Crested Butte News Fall Guide 2011

photo by Alex Fenlon

| Crested Butte News |

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2011

2 | Fall 2011 Crested Butte NewsWEEKLY FALL GUIDE

[ BY DAWNE BELLOISE ]

“Through the fi re, to the limit, to the wall. For a chance to be with you, I’d gladly risk it all...” – Chaka Khan

“I am the scapegoat and I release your fears, your woes, your deepest worries. I am one of the most ancient archetypes known to humanity,” says the Great Grump with an edgy voice.

“But sadly, I’m not well thought of in this community mostly because peo-ple don’t understand me. They think I’m the cause of all their problems but they just don’t get that I’m the one who bravely walks through the fi re for them. I’m the one who sacrifi ces so they can have a year of better days and deep powder.”

And there’s certainly a large ele-ment of truth in the Grump’s empha-sized words if one sets aside prejudice. Since the dawn of man there have always been scapegoats. The very meaning of the term is derived from biblical times when fetishes (like corn dolls) and things were tied to an actual goat, which was beloved and precious to the villagers, and then sent out “beyond the pale.” If you went beyond the pale, which was beyond the village borders, you weren’t safe anymore. “You’d be out there in the wilderness and vulnerable. Scapegoats were sacri-fi ces and basically left for wild beasties to devour to appease the powers that be, for atonement,” explains the coura-geous Grump.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

The Grump

PROFILE:


Crested Butte News Fall 2011 | 3WEEKLY FALL GUIDE

Powderhorn Cattle Ranch & Prime Elk Hunting 900 Acres! Newly listed 283 acre year-round cattle ranch with 100 acres irrigated hay meadow, pasture for cows & horses, nice ranch style home, 3 equipment buildings + smaller home for rent-al or guests. Over 1/2 mile of nice fi shing water, great water rights, 30 minutes to Gunnison AND over 900 acre big elk high country hunting ground with fully-equipped cabin that sleeps 10 people within close proximity to the main ranch! Buy both and own it all for your Rocky Mountain dream! $4,500,000 subject to Seller’s 1031 exchange.

15.93 Acres/Multi Use on the Gunnison River. Situated on the West end of Gunnison with 300 ft river frontage. Property boasts two large trout ponds. Restaurant/bar building area totals 6,295 square feet. Finished cabin includes carport and wood deck and granite countertops. FOUR additional cabins [partially fi nished include attached carports and wood decks]. Approval is in place for development of additional 6 more living structures. Price just reduced to: $1,495,000. Motivated seller will fi -nance with substantial down payment, terms negotiable.

Specializing in Gunnison Colorado sales & service since 1977

970.641.1088www.MindyLand.com and [email protected]

MINDY also specializes in golf club communities, home building sites, condos, townhomes & distinctive riverfront properties!

So Rare - Best of Both Worlds

Fall is here, the trails are amazing, get out and ride!

still thinking of that new bike?GREAT BIKES ON SALE NOW!

...lots of other great stuff on sale too!

Big al’s will be open for the fall season, see shop for current hours.

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s t a f f

PublishersJill Hickey & Melissa Ruch

eDiTOriAlThan Acuff

Alissa JohnsonSeth Mensing Mark ReamanMelissa Ruch

cOnTribuTOrsDawne BelloiseMolly Murfee

Polly Oberosler

PhOTOgrAPhersAlex FenlonKurt Reise

grAPhic DesignTyler Hansen

Jill HickeyNicky O’Connor

ADverTisTingKimberly Metsch

cOPyrighTNo part of this publication can be

reproduced without the written consent of the publishers.

Crested Butte News, Inc.PO BOX 369, Crested Butte, CO 81224

970.349.0500 Tel / 970.349.9876 Faxwww.crestedbuttenews.com

www.thepeakcb.com

The Crested Butte News’ Fall Guide is published annually by the Crested Butte News, P.O. Box 369, Crested Butte, Colorado. For infor-mation about the Fall Guide, contact (970) 349-0500 or e-mail [email protected]. For information about advertising in the guide,

contact Kimberly Metsch at [email protected].

Copyright 2010, The Crested Butte News, Inc., All rights reserved.

WhAT’s InsIde:

Big Game: fall Hunting Guide-pages 14-15

Last Cast: fall fishing-pages 12-13

fall event Highlights and Calendar-pages 5 and 9

A sAmPling Of


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There’s a sense of promise in the first yellow leaves scattered across the trail—a tiding of seasons to come. Whether you’re a hiker or a biker, or take in the foliage through a camera lens, there’s no excuse for missing fall in Crested Butte. We asked the local experts for their favorite places to view the colors.

On two wheels: Strand Hill-Bonus TrailJohn Chandler, president of Crested Butte Mountain Bike Asso-

ciation, rode Strand in early September, and “as far as good leaves go, that will be going off.”

Access via the Strand/Ferris road is open, and cooler temps will make for a cooler climb.

From the saddle: Beckwith PassHorsepacking up the trail between the Beckwith Mountains can’t

be beat, according to Chuck Saunders at Fantasy Ranch. “You’re in the largest aspen grove that there is, there are great

views, great color and you get to see the Castles when you get to the top,” he says.

Through the lens: Dark Canyon TrailAccess the Dark Canyon from Horse Creek Ranch or Erickson

Springs for what photographer J.C. Leacock calls the best of both worlds: open vistas and tight compositions under the canopy of aspens.

“It has a lot of fall color and trees along the way, but when you get to the viewpoints the colors can be spectacular,” he says.

Go in the morning or evening to shoot the more intimate land-scapes, he says, but look for the diffuse light of cloudy days for close-up compositions.

On foot: Rustler’s Gulch“Rustler’s Gulch is still incredibly green and lush right now for

so late in the year,” says Jayson Simons-Jones of Crested Butte Moun-tain Guides.

Access Rustler’s Gulch off of Gothic Road for a great day hike and some late-season color.

En plein air: West Brush Creek RoadAs you reach out Brush Creek Road, look for a secondary road to

the left just as you hit the end of the improved road. It’s a little steep at first, says pleine aire artist Shaun Horne, but it’s worth hauling your supplies to the top—the aspens are unbelievable.

“I like how aspens create big yellow poofs,” Horne says. “Out East you have individual trees that change [one at a time], but the aspens, they create different colored clumps and that’s really fun.”

A trail for every occasion.


[ by Alissa Johnson ]


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Fall Event highlights

September 15-18, 22-25—CBMT presents Charlie Cox Runs with Scissors at the Mallardi Cabaret Theatre

Charlie Cox Runs with Scissors is a romantic comedy fantasy by Michael McKeever and directed by Richard Dobbin. When Charlie Cox learns that he has an incur-able disease, he gets into his car and starts driving. In the Arizona desert, he picks up a hitchhiker, a sarcastic guy named Wally. Wally reveals some strange things about himself and about his special relationship to Charlie. Then Charlie meets Nell, an attractive widow who oper-ates a rundown motel in the desert, and then a mysteri-ous blind lady arrives. Soon, a battle ensues between Death and Love. The play, a “dramedy,” will keep you laughing and surprised by its twists and turns as Charlie learns a lesson about living life to its fullest. Call the Mountain Theatre at 349-0366 for tickets.

September 23—The Attack of La Niña, Match-stick Productions’ Latest Ski Movie, Crested Butte Center for the Arts

Crested Butte-based Matchstick Productions will present its latest feature-length ski movie, The Attack of La Niña, in its hometown as part of a 200-plus-stop world tour.

Showings will be at 5, 7 and 9 p.m. Doors open a half-hour early, and the cost is $10. Go to http://www.skimovie.com/. The film is a recap of one of the longest and deepest North Amer-ican winters on record, served up courtesy of the worldwide weather phenomenon known as La Niña. Filming took place everywhere storms were served up in North America, including Alyeska, Alaska; Terrace, B.C.; Aspen; Whistler, B.C.; Breckenridge; Mammoth Mountain, Calif.; Stevens Pass, Wash.; and many other world-class destinations. The cast of included many of the best skiers of this era: Sean Pettit, Bobby Brown, Mark Abma, Henrik Windstedt, Richard Permin, Gus Kenworthy, Eric Hjorleifson, Ingrid Backstrom, Russ Henshaw, Colby West, James Heim, Cody Townsend, Rory Bushfield, Callum Pettit, Jacob Wester, Alex Schlopy, and 15-year-old sensation Torin Yater-Wallace.

September 24—Crested Butte Fall Colors Classic (1/2 marathon) presented by Gunnison Valley Health Foundation

The Crested Butte Fall Color Classic is a beautiful half marathon from Kebler Pass down Ohio Pass during the peak of the changing aspen leaves. This race is almost entirely on dirt roads with only about 100 feet of pavement. The descent offers breathtaking views of the Ohio Creek Valley, but don’t be fooled as it’s not all downhill! Registration is available on www.ac-tive.com. The cost is $50. Shuttles will be provided to the start and from the finish, with the race beginning at 9 a.m. Please call (970) 642-8406 with questions.

September 29—Spring Creek Bluegrass Concert, Crested Butte Center for the ArtsCrisp, seamless and contagiously energetic, the Spring Creek Bluegrass Band honors

Crested Butte with its release party for the band’s newest CD. Maintaining a deep respect for the bluegrass tradition with classic standards, while demonstrating an innate sense of musi-cal innovation with compelling originals, Spring Creek Bluegrass startled the bluegrass world when they became the first band to win both the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and Rocky Grass Festival band contests back-to-back. They’ve been taking the nation by storm ever since. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Center for the Arts box office at (970) 349-7487, ext. 3 or by go-ing online to http://www.crestedbuttearts.org/.

September 29—ArtWalk Evening, Studios and Galleries in Crested Butte

To wrap up the month in style, from June to Septem-ber, Crested Butte’s ArtWalk Evenings bring art enthusi-asts on a tour of the galleries on the last Thursday evening from 5 to 8 p.m. Light refreshments, music and on-site artists are featured at many of the locations. ArtWalk Eve-nings also take place December through March. For a list of participating galleries, go tohttp://www.awearts.org/.

September 29-October 2—Crested Butte Film Festival, Various Gunnison and Crested Butte loca-tions

Films, discussions and merriment are on tap for this new festival that takes place during one of the prime leaf-viewing weekends of fall. Look for Academy Award nominees, films from Cannes and Sundance and many unknown gems. Most of the films will be Colorado pre-mieres. The festival kicks off on September 29 with “Sneak Peek Gunnison,” with a double feature of movies show-ing at the Gunnison Arts Center and the Ruby Theatre,

located on the campus of Western State College of Colorado. For information, visit http://www.crestedbuttefilmfestival.org/ or call (303) 204-9080.

September 30-October 1—Western State College Homecoming, GunnisonWestern State College is celebrating 100 years of educating students and is going to pull

out all the stops for this year’s homecoming. On September 30, there will be a golf outing and a Pre-Victory Party and traditional lighting of the “W” on the mountainside beginning at 7 p.m. at the Aspinall-Wilson Center. This event includes a live band, fireworks and lots of good cheer. A bonfire follows at 9 p.m. at the Mountaineer Bowl Parking lot. Saturday’s Homecom-ing events begin at 8 a.m. with a president’s breakfast at the College Center, followed by the Homecoming Parade at 10 a.m. along Main Street and tours of the newly renovated Taylor Hall at 11:30 a.m. All day there are games to watch, including rugby, lacrosse, football against New Mexico Highlands, and volleyball against Adams State College. For a full schedule and costs of various activities, visit www.westernalum.org/events.

Charlie Cox Runs with Scissors. photo by Alex Fenlon

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With the haying done and summer coming to a close, ranchers get back in the saddle in the fall when it comes time to gather their cattle in the high country and start them for home. It is something they all look forward to. Up until the late 1980s most cattle were grazed in large “pools” on public lands consisting of perhaps as many as six ranching operations. The cattle were gathered and “pooled” at an outpost on the range known as a “cow camp.” Today, with the ranching industry somewhat smaller, many ranchers do not graze in pools but have individual grazing permits. They gather cattle in the fall from the grazing permits to a smaller pasture on the edge of the range.

Gathering cattle on a summer range is enjoyable work for the cowboys—sitting on a horse during the cool sunny fall days is in the blood of every one of them. While enjoyable, it can often be dangerous work. The ground can be slick with frozen mud or unstable slide rock on the side of a ridge near timberline. The cows may also be bedded down in thick timber, with a maze of downed trees the cowboy must fi nd a way to get a horse through safely.

During the summer, cattle are coaxed into alternating areas of the range with the use of salt. Blocks are strategi-cally placed to ensure the cattle move and do not over-graze a specifi c area. The salt also helps keep them out of riparian areas as much as possible. Come fall, groups of cattle will be nearby the salt blocks and therefore easier to gather. The salt locations become a help in the fall because a majority of the cattle will be near the salt licks; but not all. Cattle in mountainous terrain are hard to see when they get into the willows or timber, where they go to avoid the intense sun and biting insects. Moving them out of these areas can be a challenge. This is when it helps to have a good dog that can be sent in to get the cattle.

Most ranching operations in this valley run cow/calf pairs on grazing leases, or “allotments,” and each of these pairs have coordinating ear tags that read like a book to the cowboys. The tags tell many things about the pair, but

foremost they tell numerically what calf belongs to what mother cow. The tags are color-coded to indicate to whom the pair belongs or what year the cow was born. As the cows are rooted out, every cowboy keeps an eye out to make sure each cow has a calf and vice versa. This ensures none are left behind as they work them to a central location.

Frequently a few pairs of cattle band up into micro herds for the entire summer. This makes gathering easier in the fall, but nearly as often there will be several old cows that are content to be only with their calves. These solitary creatures can elude the cowboys on their fi rst sweep through the allotment. It is rare that the rancher gets a clean sweep the fi rst time, so a “re-

ride” is almost always in order. Also, the bulls are extremely independent. They spend most of their days lying down in the thickest cover they can fi nd. This equates to even more time spent on horseback.

When the majority of the herd is gathered the hard count begins. Ranchers count the number gathered so when it comes time for the re-ride they know not only how many are out there, but likely know which pairs are missing. If the cattle are in a pool this is the time that all the ranchers involved sort out their individual pairs. They look at both the brand and the ear tags as they cut them out of the herd. The pairs are sorted into smaller pastures until they have their rightful owners.

From there each rancher will sort their cattle for a variety of reasons. Age of the cows, condition, breed type and cows without calves can be grouped accordingly. Once sorted, the range cattle are “preg-tested” by a veterinarian to ensure all the cows are bred and the ones who are not are marketed.

This is just one phase of a complicated operation that not only involves a good saddle horse and incredible riding skills but meticulous record keeping. The documentation on each cow, when she calved and how she took care of that calf on the summer range are all part of raising the most marketable herd possible.

‘Til the cows come HOME.

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B’nai Butte invites the community to join in the celebration of the Jewish New Year.

On Wednesday, September 28, at 5 p.m., Erev Rosh Hashanah services will be followed by a festive Yom Tov potluck dinner at the Queen of All Saints Par-ish Hall (Sopris between 4th and 5th). Please bring a generous dish and a beverage to share. Call Debbie at 349-7742 with questions.

On Thursday, September 29, 10 a.m., join others in a Rosh Hashanah hike to Peanut Lake with discussion led by Cantor Robbi and concluding with the blow-ing of the shofar. Meet at the Peanut Lake parking lot. Bring a snack or sack lunch. The hike will be followed by Tashlich. Bring your bread, crackers and crumbs. In the event of bad weather meet at the Bilow home, 1018 Brush Creek Road, 349-0703.

Rosh Hashanah with Cantor Robbi Sherwin

The Crested Butte Film Festival (“Where the world comes home to you”)has just announced its schedule for the 2011 Fest. The complete schedule of fi lms, plus movie trailers, can be viewed at cbfi lmfest.org.

Highlights include: Virgin Alexander, a feature-

length comedy written in Crested Butte

If A Tree Falls A Story of the Earth Liberation Front

Revanche, an Academy Award nominee for best foreign fi lm

Bag It and Fuel, fi lms that deal with our reliance on plastics and fossil fuels

Miss Representation, a documentary that examines how women are portrayed in the media, and

I Am, by Hollywood pro-ducer Tom Shadyac (Ace Ventura, Liar Liar, The Nutty Professor)

There is a children and teen

fi lm program, Mountain Kids Film, that plays Saturday morn-ing (free for 18 years and under).

Go to cbfi lmfest.org to view the entire schedule of fi lms (in-cluding times and locations) and plan out a great weekend.

The Festival runs Thursday, September 29 through Sunday, October 2, 2011. Thursday is in Gunnison and Friday through Sunday is in Crested Butte.

The festival is an inter-national celebration of fi lms spanning the following genres: features, documentaries, outdoor adventure, shorts, and anima-tion. In Crested Butte, fi lms play simultaneously on two screens of the Majestic Theatre, at the Center for the Arts, and at the Crested Butte Mountain Theatre.

Passes for the entire festival (including all fi lms, events, and parties) are priced at $130 and are available for purchase online. Passes and tickets are also avail-

able for purchase during the Festival at the box offi ce at the Center for the Arts. Tickets for most fi lms are $10 (cash only, purchase at the door), except for the “early-bird” presentations, which run at 9 a.m. and are priced at $5.

There are also free fi lmmak-er talks held at Rumors Coffee House on Saturday and Sunday mornings. See the website for details and more information.

Come out and support Crested Butte’s newest festival, see some amazing, earth-shat-tering fi lms, and have the time of your movie life in a great fall setting.

FILM FESTIVAL announces inaugural schedule



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[ by Denis b. Hall ]

For people who live in a place with no seasons, it’s spit in a hurricane. But since I’ve been around the sun more than some, I’m set enough in my ways that when seasons change I’m usually thrown for a loop. I attribute this vulnerability to spending too much time out-doors, keenly aware of the weather environ-ment around me.

There’s more to it than that, of course, since a lot of how the weather affects us

depends on what we’re doing. During winter and skiing, we freeze but we’re dressed for it. During summer…whatever, but bring a jacket. It’s the change between seasons that boggles me. Do you know where your mittens and gaiters are?

Sooner or later you will dig them out of that pile of winter gear at the bottom of the closet, but not just yet. It is fall, cooling off, unsettled weather; more than a few of us are dreaming, thinking, talking and bragging about skiing.

“It’s gonna be my winter, this year,” said a friend.

“I want it to be my winter too,” I agreed.“You’ve already had yours,” he laughed.

He’s right: I have had mine—lots—and I’m grateful. But yes, I want more, please.

In the meantime, before it snows, keep the bike shorts out, stay hydrated, lube your chain and check your tires. Autumn is great single-track, but watch the weather and be prepared for it to change. Trails I frequent are riding great; sometimes a melted skiff of snow makes for good traction.

I am not alone in trying to get as much summer riding as I can. The top of Trail 401 yesterday hosted an elaborate wedding—kids, champagne, even a necktie—and dozens of cyclists from as far away as England. Trail 401 has a serious and widespread reputation.

None of that distracted from the grunt up Schofield Pass, or detracted from the view and outrageous ride down. I found summer wildflowers—columbine and lupine—in just one patch that have somehow held on until mid-September. Most everything else is pretty crunchy, which tempts memory of lush green-ery over my head as I flash past.

I’m playing the same game with sun and aspect I played last spring when snow melted

first on southern exposures. If weather threat-ens, I choose a ride at low altitude, generally facing south, and not too far out so I can get back fast. If it looks like rain or, uh… snow, I’m on Strand or Upper Loop. Early morning and not too wet, I’d favor the Lower Loop. Logistics.

If still on my bike when early autumn becomes late autumn, I will dress differently. For years, here in the frozen food section, I wondered how to stay warm when working out and sweating under clothing. Thank all

the gods for miracle fabrics. Furthermore, as September cools into October, I will sport an orange vest when riding the boonies. I’d hate to be mistaken for a fleeting deer or bull elk on the run. A high-powered rifle can ruin my day.

Finally, when Crested Butte trails get too soggy, icy and covered with snow, I will migrate to Hartman Rocks south of Gunni-son. Hartman Rocks trails are different from Crested Butte trails because most single-tracks there are designed for mountain bikes. In Crested Butte, many routes are mountain trails on which we ride bikes: mountain (bike) trails. Hartman Rocks offers mountain bike trails.

Hartman Rocks is respite when weather warms during spring and before it gets too cold during autumn. I extend my summer recreation by a month on either end. Yes, I feel a little guilty about driving my bike to a trail-head… but not that guilty. Maybe someday I’ll try riding a road bike, but I really don’t like cars speeding past. I like single-track.

As the reality of summer’s end and sea-son change sets in, I think about the things I wanted to do but didn’t. I blame a bum knee for not allowing me to climb the high ridges I enjoy. But I made it up Treasury and even skied a couple of runs on Ruby in July. Skiing is so much easier on the descent than hiking down steep scree.

Whatever I was able to do or didn’t get to do, it will all be behind me by sometime in November when talk and speculation about snow and skiing will be recreation in itself. Moreover, Colorado Powder Forecast predicts, “If you didn’t learn your lesson last season, La Nina should return to offer a follow-up course on how to ski the pow!”

Bring a jacket.

GravityWorks:Bring a jacket.


6th Annual Animal Welfare League Fur Ball

&6th Annual Animal Welfare League

Fur Ball6th Annual Animal Welfare League

Fur Ball6th Annual Animal Welfare League 6th Annual Animal Welfare League

Tickets: $25 or $45 per couple

$15 for WSC students (18 or older)

Tickets available in advance or at the door

Call 641-1173 for tickets and more info, or visit www.gvawl.org

&&&& Tickets: $25 or $45 per couple

$15 for WSC students (18 or older)$15 for WSC students (18 or older)

Tickets available in advance

Saturday, October 29 6 - 10pm

&& Tickets: $25 or $45 per couple

Saturday, October 29 6 - 10pmSaturday, October 29 6 - 10pmWebster Hall, Gunnison

Benefits construction of a county-wide animal shelter. Visit www.gvawl.org for more info.

606 6th Street • P.O. Box 1819 • Crested Butte, Colorado 81224ph (970) 349–7487 • fax (970) 349–5626 • www.crestedbuttearts.org

THE CENTER FOR THE ARTS and our programs have improved the quality of life inGunnison County for 25 years; for example, enhancing community development,attracting and supporting local businesses, drawing tourism dollars as well as fosteringan environment that attracts skilled and educated workers. In addition, a studyconducted in 2005 by the Americans for the Arts reported that Gunnison Countynonprofit arts and culture groups generate $5.5 million annually in economic activity.The arts demonstrate an investment in a healthy and thriving community.• THE CENTER IS CELEBRATING ITS 19TH YEAR in presenting the AlpenglowSummer Concert Series during summer 2011. It is vital that we replace the flooringon the outdoor stage. The wear and tear from our extreme weather conditions hastaken its toll, resulting in a potentially dangerous situation for both performers andtechnical light and sound engineers. The cost to repair the floor is $3,500.

• PLEASE MAKE A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION to the Center and invest inAlpenglow 2011! In return, when you attend an Alpenglow concert next summer,you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that your contribution continues thetradition of joining friends and family for the enjoyment of Alpenglow.

• DONATIONS CAN BE MADE TO THE CENTER FOR THE ARTS ONLINE atwww.crestedbuttearts.org or by mail to P.O. Box 1819 Crested Butte, CO 81224.

PLEASE MAKE A DONATION AND JOIN USIN SUPPORTING THE LOCAL BUSINESSES

OF OUR COMMUNITY!

Crested Butte News news | community | sports | culture | opinion

SEPTEMBER 201115-18, 22-25: Charlie

Cox Runs With Scissors presented by Crested Butte Mountain Theatre, Mallardi Cabaret

16: Alpin Hong and John McEuen Concert, Crested Butte Center for the Arts

18: Lead King Loop (25K run), Marble to Crys-tal and back

18-24: Vinotok Fall Harvest Festival, Crested Butte

23-24: Senior Moments (theatre production), Gunnison Arts Center

24: Crested Butte Fall Colors Classic (1/2 marathon) presented by Gunnison Valley Health Foundation

25: Western State College guest artist recital by pianist Andreas Klein, Quigley Recital Hall, Gunnison

28: Woods Walk Trail Fun Run, Crested Butte Mountain Run-ners

29: ArtWalk Evening, studios and galleries in Crested Butte30-Oct. 1: Western State College Homecoming (parade, bonfi re,

football, volleyball & more), Gunnison29-Oct. 2: Crested Butte Film Festival, various Gunnison and

Crested Butte locations

OCTOBER 2011Sept. 30 Oct. 1: Western State College Homecoming (parade,

bonfi re, football, volleyball & more), Gunnison1, 8: Gunnison Farmers’ Market, Virginia Avenue and Main

Street2, 9: Crested Butte Farmers’ Market, Elk Avenue and First Street 3: Laurie Whitaker and Six Points exhibitions, Gunnison Arts

Center7: First Friday Gallery Crawl and Music, various galleries and

locations, Gunnison7-9: Second annual “Bridging the Gap: An Integrated Approach

to Health Wellness” conference, Western State College, featuring closing speaker Dr. Patch Adams

8: Facets of Winter ski movie by AE Films, Crested Butte Center for the Arts

20-23: The Ten Minute Plays: Urban Legends presented by Crested Butte Mountain Theatre, Mallardi Cabaret

31: Halloween Parade presented by KBUT Radio, Elk Avenue, Crested Butte

NOVEMBER 20114: First Friday Gallery Crawl and Music, various galleries and

locations, Gunnison12: Holiday Fashion Show, Fred R. Field Western Heritage Cen-

ter, Gunnison19: Sugar Plum Festival, Fred R. Field Western Heritage Center,

Gunnison 19: Crested Butte Nordic Center opens for the season 23: Crested Butte Mountain Resort opens for the season 24-26: Crested Butte Nordic Center’s 10th Annual Thanksgiving

Training Camp

Fall CALENDAR


10 | Fall 2011 Crested Butte NewsWEEKLY FALL GUIDE Crested Butte News Fall 2011 | 11WEEKLY FALL GUIDE

The mountain ranges surrounding the Gunnison-Crested Butte Valley will remind you of an artist’s autumn palette, with brush-strokes of gold, orange and crimson evident at every turn in September and early October. Known for the second largest, most spectacu-lar aspen grove in the United States, the area offers eye-popping vistas. According to one forest ranger, this part of the West Elk Historic & Scenic Byway is “the closest you can come to a wilderness experience in a passenger car.”

Or get surrounded by fall foliage on foot by hiking one of the great trails off Kebler Pass Road, mountain biking Trail 401 or one of the area’s other classic routes, and going on a trail ride through the forests.

In addition, the towns of Gunnison County and nature have teamed up to present “September Splendor in the Rockies,” a month-long celebration featuring a full calendar of events. For a listing of September Splendor activities and fall vacation packages in addition to the ones listed below, visit www.septembersplendor.com.

FALL DRIVE ROUTES

Ohio Creek Road to Kebler PassFrom just north of Gunnison on Colorado Highway 135, take a left on Ohio Creek Road (look for signs). About 12 miles up the

Ohio Creek Valley, near a series of ranch buildings that mark the abandoned site of Castleton, travelers will see the spires of “the Cas-tles.” These are erosion remnants carved out of volcanic debris that erupted from the West Elk Volcano, now extinct. Continuing on, look for a fi ne view of the Anthracite Range. Near the end of Ohio Creek Road is the intersection with Kebler Pass Road (County Road 12). At that junction, you can head west towards Colorado Highway 133, where southbound goes toward Paonia or northbound to Paonia Dam and Redstone over breathtaking McClure Pass, a popular route to Aspen. Heading east on Kebler Pass Road, you’ll come to Crested Butte, with the eighth largest National Historic District in Colorado. Before heading to Crested Butte, take a short detour and go north to the beautiful Lake Irwin.

West Elk Loop Scenic & Historic BywayFrom Gunnison, the byway heads north on Highway 135 to Crested Butte, continues on Kebler Pass Road (also County Road 12; take

Whiterock Avenue out of town), which is a gravel road and a popular fair-weather route to Aspen. Kebler Pass Road links with Highway 133 near Paonia Dam. At this point, travelers can complete the loop back around to Gunnison by going south on the West Elk Loop By-way (Highway 133) and going east on Highway 92 toward Blue Mesa Reservoir, traveling through Somerset, Bowie, Hotchkiss, Craw-ford and the north rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. At the junction of Highway 92 and Highway 50, going east takes you back to Gunnison along 23 miles of Blue Mesa Reservoir and Curecanti National Recreation Area. West on Highway 50 leads to the main south entrance of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Montrose. An “Experience the West Elk Loop Scenic and Historic Byway” brochure is available at visitor centers along the route.

Almont to various scenic routesBetween Gunnison and Crested Butte on Highway 135 is Almont, where the Taylor and East Rivers meet to create the Gunnison Riv-

er. From Gunnison, go east at Almont on Taylor Canyon Road to Taylor Park Dam and Reservoir. From here travelers have three choices: 1.) Go east on Cottonwood Pass to Buena Vista; 2.) Go north and loop back to Almont on Spring Creek Road; or 3.) Go southeast through one of the richest gold strike areas in Gunnison County traveling through Tin Cup, over Cumberland Pass, and through Pitkin, Ohio City and Parlin before reaching Gunnison.

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BIG PICTURE &PRACTICAL GUIDANCE

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from one of the most trusted namesin Crested Butte

Buyers and sellers all want to know: At what price can I expect to sell?Will prices go lower?What are the best deals?When will things turn around?Where can I get the best financing?

Call me for answers to these questions and good advice that you count on!

SERVING CRESTED BUTTE SINCE 1978.

EXPLORE FALL COLORS ON STUNNING DRIVES.

Mark your calendars for the Bridging the Gap Confer-ence: An Integrated Approach to Health and Wellness, October 7-9 at the Western State College of Colorado (WSC) College Center. This year’s conference will feature Dr. Patch Adams as the closing ceremony speaker.

The conference covers a variety of health and wellness topics, with specifi c focus on healthy children. The goals of the conference are to help reduce the stigma of mental health; improve access to quality care in rural/remote areas; and promote integrated health for everyone, includ-ing children.

This year’s conference will follow three tracks: health professionals; education; and family and support.

The Bridging the Gap Conference is organized by the WSC Rural Health Class, Active Minds (student health organization) and the Gunnison/Hinsdale Early Child-hood Council. It is also sponsored by WSC, the Center for Mental Health, Gunnison Valley Hospital, and the Colorado Trust.

For more information and to register, visit www.west-ern.edu/psychconf.

“PATCH” ADAMS TO SPEAK


10 | Fall 2011 Crested Butte NewsWEEKLY FALL GUIDE Crested Butte News Fall 2011 | 11WEEKLY FALL GUIDE

The mountain ranges surrounding the Gunnison-Crested Butte Valley will remind you of an artist’s autumn palette, with brush-strokes of gold, orange and crimson evident at every turn in September and early October. Known for the second largest, most spectacu-lar aspen grove in the United States, the area offers eye-popping vistas. According to one forest ranger, this part of the West Elk Historic & Scenic Byway is “the closest you can come to a wilderness experience in a passenger car.”

Or get surrounded by fall foliage on foot by hiking one of the great trails off Kebler Pass Road, mountain biking Trail 401 or one of the area’s other classic routes, and going on a trail ride through the forests.

In addition, the towns of Gunnison County and nature have teamed up to present “September Splendor in the Rockies,” a month-long celebration featuring a full calendar of events. For a listing of September Splendor activities and fall vacation packages in addition to the ones listed below, visit www.septembersplendor.com.

FALL DRIVE ROUTES

Ohio Creek Road to Kebler PassFrom just north of Gunnison on Colorado Highway 135, take a left on Ohio Creek Road (look for signs). About 12 miles up the

Ohio Creek Valley, near a series of ranch buildings that mark the abandoned site of Castleton, travelers will see the spires of “the Cas-tles.” These are erosion remnants carved out of volcanic debris that erupted from the West Elk Volcano, now extinct. Continuing on, look for a fi ne view of the Anthracite Range. Near the end of Ohio Creek Road is the intersection with Kebler Pass Road (County Road 12). At that junction, you can head west towards Colorado Highway 133, where southbound goes toward Paonia or northbound to Paonia Dam and Redstone over breathtaking McClure Pass, a popular route to Aspen. Heading east on Kebler Pass Road, you’ll come to Crested Butte, with the eighth largest National Historic District in Colorado. Before heading to Crested Butte, take a short detour and go north to the beautiful Lake Irwin.

West Elk Loop Scenic & Historic BywayFrom Gunnison, the byway heads north on Highway 135 to Crested Butte, continues on Kebler Pass Road (also County Road 12; take

Whiterock Avenue out of town), which is a gravel road and a popular fair-weather route to Aspen. Kebler Pass Road links with Highway 133 near Paonia Dam. At this point, travelers can complete the loop back around to Gunnison by going south on the West Elk Loop By-way (Highway 133) and going east on Highway 92 toward Blue Mesa Reservoir, traveling through Somerset, Bowie, Hotchkiss, Craw-ford and the north rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. At the junction of Highway 92 and Highway 50, going east takes you back to Gunnison along 23 miles of Blue Mesa Reservoir and Curecanti National Recreation Area. West on Highway 50 leads to the main south entrance of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Montrose. An “Experience the West Elk Loop Scenic and Historic Byway” brochure is available at visitor centers along the route.

Almont to various scenic routesBetween Gunnison and Crested Butte on Highway 135 is Almont, where the Taylor and East Rivers meet to create the Gunnison Riv-

er. From Gunnison, go east at Almont on Taylor Canyon Road to Taylor Park Dam and Reservoir. From here travelers have three choices: 1.) Go east on Cottonwood Pass to Buena Vista; 2.) Go north and loop back to Almont on Spring Creek Road; or 3.) Go southeast through one of the richest gold strike areas in Gunnison County traveling through Tin Cup, over Cumberland Pass, and through Pitkin, Ohio City and Parlin before reaching Gunnison.

Crested Butte News paris, tokyo, new york, amsterdam...we’re there www.crestedbu� enews.com

$400 in Rebate Rewards*

Act Now!Limited time offer!

Join Theacme army

ACME DISPENSARY970.349.5550

309 Belleview AvenueCrested Butte, CO

Herbal MedicinesEdibles

AccessoriesGreat Strains

Best of All: LOW PRICESSIGNING UP NEW PAtIENtS

Doug Kroft, Broker/Owner215 Elk Avenue (970)209-0373

[email protected]

BIG PICTURE &PRACTICAL GUIDANCE

Get the

from one of the most trusted namesin Crested Butte

Buyers and sellers all want to know: At what price can I expect to sell?Will prices go lower?What are the best deals?When will things turn around?Where can I get the best financing?

Call me for answers to these questions and good advice that you count on!

SERVING CRESTED BUTTE SINCE 1978.

EXPLORE FALL COLORS ON STUNNING DRIVES.

Mark your calendars for the Bridging the Gap Confer-ence: An Integrated Approach to Health and Wellness, October 7-9 at the Western State College of Colorado (WSC) College Center. This year’s conference will feature Dr. Patch Adams as the closing ceremony speaker.

The conference covers a variety of health and wellness topics, with specifi c focus on healthy children. The goals of the conference are to help reduce the stigma of mental health; improve access to quality care in rural/remote areas; and promote integrated health for everyone, includ-ing children.

This year’s conference will follow three tracks: health professionals; education; and family and support.

The Bridging the Gap Conference is organized by the WSC Rural Health Class, Active Minds (student health organization) and the Gunnison/Hinsdale Early Child-hood Council. It is also sponsored by WSC, the Center for Mental Health, Gunnison Valley Hospital, and the Colorado Trust.

For more information and to register, visit www.west-ern.edu/psychconf.

“PATCH” ADAMS TO SPEAK



[ by Seth MenSing | photoS by Alex Fenlon ]

While they might have come too soon, these are some of the last days in the season to take to the rivers and streams in search of fight-ing fish. Luckily, they’re also some of the best.

Maybe it’s the cool mornings and colder, lower flows, or the smell of hot coffee and the changing hues of cottonwood trees and willow leaves reflecting in a pool. But this is the time of year when time spent on the water can offer up hungry fish, and a whole lot more.

continued on next pAge

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The incredible thing about fi shing in the high country, especially in the fall, is the diversity of the experience.

In one stretch, Kokanee salmon stack up in deep pools from top to bottom after fi nishing their fi nal spawn in a vivid palette of slate-black, purple, red and white. Even though they’re awaiting an inevitable fate, each has the spirit of a young, free fi sh and an instinct to fi ght. Old men, and a few young ones, try to connect to their power with hooks and line.

In another stretch just a few miles away, the same instinct is driving a smaller member in the same family of fi sh up a stream on a Lilliputian scale. Just like their big cousins, the Kokanee, Brook Trout make mad dashes into fl owing water to spawn and can be persuaded to take a snack along the way, if the offer is right.

A six-inch brook trout, in full spawning rega-lia, taking on a #10 Humpy in shallow water is like watching a tied dyed Chihuahua chase a squirrel on the end of a leash. There’s the presentation of the fl y and the anticipation of a furious strike, all in plain sight.

Somewhere in between the Brooks and the Ko-kanee are brown trout and rainbows eager to gorge themselves before a lean winter. They take stone fl ies and midges with little regard. Soon the fi sh will focus on roe.

At the same time, anglers take small fi sh on intimate waters or big ones in deep runs, taking in the warm sunshine, feeling the water on our skin and stacking up the memories that will have to keep us until spring.

To get it while it’s good, try the Gold Medal wa-ters of the Taylor, easy Salmon picking on the East or stalking Brook Trout and Browns in Spring Creek.


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Surviving in Colorado’s high altitude

Every year more than a few hunters must be res-cued from the wilds and high country of Colorado. Hunters get trapped by snowstorms, injured in vari-ous types of accidents or simply get lost in the woods.

Hunters must remember that altitude can affect their health and their ability to move easily. And in the Rockies, weather can change quickly with fast-moving storms dumping a couple of feet of snow in just a few hours.

Be prepared for all types of weather—wet, cold, dry and hot. Take appropriate clothing and the right camping gear. If possible, especially for those coming from lower altitudes, spend a few days at higher elevation before the hunting season to allow your body to acclimate.

Heavy snowfall can occur starting in September. High-country hunters, especially those who back-pack into wilderness areas and have to get out on foot, need to watch the weather closely and pick their escape routes before they choose a campsite. Snow can obliterate trails or make them impassable.

Survival experts recommend that you never go into a wilderness area alone. Unavoidable accidents do happen. Learn how to use a compass or a GPS unit, take a map of the area and orient yourself before leaving camp. Explain to your hunting partners where you’ll be going and when you plan to return.

Always carry a survival kit and know how to use it. Such a kit should include a knife, waterproof matches, fire starter, compass, reflective survival blanket, high-energy food, water purification tablets, first aid kit, whistle and unbreakable signal mirror.

If you get lost, sit down, regain your composure and think for a few minutes. Many times people who are lost can figure out where they went wrong and make it back to camp. If you truly don’t know which direction to go, the best thing to do is stay put.

Survival experts explain that survival is 80 per-cent attitude, 10 percent equipment and 10 percent skill and knowledge.

If you are caught in a storm or forced to spend the night out, there are three keys to survival: shelter, fire and signal.

If you can’t find camp and have to overnight in the wild, your first priority is shelter. Even if you have nothing else going for you—no fire or food—an adequate shelter that is warm and dry will keep you alive until rescuers find you. That means anything from an overhanging rock shelf to a cave, a timber/branch lean-to or a snow cave. Always prepare for the worst and build a shelter that will last. Cut boughs from evergreen trees and use them as pad-ding and for covering.

Dress in layers and take extras with you. Put on layers before you become chilled and take off a layer before you become damp with perspiration. Stay-ing warm is a process of staying dry. Do not dress

in cotton—it becomes wet easily and is difficult to dry. Use wool, wool blends or synthetic clothing that wicks moisture away from skin.

Be sure to carry a quality stocking cap that is made of wool or synthetic fleece. You lose up to 45 percent of your heat around your head, neck and shoulders.

Winter headgear should conserve heat, breathe and be water-repellent. The old saying, “If your feet are cold put your hat on,” is good advice.

Use waterproof footgear, wool or synthetic socks, and always remember to carry a good pair of gloves.

Fire is the second priority if you are forced to stay out overnight. Know how to build a fire even in wet or snowy conditions. That means carrying lighter, metal matches or wooden matches in wa-terproof containers and a fire-starter—such as steel wool, cotton or sawdust saturated with paint thinner or alcohol. Camping stores sell a variety of fire start-ers. Experiment with various materials before going into the field. A fire will warm your body, dry your clothes, cook your food, and help you to signal for help.

The third priority is signaling. This can be done by fire, with flames at night or smoke from green branches during the day; with a signal mirror in bright sunshine; and with sound—hence the whistle.

You can live up to three or four weeks without food. You will, however, be more efficient and alert, and have more confidence if you are able to satisfy your hunger. So carry some high-energy food in your survival kit.

Water is more important to survival than food. Your body needs about three quarts of water a day to metabolize its energy reserves and carry away waste. Carry iodine tablets to add to water taken from streams or snow banks. Avoid drinking ice-cold wa-ter, which can cause your body temperature to drop.

Altitude sickness is another danger. Hunters who are fatigued, cold or exhausted are vulnerable. At the very least, altitude sickness can ruin a hunt-ing trip; at the worst, it can be fatal. Hunters who are coming to Colorado from low altitude areas should be especially careful.

Take time to acclimate and do not move quickly above 8,000 feet. Symptoms of altitude sickness include shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea, headache and loss of appetite. To avoid altitude sickness get in shape, limit alcohol consumption, acclimate for a few days before the start of the season and drink lots of water. Staying hydrated is a key factor in reducing your chances of getting altitude sickness.

Hunters with any heart problems should be extra careful in Colorado’s high country. To prevent problems, hunters should consult their doctors before going to the high country. If you have a heart condi-tion you should keep any prescribed medication with you at all times. Also, discuss any health issues with your hunting partners.

Big game: Hunting at high altitude

Know the rulesHunting is challenging. Not only must you under-

stand the habits of the animal you are hunting, you must also understand regulations, laws governing public and private lands and your own limitations.

Following are some reminders and things to consider before you start your hunt.

—To obtain a license, all hunters born after 1948 must present a Hunter Education Card from Colorado or another state.

—You must know the specific rules that apply to the Game Management Unit in which you are hunting. If you violate rules you can be cited and fined.

—Be sure to know where you are hunting. You can only hunt in the Game Management Unit that your license specifies.

—As you are hunting be aware of buildings, homes, roads, and your overall surroundings. Make sure you know what is behind an animal before you shoot. A bullet shot form a high-powered rifle can easily carry for more than 1,000 yards.

—Make sure that someone at home knows where you are hunting, your vehicle’s license plate number and where you are staying.

—Weather in the fall can change rapidly in Colorado. A day that starts sunny and warm could end with a snow-storm. Be sure you are prepared for all weather conditions.

—Make sure you can recognize the symptoms of hy-pothermia in your hunting partners.

—Know how to get back to your camp.—Cell phone service is not reliable in the mountains.

Don’t expect to contact someone by phone if you are lost or if your vehicle is stuck.

—Make sure to drink plenty of water. Colorado’s dry air and high altitude can quickly dehydrate you and deplete your energy stores.

—Be sure to consult the Colorado Parks and Wildlife publications to understand antler requirements for taking bull elk.

— Do not attempt to shoot at animals that are in areas where you could not retrieve the meat. Know your physi-cal limits.

—If you are using horses: Each must have a Certificate of Health Inspection within 30 days of entering Colorado; each must present evidence of a Coggins Blood test within a year of coming to Colorado; to combat the spread of noxious weeds on federal lands and DOW properties, hay, straw and mulch must be clearly marked as weed-free.

—If you harvest an animal, make sure the carcass is properly tagged. Tags must remain with all processed meat.

— If you transfer an animal killed by another hunter, ensure that it is properly tagged. You could be cited for illegal transport of a game animal even if someone else made the error.

—Do not strap a harvested animal on the outside of your car.

—Operate ATVs and OHVs responsibly. The vehicles must be registered in Colorado—even if it is registered in another state. Off-road vehicles can cause resource dam-age. Be sure to know the local travel management rules for public lands. OHVs also disturb animals and other hunters.

—If you see hunters violating laws, please report the actions to a wildlife officer or other law enforcement agency. Actions by a few hunters can reflect badly on all hunters.

[ all stories By Colorado Parks and Wildlife | Photo By david hannigan ]


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BIG GAME: How to hunt safelyHunting accidents have declined

rapidly since the passage of two laws in 1970. One law requires hunter education training for all hunters born on or after January 1, 1949. The other requires hunters to wear at least 500 square inches of fl uorescent orange clothing above the waist—including a head cover-ing visible from all directions.

During the 1990s, Colorado averaged fewer than two hunting fatalities per year. Since 2000, hunt-ing has continued to post the best safety record of outdoor recreation forms, with a per-year average of only 1.3 fatalities and approximate-ly 12 total incidents involving injury from a fi rearm, arrow or other gear used in hunting. Almost all hunting incidents involve hunters; non-par-ticipant injuries are extremely rare.

“Hunting is safe and getting safer all the time in Colorado,” says Mark Cousins, hunter education coordinator for the Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

Still, the agency sells more than 560,000 hunting licenses every year, resulting in several million hunter recreation days. Over the course of all the hunting seasons, from small game, upland game, waterfowl and archery, muzzleloader and rifl e big game seasons, tens of thousands of individual hunters will take to the fi eld carrying bows and arrows, shotguns and rifl es. Consequently, safety must always be a primary concern for every hunter in every season.

Almost all hunting incidents could have been avoided if the hunter had exercised a little more care, Cousins explains. “With hunt-ing, one moment of carelessness can mean a lifetime of consequences,” Cousins says.

Long before the hunting season starts, hunters should head to the shooting range for practice.

“Get out to a range and practice and be familiar with the guns you’ll be using,” Cousins says. “Practice makes for a much safer and enjoyable hunt.”

Most hunting incidents involv-ing fi rearms occur around vehicles. The reason: That’s where guns are usually loaded or unloaded and where hunters are standing close to each other. Exercise extra caution

when loading and unloading a gun, and do it well away from your vehicle.

Hunters are also reminded that it is illegal to place a loaded fi rearm in or on a vehicle. It’s also unneces-sary. It is illegal to hunt from or shoot from a vehicle. Hunters must be at least 50 feet from the center line of a maintained road before shooting. The distance is farther in some areas, so check local regula-tions in the Colorado big game brochure.

It is highly recommended that a fi rearm be unloaded when you’re crossing streams and fences and while walking on unstable, steep or rough terrain. The gun’s safety isn’t always enough to prevent it from fi ring because it can be moved to the fi re position by clothing, vegeta-tion or a fall.

As soon as the hunt is over, whether that means an animal has been harvested or you’re fi nished for the day, unload your gun. Firearms should be unloaded well before getting to the vehicle or camp, and then double- or even triple-checked to be certain they are empty before placing them in a case or vehicle.

“At the end of a long day in the fi eld when hunters are tired, it is more important than ever to be extra careful with fi rearms,” Cousins says.

Non-fatal hunting incidents are more common; here are some examples:

An elk hunter was running in an attempt to get ahead of some elk. When he stumbled and fell, he shot himself through the leg with his .308 rifl e. Never run while carrying a loaded gun.

Another big game hunter was using his rifl e as a walking stick and the rifl e fi red, shooting off the tip of his thumb. Always carry a rifl e with two hands and never use it as a support.

A hunter was leading his horse through thick oak brush; a loaded rifl e was in the scabbard. A tree limb apparently caught the trigger, the rifl e fi red and the bullet hit the horse and the hunter. Both recov-ered; but it took some time to catch the horse. When the rifl e was found, it had a fi red case in the chamber and the safety was off. Do not carry a

loaded rifl e in a scabbard.One last example involved

two bow hunters walking in single fi le very close together. Both held arrows in their bowstrings. The lead hunter saw something, stopped and squatted down. But in the process, the point of his partner’s arrow was pinned between his thigh and calf. The partner pulled his arrow back, which caused severe cuts to his friend’s leg.

No matter how long you’ve been hunting, you should always check basic safety rules. Follow these tips:

—Treat every fi rearm as if it is loaded.

—Keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction at all times.

—Be sure of your target—what is in front of it and what is beyond it. Once you take a shot, you can’t take it back.

—If you are in doubt about the target, don’t shoot.

—Keep the safety on and your fi nger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.

—Never place your hand over the muzzle of a gun.

—Load and unload your gun at least 100 yards from your vehicle.

—Don’t hurry while loading or unloading.

—Talk about safety issues with youngsters and less inexperienced hunters.

—Stop to rest when you are out of breath; fatigue can contribute to accidents.

—Always wear daylight fl uo-rescent clothing when and where required. “Camoufl age-orange” does not qualify.

Archery season – August 27-September 25Muzzleloader season – September 10-181st rifl e season – elk only October 15-192nd rifl e, deer and elk combined, October 22-303rd rifl e, deer and elk combined, November 5-134th rifl e, deer and elk combined, November 16-20

HUNTING SEASON SCHEDULE


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Make short work of that big old pile of peaches

[ By AlissA Johnson ]

There is a certain addiction that comes with picking peaches: flashes of pink and yellow through the leaves on the tree promise bigger and sweeter fruit just a couple of rows away. Your hand contin-ues to reach up through the branches until you return home with a box of peaches that looks twice as big in the kitchen as it did in the orchard.

This seems to be the way of the harvest: the farm share delivers more cab-bage or tomatoes than any one person can eat at any one time. Piles of peaches take over the kitchen, until the mere idea of eating another piece of fruit makes your stomach hurt from the sweetness.

The question becomes, what is the best way to preserve all that bounty for winter, when the fresh taste of peach is a reminder of summer’s abundance? The options are as plentiful as the harvest, and as our local foodies can attest, the right way is the one that stocks your pantry with foods you’re excited to eat.

Dry storage Produce like apples, potatoes, onions

and garlic store well in cool, dry places and keep well into winter.

“If you had a root cellar, that would be ideal,” says Nancy Wicks of Round Mountain Institute. “I was able to keep most of our potatoes, onions and garlic by making sure to put them in a cardboard box. I had them in a dark place and put a towel over it and covered it.”

For those without a root cellar, crawl spaces and garages that don’t freeze can provide a good alternative. The key is to find a dry place right around 50 degrees. But if you’re storing apples and potatoes, Wicks warns, store them on opposite sides of the storage space. Apples give off a gas that can cause potatoes to sprout.

If you don’t have a great storage space, you can braid and hang your onions and garlic. Just make sure to put them in an area out of direct sunlight that has plenty of ventilation.

“It’ll make a lot of sense, because it gets very fragrant and you’ll go, ‘Whoa, I need a little break from that,’” says Wicks.

FreezingFreezing can be a simple way to pro-

cess late summer fruits that spoil quickly. But most fruits and vegetables need to be blanched before freezing—quick expo-sure to boiling water will put a stop to the enzymes that make them grow and mature. Left unchecked, the enzymes can spoil color and flavor even while freezing. According to Wicks, blanching also makes it easy to peel fruits like peaches.

“I have them in boiling water—not a rolling boil—two minutes maybe three at the most, so they get slightly cooked and then it’s easy to peel them. I peel the skin off, cut them in half, take the pit out and put them in freezer bags after they cool.”

Lining peaches side by side in one layer will allow for even freezing and make for easy storage.

“I like to make peach crisp or put them in a smoothie,” Wicks says. “That’s really nice, to have a fresh fruit smoothie in the middle of winter.”

continued on next pAge

Preserving Fall bounty



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DRIED FRUITS AND HERBSSnacking on a dried peach can

be the perfect break during a back-country ski. Stacee VanAernem of Crested Butte Personal Chefs likes to make fruit leather out of peach pu-ree. She blends her peaches in a food processor, adds a little bit of sugar to taste and cooks it down before pour-ing it into a fi ve-tray dehydrator.

“This season I’m pouring it in four circles on one sheet because it seems to dehydrate more evenly and consistently. If you pour a whole sheet on there you get more dry sections and more thick sections,” VanAernem says.

Wicks likes to hang her dehy-drator, which is open to the air but surrounded by netting to keep bugs out, in a window with good air fl ow and out of direct light.

“You generally don’t want to dry foods in the sun because the sun will discolor them and maybe drain some nutrients out of them too,” Wicks says.

The same goes for herbs, which can be dried by hanging them upside down with rubber bands or twine. Wicks has noticed that dried mint will keep its bright green color for months if stored out of the light.

And if you want to make fruit leather or dry tomatoes, but you’re not ready to purchase a dehydra-tor? Fruit leather recipes call for an oven set anywhere from 140 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit, drying leather anywhere from three hours to over-night. Consider looking up recipes for dried kale chips, too.

Canning

Canning, according to Gun-nison farmers market manager Beth Coop, is much easier than people think.

“It dropped out for a few gener-ations there, and people forgot how to do it or didn’t realize that it wasn’t as diffi cult as they thought,” Coop says. “It’s maybe just a cleanliness factor that people are intimidated by. They don’t realize how easy canning can be. A little bit of soapy water, a little bit of bleach… the supplies are pretty inexpensive. One small chart that has times and adjusting for altitude, and you’re good to go.”

At its most basic level, cooked foods are sealed in glass jars in a boiling water bath, allowing them to be stored for months. Whole fruits, jams or preserves and even salsas can be canned using time-tested recipes—but you do need to make adjustments for altitude. According to the Colorado State University

Extension web site, recipes that call for a 20-minute water bath or less need to boil one additional minute for every 1,000 feet above sea level. For water baths of more than 20 minutes, an additional two minutes are required for every 1,000 feet above sea level.

The great thing about canning, Coop says, is that you can make use of blemished fruit, which is often cheaper.

“It doesn’t make a difference since you tend to blanch foods like tomatoes and peaches and remove the skins before canning,” she says.

FERMENTINGIn the United States, we tend

to associate fermentation with sour foods that have gone bad. But it’s actually a traditional way of processing food, and it’s making a comeback. Val Jaquith is a member of the Gunnison Valley chapter of the Westin A. Price Foundation, an organization dedicated to traditional food techniques and farm-raised foods.

Jaquith explained that fermen-tation takes advantage of probiotic bacteria that occur naturally on dark, leafy greens—like the whiteness on cabbage. It’s a lactic acid, but it’s dif-ferent from what builds up in your muscles during exercise.

“That lactic acid bacteria will eat sugars in the vegetable, and they multiply and that is a fermentation process. When it’s done, it means that all the lactic acid has eaten all the available sugars and gone dor-mant. That bacteria is one of those probiotic bacteria everyone speaks so highly of for gut health,” Jaquith says.

A well-known fermented food is kimchi, a fermented cabbage. But Jaquith has made fermented pickles and even salsa—all of which can be stored in the refrigerator for months.

“By fermenting foods you’re enlivening it, enhancing the enzyme content and nutrition and making it more digestible,” says Val Jaquith.

All you need for fermenta-tion, Jaquith says, is salt, water and sometimes a starter culture. Jaquith chops up the vegetables, throws them in a pot with some sea salt and the starter, and submerges the vegetables in the brine.

“Push all the cabbage down to get it under brine and let it sit, and you’ll hear it gurgling and the bac-teria doing their thing and breaking down the vegetables,” Jacuith says.

It’s a great way, she says, to get tangy, sour foods like pickles without the vinegar taste so many people dislike.

RESOURCESThere are plenty of resources

(see below) to get started preserv-ing your fall harvest. But if you’re overwhelmed by the choices, VanAernem suggests preserving foods according to how you eat. If you don’t eat jam, consider freezing peach halves instead.

“It depends on the individual and what they’re using it for,” VanAernem says. “[I freeze peaches] for smoothies or cobbler or pie fi ll-ing, and then in winter if you don’t know what to make for dessert for a potluck, you can pull it out and you’re good to go.”

Some of it, she says, will be trial and error. You might can peaches and fi nd out you prefer them dried instead. The trick is to give it a try, and according to Coop, make it fun: “I recommend people get together with friends. You can rent a kitchen at the Fred Field Heritage Center or at a friend’s house and have a big canning party.”

Websites: Colorado State Uni-versity Extension—http://www.ext.colostate.edu/

Western A Price Foundation—http://www.westonaprice.org/

Books: Nourishing Tradition, by Sally Fallon. Complete book of home preserving.

Also, watch for extension classes at Western State College and samples of the fermented foods at the Crested Butte Farmer’s Market.



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All that dies shall be reborn…[ BY MOLLY MURFEE ]

In our celebration of autumn, our cohesiveness through the cold months of winter, and the return of warmth and green in the spring, Vinotok commemorates all that is good in living in a place so close to wild spaces. We are subject to the riotous moods of our high mountain weather. Auspicious seasonal events should be celebrated. We are given the opportunity to get rid of our grumps, and make way for the new. It is a letting go, and being given the ability and the vehicle to do so. It is an event that connects us to our place, the harvest, the seasons, the cycles and each other. Death and rebirth.

The date of Crested Butte’s Vinotok celebration is based on the exact occurrence of the autumn equinox, this year on Friday, September 23, the day of our Community Feast. This is the time when the sun crosses the celestial equator and day and night become nearly the same length. At this time, we celebrate balance.

This week, we delve head-fi rst into the symbolism of the festival, with its culmination of the mumming and the Trial of the Grump, all occurring on Saturday, September 24.Mumming (5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.)

Mumming is a dramatic tradition that fi nds its roots primarily in medieval England and Ireland. Its etymology is thought to derive from the German language of the 13th-century and means “a disguised person.” Traditionally, mumming plays were used to mark important stages in the agricultural year and were considered folk plays. They concerned themselves around themes of duality, battles of good and evil, and the resurgence or resurrection of life.

The Vinotok Theatre Troupe, composed of community members, will mum the restau-rants and pubs of Elk Avenue, as well as those just off Elk. They will perform a small “pre-view” of the bigger, and later, production, enticing guests of local establishments to join them in the streets for the feature presentation. As tradition dictates, both in medieval times and in Crested Butte, in exchange for their entertainment, mummers receive food and drink.

The Vinotok Theatre Troupe is important. They allow us to be transported to another world. Through their costuming and song and dance, a magic is created, we are drawn in to a place where reality and imagination cross paths. Become a part of the magic, even as a com-munity member you can dress up and be in the streets…The Trial of the Grump (7:30 p.m.-ish)

The Trial of the Grump takes place on an outdoor stage in front of the Eldo on Elk Avenue. Here we see the true battle of the mumming plays of yore. Sir Hapless represents the en-croachment of the industrial world and technology. He is “progress” and the ways of civilized man. Sir Hapless is both foolish and destructive and can also be very dangerous.

To oppose Sir Hapless, the Dragon comes forth, a genderless character representing nature, deep earth, good fortune and everything wild. The dragon is powerful, unpredictable and fi erce while also being very beautiful.

The two begin their frightful dual, until the Harvest Mother stops it. The Harvest Mother is Gaia, she is the mother of all, of the earth and all the deities. She is the symbol of fertility, and in the harvest season, of the earth’s bounty. She pronounces, “We cannot survive without balance in this world.” When the Harvest Mother talks, people listen.

Meanwhile, the Green Man is frolicking his way through the 12 maidens, representing the 12 months of the year. The Green Man is a promise—that spring and vegetation will return once again. He is the masculine energy to balance the Harvest Mother. The Green Man is virile, vivacious and lusty. But even the maidens can’t sustain the Green Man’s energy, and he is dying.

The Grump becomes the scapegoat. Reminiscent of the effi gies of Eastern Europe burned on the boss man’s lawn as a rib, The Grump is everything we want to forget and let go of. He is stuffed with our own grumps, grievances and woes. The Grump, even though given a fair trial by the Magistrate who is representing justice and fairness, is sentenced to burn and with it the negative energy of the community.

And so, as a township we parade to the crossroads of the Four-way Stop to rid ourselves of the old, to make way for the new. We dance with abandon around the fi re, a plea to the sun to return, to not forget we are here, as we head into the long, dark months of winter.

Vinotok. It is a passageway to help us with the transition from summer to fall. It is a way to bond together as a community, to forget our grievances against ourselves and one another. We come together at Vinotok to celebrate this wild place we live in, so close to the rhythms of nature. We come together to celebrate ourselves as a community, the bounty of an incredible summer with its harvests of wildfl owers and warmth as well as a harvest of food. We gather to be thankful of all that we have been given. We dance around the fi re to abandon, to let go, to begin anew in the ever-cycling circle of life and the seasons. Burn Grump, burn.

The true meaning of Vinotokphoto by Alex Fenlon


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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

“I came to Crested Butte because I was called, you might say. I manifested in order to bridge the gap between the old and the new Crested Butte,” says the Grump, revealing that the old time miners had called upon him for differ-ent reasons but when the newer folks moved in, well after the mine closed, there was a substantial dif-ference in philosophies.

“The contrast was very big but the one thing the old timers and mining families could understand about the protests was their Grump event each year, because they used me to represent the old mine bosses who took advantage of them. I got burned then, too...” his voice trails off a little sadly.

“But this was the one big thing that the newer townspeople and the old timers had in common, the method of protest. The min-ers thought another mine would be benefi cial for the town and the newbies were calling upon me to save the Red Lady and their envi-ronment.”

This year the Grump fi gures he’ll have a lot of requests about the controversial environmental issues once again. “The Red Lady knows that I am being sacrifi ced in her honor, in saving Mt. Emmons and I’ve recently heard a lot of talk about getting fracked, which I initially thought was some sort of Vinotok frivolity until I looked into it. Yeah, I’ll go to the fl ame for that one, you bet.

“Some folks are just created to be big and scary and burn. It’s just my fate to be a burnt offering,” Grump shrugs in acceptance, secure in a sense of profound purpose. “But... hardly anyone notices in the frenzy of the moment... watch the twinkle in my eye,” Grump says ever so slyly.

“People don’t pay enough attention to me, except my Ad-vocate... that sole sorry guy with the terrible skin condition. I’m so thankful to him for his support and belief in me. I mean, the Magistrate gives it a go in trying to give me a fair trial but he always acqui-

esces to those screaming throngs of misguided souls all revved up about burning me. I’m really a nice Grump if you get to know me.”

The Grump doesn’t mean to whine however. “I think there’s a misunderstanding about my demeanor simply because this town doesn’t see me as a party animal, and let’s face it, every living thing on the planet knows how the Butte loves to party and carry on. But hey, even though I accept my fate, it does make me a little solemn to the point of yeah, maybe I don’t feel like partying it up, you know. I mean, how would you feel if you were carrying the burdens of an entire town around inside, know-ing what the outcome was going to be? But I’m a Grump of reason and responsibility and logic clearly dictates that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one.”

The Grump explains that all the written “grumps” of the com-munity carried to the fi re are felt deeply. “The things written to me, the written words are heartfelt and bring tears to my eyes,” says the Grump, choking back emotion, especially when recalling the notes from the children. “Some are from little kids who are so sincere in their requests. I feel it all, everything that goes into me. I embody what is put into me, the outpourings of an entire town, I become them.”

Grump has favorite Vino-toks. “There were a couple of years where even though I wasn’t consumed by fl ames I was still fi lled with grumps and the fi re-art displays were still part of sending things up. One year I was designed to look like a favorite kid’s character from Where the Wild Things Are. No one had the heart to burn me in front of the kids,” says the Grump, laughing about the various incarna-tions.

“There have been times throughout the years that I’ve been a very funny looking character.” His fi ery personality shines through and he adds, “You wont fi nd me on any dating site with my looks, that’s for sure! I’m willing to be silly and ridiculous. I’m quite playful and really, I’m actually downright hilarious. I have a fabulous sense of humor!” Grump smirks and offers, “I am, after all, a fi gment of all of

your imaginations. So, whatever you need me to be then that’s what I am. In essence though, I’m the stunt double for the Green Man, because I know all the maidens in town need him—so ultimately I’m the sacrifi ce so you can carry on with all the preservation and partying.”

In these days of reality checks, Grump isn’t worried about job se-curity. “Oh, I’ve seen it all through-out the ages,” Grump chuckles, “and I never worry that I won’t be needed because there’ll always be a reason to need a sacrifi ce. I’m not ever gonna be out of work. There’ll be no unemployment fi ling for me!”

On Vinotok night, after what is always a last dinner of hopes and

fears written in ink on bar napkins, scraps of paper and corners torn from the Crested Butte News, Grump is pleasantly stuffed and silently waits in the dark around the corner on Second Street, guarded by torch bearers until trial time. “I’m so excited to round the corner at Kochevar’s and see the crowds all gathered there for me. I feel their ex-citement,” and for what must seem like a brief moment after waiting all year, the Grump is in the thick of the spirit of it all.

“It’s exhilarating!” Grump says with a drawn-out breathy exhale. “Although I want to burn for the good of the community, I must admit there is that spark of hope at the trial that people will accept

me for the good that I do and who I am. But in the end, I know I must burn and I’m doing exactly what I was made for... burn, baby, burn...” Grump sighs and quickly adds, “But... it is a pleasure to burn, as some famous novelist once wrote.

“I’ve had many names in the past and there’s a long tradition throughout mythology about me. We Grumps have all died the same way. Think of me as the Santa Claus of sacrifi ce. I always come back every year.”

And with a serious note Grump adds almost pleadingly, “Please remember me whenever you gaze into your campfi re, your hearth or the center of a candle fl ame. I’ll be there... waiting.”

PROFILE:

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Documents

Crested Butte News Fall Guide 2011