Ability Level

Participants should be intermediate to advanced skiers/riders and be comfortable on ungroomed terrain.

Requirements

Participants will need to complete precourse work before the classroom and field sessions.

Certifications

Our course is certified by the American Institute of Avalanche Research & Education (AIARE) and our guides are trained by the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA).

Crested Butte Huts

Travel to a Crested Butte area hut for 1-3 nights.  The Crystal or Maroon hut are perfect for ski trips and are also accessible by snowshoes and cross-country skis as well.  The Friends hut is a more remote hut with a full range of ski terrain from mellow to extreme.

Aspen to Crested Butte

Travel from Aspen to Crested Butte in 2 to 4 nights, staying at the Lindley, Green-Wilson, Tagert, or Friends Huts.  Explore all of the skiing terrain the Elk Mountains have to offer by connecting two of these huts on a multi-night adventure!

Prerequisites

Participants should be a solid intermediate skier/rider and feel comfortable with a variable snowpack and ungroomed trails.

The Trails

35 miles of groomed trails around the Gunnison Valley

Family Friendly

Fat Tire Biking is a great way to enjoy the snow with the whole family. With miles of trails to choose from, our guides will plan the perfect trip for your group. 

What to Bring

Fat tire bike rentals are available at the Alpineer & Big Als – a small backpack, layers, gloves, sunglasses, winter boots, water, and snacks.

Ability Level

Intermediate ski/ride level required. The Crested Butte area offers a wide variety of technical approaches. If you’re just getting into ski mountaineering or are seeking legendary lines, Irwin Guides will set you up for success.

14ers

Ready to attempt a ski descent from over 14,000 feet?  Join us for a descent of Mt. Elbert, Massive, Harvard, Columbia, Oxford, Belford, or Missouri.

Terrain

Crested Butte has multiple 3,000 foot ski descents, some with almost 50 degree slope angles. 

Season

Late March to early June provides the best conditions for ski mountaineering.

The Trails

Snowshoeing often follows groomed trails. Luckly, Crested Butte has over 35 miles of groomed trails including Slate River, Washington Gulch, Gothic, Snodgrass, Brush Creek, Cement Creek, and Mill Creek.

Family Friendly

Our snowshoe tours are ideal for individuals, groups, families, or friends. 

What to Bring

We suggest bringing winter boots, a small backpack, water, snacks, and warm layers.

Terrain

Cat Skiing provides the opportunity for skiers to explore extensive amounts of terrain. For advanced skiers, we have extensive challenging terrain varying from open alpine bowls, steep narrow chute & couloirs, and tight tree skiing. We also have many ciffs and rock bands that offer the chance to catch anywhere between 5-40 feet of air. For more relaxed skiers we have low angle, wide open runs that are perfect to practice the art of power skiing. 

Avalanche Hazards

Irwin Guides has a team of Avalanche Technicians who mitigate avalanche hazards every day. This provides you with safe terrain to enjoy, even when the snow is deep!

Family Friendly

Cat skiing is an exciting way to explore the mountains in the winter. With terrain to satisfy all levels, the whole family will have a blast. 

What to Bring

We suggest bringing a small backpack, water, snacks, layers, sunblock, and ski gear. 

Location

Ice climbing excursions are held at Lake City Ice Park and Ouray Ice Park.

Travel

Both The Ouray Ice Park and The Lake City Ice Park are about a 2-hour drive from Crested Butte. 

Routes

Routes range from beginner, easier climbs to difficult and long, multi-pitch ice climbs.

Family Friendly

 With a range in difficulty of pitches, this is a great activity for the whole family to enjoy. 

Clinics

Three specialized trip options for those looking to get the most out of their experience: Intro to Ice Climbing, Women’s Intro to Ice Climbing, and Learn to Lead. Inquire about pricing.

The Trails

Crested Butte has 35 miles of groomed, cross-country nordic trails located less than 15 minutes drive from downtown Crested Butte. The endless terrain extends deep into the backcountry. 

Family Friendly

Nordic Skiing is enjoyable for the whole family. Our professional guides can help you learn the basics in technique while also getting you immersed in the beauty of the backcountry.

History

The word ski comes from the Old Norse word “skíð” which means stick of wood. Skiing started almost five millennia ago as a technique for traveling cross-country over snow on skis in Scandinavia. 

What to Bring

We suggest bringing a small backpack, water, snacks, and layers.

Timing

Offered as a half-day activity from either 9am – noon or 1 – 4pm.

Please rent all Cross Country Ski gear (skis, poles, & boots) from the Crested Butte Nordic Center.

If you plan to stay on groomed trails please purchase a Crested Butte Nordic Pass.

All gear & passes can be purchased HERE.

Backcountry Skiing Hut Trips

The Backcountry Hut Trips provide the opportunity to experience our winter backcountry in an entirely different way. Accessing pristine terrain from each hut lets guests explore unlimited fresh lines in the surrounding area. Learn more here.

Monarch Pass Backcountry Skiing

Topping out at 11,312 feet, and located between Salida and Gunnison, Monarch Pass receives over 350 inches of snow in the winter months; while this kind of snowfall is less than ideal for driving conditions, it makes for perfect backcountry skiing and riding. Inquire about pricing.

Crested Butte Backcountry Skiing Terrain

The options are endless, from open glades to steep faces, couloirs, and trees. There is something for all comfort levels, and our local guides will tailor your trip to your desires and ability level.

Gear

Guests will need backcountry skis or a splitboard, skins, and poles (available for rent – we don’t have boots!), and it is suggested to also have an airbag backpack.

Prerequisites

Participants should be a solid intermediate skier/rider and feel comfortable with a variable snowpack and ungroomed trails.