CRESTED BUTTE SKI RESORT JOBS

Crested Butte Area Profile
Winter Activities
Summer Activities
Après-ski
Transportation
Housing
Crested Butte Ski Area Employment

• Ski areas: Crested Butte Ski Resort
• Population: 1,200
• Road conditions: (303) 639-1111, www.cotrip.org
• Snow report: (970) 349-2323 or Crested Butte Snow Report
• Annual snowfall: 300"
• Ski season: Mid-November-early April
• Chamber of Commerce: (970) 349-6438 or (800) 545-4505
• Average cost 1-bedroom apartment: $400-$450 + utilities
• Cost of adult 1-day lift ticket: $39 - $79 (2006/2007 season)
• Local newspaper: Crested Butte Chronicle & Pilot, (970) 349-6114; Crested Butte Mountain Sun, (970) 349-6124

Crested Butte Ski Area Profile

There are no flashy ski outfits at Crested Butte, nor are there sequined gowns or celebrity hype. Crested Butte is casual and comfortable—period. The friendliness of this resort is contagious, and the atmosphere very down-to-earth. The locals are mainly '60s refugees, and the stores, hotels, and restaurants resemble a rejuvenated ghost town. The town of Crested Butte is actually a National Historic District that is located three miles from the actual ski area, Mt. Crested Butte.

Winter Activities

Skiing at Mt. Crested Butte allows room for everyone: 13 percent of the runs are marked beginner, 29 percent intermediate, and 58 percent expert. Experts will find that the area believes strongly in "skiing by nature," as there is very limited maintenance on expert runs. Mt. Crested Butte has a 3,062-foot vertical drop and plenty of cross-country tracks for the Nordic skier. Irwin's Lodge in Gunnison National Forest, twelve miles west of Crested Butte and just a one-hour snowmobile ride away, offers great snowcat skiing and a powder playground.

Other non-ski activities available during the winter include horse-drawn sleigh rides, ice fishing, dogsledding, and snowshoeing. Mountain barbecues, wine and cheese tasting parties, and other events are scheduled throughout the winter months. The resort offers a health club complete with Jacuzzis, aerobics classes, and weight equipment.

Summer Activities

Late May through September brings activities ranging from adrenaline -pumping whitewater rafting trips and near-vertical rock-climbing to stream fly-fishing or hot-air ballooning. Bring a camera to capture the beauty of the area, designated by the governor as the "Wildflower Capital of Colorado." Mountain biking is the sport of choice for most summer residents and visitors. There are plenty of trails, and the lifts are open for transporting one's bike up the mountain. Other special events include the Fat Tire Bike Week and Aerial Weekend, (970) 349-6438, and many other outdoor music and arts festivals. In the words of one insider, "In southwestern Colorado you can find anything you want. It's a multi-recreational outdoors extravaganza."

Après-ski

Crested Butte has more excellent, affordable restaurants in town than any other western resort. The Slogar appeals to homemade tastes and has antique Victorian decor. The Artichoke is a fern bar à la California with moderate prices and a local clientele. For fast and inexpensive food, try the Butte Bagels Feed Shack.

There are numerous bars and nightclubs in town. Donita's Cantina serves strong, huge margaritas, and The Idle Spur has its own microbrewery. The younger set wanders from bar to bar, but usually gravitates to Talk of the Town or Rafters, which are within walking distance of most lodges.

Transportation

Crested Butte is easily reached by flying into Gunnison Airport via major airlines such as American, Delta, Continental Express, or United Express. The airport is twenty-eight miles from the resort and Alpine Express, (800) 822-4844, can handle that portion of your trip for about $30. Another option is going via Greyhound/Trailways, (970) 641-0060, into Gunnison.

A car is not a necessity to get around town, but it is for any sightseeing further than the ski area. Gas is so expensive that many locals and seasonal workers hitchhike from home to work or to the slopes. A free shuttle transports visitors and locals every fifteen minutes from 7:15 am to midnight.

Housing

There is limited employee housing available in the county, so it is provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Shared employee housing usually costs about $200 per month, not including utilities. The other options are finding an apartment near the ski area at Mt. Crested Butte, three miles north of town, or thirty miles south in Gunnison. Also try checking the bulletin boards at McDells and the Butte Bagels Feed Shack. For more information about rentals, call one of the following rental agencies: Crested Butte Property Management, (800) 945-0184, www.cbprop.com

Crested Butte Ski Area Employment

Winter hiring begins September 1, with a job fair taking place in early October. Summer hiring begins in mid-May. Approximately 1,100 people are hired to work in the winter and over 150 for the summer season. Crested Butte Mountain Resort employs almost all the seasonal workers during winter, and the personnel department posts a list of available jobs. You can also contact other hotels, restaurants, and stores for additional employment opportunities. Visit Crested Butte Employment Website.

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