit before going up the rough and rocky southeast ridge of the peak on blocky talus.

on the trail

approaching the rocky southeast ridge

scrambling up the ridge to the top

We arrived on top at about 11. The small summit was crowded with climbers, including a group of about 50 teenagers from a youth camp in Gunnison who were coming up to the top in shifts. The summit offered spectacular views of the surrounding landscape.

on the summit, with the town of crested butte below to the left, and the mt. crested butte ski area to the right

some of the numerous climbers on the summit

brian on top

After fifteen minutes we left and headed back down, returning to the top of the lift at 1150.

heading back down the ridge

waves of climbers coming up the popular trail

a nice view of crested butte from the chairlift

Back down at the ski village we enjoyed a nice lunch on the patio of the Avalanche Grill, completing a nice outing which was just what the doctor ordered.