Realtor | Corey Dwan

Dear Coalition for Lifts on Snodgrass members,
This is a personal message from Paula Steuer, Chairman—CLS.

I want to begin by wishing you all a very Happy New Year and letting you all know that my term as chairman expires February 1st. I appreciate the opportunity to have served as your Chairman and I hope that CLS continues to have your support in the future.

We have had some board members step down due to personal reasons and obligations, as I too will be doing effective February 1st. This leaves us with a few vacancies on the board for “full-time” residents. Otherwise we will end up with complications regarding board meeting attendance and input from persons closest to the issues. We already have three outstanding 2nd homeowner board members...and are looking for 2-3 locals to serve on the CLS board. Please let me know before February 1st if you are interested. It should be noted: All past board members continue to support this organization and its goals and remain members of CLS.

Right now there is nothing we can do but wait to see what happens in regard to Snodgrass specifically. But there is a lot we can do as an organization to continue to support a path toward success for this community. In my mind that will always begin and end with embracing and supporting who we are---A Ski Resort Community!

Word is: CBMR continues to have internal meetings regarding Snodgrass—but they have not met with the Forest Service as was previously indicated would take place in December of 2010. And there have been no “public” input meetings. When CBMR will hold these meetings has yet to be decided.

We all know the real drivers for success when competing with other resorts----Yes, size does matter. It is why we all joined CLS. Whether CBMR is ever allowed to utilize Snodgrass in any capacity is something for those with crystal balls.

Personally, I see a lot of magnificent skiable terrain all around us. My intuition is that CBMR will find a way to put that to their advantage—and that is why we are a ski town which is lucky to have a skiing/boarding family (the Muellers) managing the future success of this Ski Resort Community.

Thanks to all CLS members for your “Be all that we can be” attitude, your continued support and positive vibes. I can’t wait to see where we (CLS) go from here….
(For more interesting CBMR updates and the current status of the ski industry please scroll down below my signature line.

Paula Steuer
Coalition for Lifts on Snodgrass
In the future please feel free to contact me at pts@durango.net or call 970-349-0773.

Here is a link to an article by the National Ski Areas Association NSAA Response to Men’s Journal article: “The Future of Snow” by Kitt Doucette,
Dec. 2010.
http://www.nsaa.org/nsaa/press/1011/Doucette_article.pdf


And—who says CBMR isn’t doing a heck of a great job?! Read this if you need a reminder:

CRESTED BUTTE MOUNTAIN RESORT FOCUSES IMPROVEMENTS AND CAPITAL PROJECTS ON THE MOUNTAIN FOR THE 2010-2011 SEASON
• CBMR prepares for another 50 years with visible enhancements

CRESTED BUTTE, Colo. – Aug. 24 – The focus is on the mountain as Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) prepares for the coming ski and snowboard season. Improvements designed to maximize the skiing and riding experience are taking place in preparation for the resort’s celebration of 50 years of skiing throughout 2010-2011.

“We’ve given detailed thought to our terrain and on-mountain amenities and how the mountain is laid out,” said Ken Stone, COO of CBMR. “Our goal going into the 2010-2011 season is to maximize our assets. To accomplish that objective we’ve reconfigured things a bit, freeing up additional intermediate terrain in the process.”

Crews are glading Horseshoe Springs – expanding tree-skiing options and, as a result, adding more intermediate terrain to the resort’s tally.

CBMR also introduces the new Gold Link Terrain Park and Superpipe for the 2010-2011 season. By relocating the resort’s largest park and pipe, crews have created a complete freestyle park pod off the Painter Boy and Goldlink lifts. This translates to a literal playground for the park enthusiast, highlighted by the ability to progress from one park – and one feature size – to the next. The Cascade location also is ideal for larger park features, offering a consistent fall line for the jib park and half pipe. Cascade is blessed with good afternoon light, allowing for better visibility, and its proximity to mountain operations headquarters means snowcat operators have easier access and more time for preening features. The new location also leaves crews hopeful for delivery of a constructed half pipe in time for the Christmas holiday, thanks to the park’s location along the main water feed pipe for the mountain’s snowmaking system.

With these mindful improvements and reconfigurations skiers and riders at CBMR gain back two full-length trails in the resort’s best existing intermediate pod.

Guests to CBMR also will note increased snowmaking capabilities resulting in earlier terrain openings and a better late season base. Increased snowmaking at the base area will allow for Peachtree beginners lift and the Camp CB teaching area and magic carpets to open on the first day of the season. And, the resort is eager to utilize its $40,000 NSAA grant, which translates to 10 new high efficiency tower guns.

Another notable change on the mountain is the new NASTAR race arena located on the Canaan trail just above the Paradise Warming House.

At the base, $400,000 in improvements and enhancements to the Treasury Center base lodge include more seating and expanded skier services, such as lockers and bathrooms. Butte 66, a popular choice for lunch and après ski, will also benefit from extensive renovations, and the Spellbound Pizza Company will move to a new location on the remodeled third floor of the Treasury Building.

In addition, CBMR has added a new activity to the existing Adventure Park, and relocated the Trailhead Children’s Discovery Museum to the Outpost Building – now open year-round. The Adventure Park line-up now includes mini golf during the summer season in addition to the bungee trampolines and climbing tower, which are open year-round. The Flying Gopher 18 hole mini golf course is located under a weatherproof dome, which will convert to an ice skating rink during the winter season. The Trailhead Children’s Museum features playful adventure, art, science and discovery for young children and parents throughout the year, including special events and programs. The museum’s new location at the base of the mountain makes for easy access and provides yet another great option for family fun.

Improvements over the past six years, since the Muellers initially took ownership of CBMR in 2004, include:
• A new base area village called Mountaineer Square
• New lodging (Elevation Hotel & Spa, Lodge at Mountaineer Square);
• Expanded DC Terrain Park
• A complete remodel of the beloved Ice Bar on-mountain restaurant – now called Uley’s Cabin
• The addition of a base area Adventure Park complete with bungee trampolines, a climbing tower, ice skating (winter only), a lift-served tubing hill (winter only) and mini golf (summer only)
• Snow igloos – solid snow structures – set up in the kids’ play area outside of Camp CB and as cocktail hotspots near the Ice Bar restaurant
• New snowmaking and grooming
• A lift system expansion
• The Treasury Center remodel
• A new children’s facility called Camp CB
• The addition of a combined beginner learning area for children and adults
• The introduction of the Mountain Sports Team accessible to a wide variety of athletes from kids enjoying local recreational programs to driven student athletes
• And the addition of the Outpost Building Day Lodge, which now houses the Trailhead Children’s Discovery Museum