Crested Butte Is Home

If you spend any time skiing Crested Butte Mountain Resort at all, you've almost certainly seen ROMP skis, and probably a lot of them, in the lift lines. Brothers Morgan and Caleb Weinberg grew up in the mountains of New Hampshire doing all the things we love to do here in the Gunnison valley, like mountain biking and skiing. Both of them attended Western Colorado University, and like many Western alum, decided to stay and make a home in Crested Butte. During and shortly after the 2008 recession, they found themselves with a bit more time on their hands and Morgan, a self-described tinkerer, suggested making their own skis. At first, it was just a bit of a hobby and a fun way to play with skis. soon enough, however, it turned into a full-fledged business and ROMP skis was born. In this episode, we talk about the design and construction of a pair of skis, and how purchasing a pair of ROMP skis on a semi-custom basis might be different than any other ski purchase you've likely made. Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: As is the case across the country, Crested Butte and Gunnison real estate is seeing substantial price increases along with record low inventory. Take a look at my market reports HERE Learn More: Romp Skis Website

Aaron Blunck was born to ski.  His grandfather started the ski school here in Crested Butte, his mom was a longtime instructor, his dad loves to ski, and Aaron had to keep up with his big brother somehow, too.  By 8 he and his brother were skiing on their own, equipped with cheap radios to call home in case they needed to. Aaron was always into jumps and he pretty quickly started to excel at it, especially in the halfpipe discipline.  Before he knew it he was competing in the X Games and Olympics before he'd even gotten out of high school.  He went on to win an X Games gold medal, World Championships, and compete in a second Olympics.   In this episode, we talked about the entire arc of his ski career, how grateful he is to have grown up in Crested Butte, and where he sees his ski career heading in the future. Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: Recently, we've seen a lot of commercial properties and development opportunities go under contract in the Crested Butte area.  Additionally, I recently listed a Crested butte property with 3 homes and great rental income- more info here. Learn More: Aaron Blunck Instagram 

Corey Tibljas spent most of his childhood growing up right here in Crested Butte, as one of the first graduating classes at what was then the new Community School.  It was there, at the school, that he and his friend Ben Somrak decided to make a ski movie and start their company, Two Plank Productions.  Thanks to the help of local film makers Matchstick Productions (see episode 26 Murray Wais), and the local TV station (see episode 46 Noah Wight), they were able to release their film to a packed house at the Center For the Arts.  The duo released several more ski movies, before Corey transitioned the company into a more general film production company and Ben moved on to be a local general contractor.  Another Two Plank event was "Big Air on Elk", which for several years featured skiers towed on snowmobiles launching "big air" right on Elk Avenue in downtown Crested Butte.  It was a favorite event for a lot of people, and he's hoping to bring it back some day.  Corey also began volunteer firefighting while he was still a teen.  Today, 20 years later, he still fights fires in addition to his Two Plank responsibilities- but now as a full time paid Captain of the Crested Butte Fire Protection District.  Not only that, he helps teens that are following his footsteps into firefighting as well. Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: In this episode's real estate minute, I discussed the 2021 Crested Butte and Gunnison real estate outlook.  For more information, please visit the post on my website. Learn More: Two Plank Productions

Shamai Buckel grew up in Southern Colorado as well as Santa Fe, New Mexico and went to Western Colorado University after a powder-filled ski trip to Crested Butte convinced her that this was the place to be.  Joe Buckel's journey to the Gunnison valley from Indiana took a little longer, with a short stint in Denver.  But they found each other and eventually moved to California wine country to learn more about wine making.  There, they discovered "warehouse wineries", and decided that they could do the same thing here. They get their grapes in Palisade (near Grand Junction), but make the wine in Gunnison at their Winery, Buckel Family Wines.  We spend a lot of time in this episode talking about how to taste wine (great for someone like me who would like to be "better" at it), how to pair it, and of course how to make wine. And of course, one of the great things about wine is travel, too- so we talked about some of the great places to visit.  I hope you enjoy this interview and get a chance to taste their wines, whether at a local liquor store, a local restaurant, or at their winery in Gunnison. Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: In this episode's real estate minute, I highlighted the Meridian Lake Neighborhood, located up the Washington Gulch Trailhead near Mount Crested Butte. This beautiful neighborhood with great access to hiking, Long Lake, and more also has amazing views of the ski area. For more information, maps, and all current listings, visit here. Learn More: Buckel Winery

Lucille Lucas grew up in New York City, with parents that were deeply immersed in the art world.  That meant that she was able to meet artists like Salvador Dali and others, and Lucille began practicing her own art at a young age as well.  But a trip across the country proved to her that NYC wasn't her place- the smaller and slower life in the rural West was more her speed.   She learned how to ski and backcountry ski when few people were doing it, and also lived in a teepee above Aspen, CO for a winter. Another adventure started at the farmhouse she was living at in Northern California- "Come with us to Morocco, and let us buy a VW bus in your name", they said.  Give this one a listen to find out where that story ends up.  She also worked at the famous "bathhouse" in Crested Butte, which was a popular spot in the 70's. She is the owner of the Lucille Lucas gallery, specializing in prints- many of which were made by her father.  We finish the conversation discussing art in general, as well as the art scene here in the Creative District of Crested Butte.  This was one of my favorite interviews so far, so I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did. Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: This episode is being released in November of 2020, and the real estate market continues to be incredibly busy (normally this is a slower time of year). Therefore, it remains a great time for sellers, and for buyers, they should be ready to "pull the trigger" if they see something that they like. Contact me, Frank Konsella, at my website. for more information. Learn More: Lucille Lucas Gallery

Craig Hall grew up in the Southeast Colorado town of La Junta, but often visited the Gunnison and Crested Butte area to ski and fish.  After graduating with a forestry degree from Colorado State University, Craig headed to Crested Butte to ski.  He was part of a small group of skiers that were heading out into the backcountry and started to learn the newly re-discovered telemark turn as the best way to access the mountains surrounding Crested Butte with the gear that was available at the time. A heliskiing company was starting, and Craig was recommended as someone who knew the area.  Thus began Craig's career as a heliskiing guide, skiing many of the runs that are popular with today's backcountry skiers.  Later, the operation moved to Marble to attract the Aspen market, where his clients included Saudi Sheiks and local drug dealers.   After the heliskiing company folded, Craig was able to combine his forestry degree, past experience as a "hot shot" firefighter, and helicopter experience to fight fires from the air, something he still does today.  When we recorded this episode in early October 2020, the Cameron Peak fire had not yet exploded into Colorado's largest ever, and the destructive East Troublesome fire had not yet started.  When you hear updates on those fires, chances are good that Craig was there, assisting the firefighting efforts from the air. Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: Are you considering a sale of your home or condo in Crested Butte?  A few simple things can really help- like decluttering, repainting, window washing and more. Want to know more? Contact me, Frank Konsella, at my website. Learn More: First Tracks Heliskiing

Jay Prentiss grew up on the East coast, and like many of the other people I've interviewed, his first visit to the Gunnison Valley was as a freshman at Western Colorado University.  Already an outdoor athlete, he's taken advantage of all the Crested Butte area offers- climbing, kayaking, skiing, mountain biking and more.  One of those passions is mountaineering, which included a trip to North America's highest peak, Denali.  It didn't get off to a particularly auspicious start, with the pilot saying "sorry" seconds before hitting the glacier.  Another mountaineering trip was cut short by bad weather high on Peru's highest peak, Huascaran.  After an unplanned bivouac, Jay and his partner's adventure was just starting when they got off the mountain and then had to navigate an uprising in the country. Jay is also involved in a number of local non-profits, including Gunnison Valley Mentors.  That organization pairs youth with mentors to help them grow.  Jay previously mentored kids and today, he's on their board of directors. In late February/ early March, Jay was one of many people who caught Covid-19, as the disease quickly spread through Crested Butte and Gunnison.  Now 7 months later, he's still suffering from a number of symptoms, from fatigue to a severe shortness of breath on the bad days.  He's been travelling to doctors across the country looking for help so he can get back to being the mountain athlete that he's known to be Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: A lack of real estate inventory continues to be a problem for buyers, so if you (or someone you know) are considering selling property in Gunnison or Crested Butte, give me (Frank Konsella) a call.  Stay up to date on real estate news in Crested Butte by signing up for my monthly market updates here.   Learn More: Altitude Painting Gunnison Valley Mentors

Jake O Connor grew up in Colorado, enjoying the outdoor lifestyle and building houses as he grew older.  In his final year at CSU in Fort Collins, Jake suffered a spinal cord injury at a jobsite, but mere months later, he returned and earned his construction management degree.  He went on to a successful career, even building a "floating casino" in Kansas City, which we talk about in this episode.   Eventually he decided to move to Crested Butte, and not only that, he thought he could improve upon the handcycle designs of the time and build something better.  After all, he could build homes, so how hard could it be to weld a few tubes together to make a bike?  Hard, obviously- but those were the beginnings of Reactive Adaptations, his handcycle company that now boasts multiple designs and all of them are handbuilt here in Crested Butte. Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: Local real estate continues to be extremely active, thanks in part to "Zoom buyers"- those that are now working from home permanently, or at least most of the time.  That means that someplace like Crested Butte has a lot of appeal versus a city that they no longer need to be tied to.  Low inventory continues to be a problem, so if you (or someone you know) are considering selling property in Gunnison or Crested Butte, give me (Frank Konsella) a call.  Stay up to date on real estate news in Crested Butte by signing up for my monthly market updates here.   Learn More: Reactive Adaptations Reactive Adaptations Facebook Reactive Adaptations Instagram  

Stevie Kremer was born in Germany, but moved to Connecticut with her family before she was 1 year old.   Her life on the CT shore, not far from New York City, was typical- golf, tennis, etc, before heading to Colorado College in Colorado Springs. It was while attending CC that she was introduced to Crested Butte and fell in love with the place, as so many of us do. Once she arrived in Crested Butte after college, she began hiking and realized she could run instead of hiking half the time, so why not run? So she kept running and even ran her first race, Crested Butte's "Cart to Cart". But it was while she was teaching in Italy that she began competing at a high level in mountain trailrunning, and not only that, she started to win races across Europe, where trailrunning is a huge sport. Trailrunning took her to every continent except Antarctica, even though she was working full time as a teacher at the Crested Butte Community School. In the winter, she discovered "skimo" racing, donning lightweight skis and racing up the mountains and winning those races, too.  Today, she still races, still works at CBCS, but her focus is now on being a mom. Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: July 2020 has been an incredibly busy month in Crested Butte real estate.  Low inventory continues to be a problem, so if you (or someone you know) are considering selling property in Gunnison or Crested Butte, give me (Frank Konsella) a call.  Stay up to date on real estate news in Crested Butte by signing up for my monthly market updates here.   Learn More: Stevie's Instagram page  

Kyleena Falzone is originally from Buffalo, New York.  From a young age, she knew she wanted to work in the restaurant business, and that only intensified after a visit with relatives in Sicily, Italy, who owned a restaurant there.  For several years, Kyleena would work in restaurants from Vail to the Hamptons, learning as much as she could about the business, and spending off seasons pursuing her other love- traveling to far-off locales like India.  So far, she's visited roughly 90 countries across the world. When the time was right, she opened a coffee shop in Western New York, but she was ready for a change and fell in love with Crested Butte and a small restaurant space at the end of Elk Avenue, where she opened the original Secret Stash pizza location. She also runs Bonez in the historic Powerhouse location, and for a short time also had a unique concept in Mount Crested Butte called The Sweet Spot, although that didn't work out quite as planned so we talked about that as an interesting counterpoint to the amazing success she's had at "the Stash". Finally, we talked about what she's been doing during the Corona Virus pandemic.  Free food, farmer's markets, delving into social media- Kyleena is one entrepreneur who has not shied away from making changes and keeping her businesses top of mind, while also helping locals at the same time.  Her realization that she has a real knack (and voice) for raising money is now leading her to another project- this time a non-profit. Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: June 2020 has been an incredibly busy month in Crested Butte real estate.  Appraisers and title companies are so busy that it's hard to get an appointment in less than 5 weeks.  Low inventory continues to be a problem, so if you (or someone you know) are considering selling property in Gunnison or Crested Butte, give me a call.  Stay up to date on real estate news in Crested Butte by signing up for my monthly market updates here.   Learn More: Secret Stash Bonez

Derrick Nehrenberg grew up in 30 different places, although most of them were in the Southeast.  After high school, he attended college for a year and sold books in the summer.  He was known to drive a bit fast at his summer job, however, and therefore a judge suggested a stint in the military (and yes, it's as good of a story as it sounds).  So the military it was- for 5 years. After the military, Derrick went back to college to become a behavioral neuroscientist/geneticist.  He was studying mice and traits within those mice, with an ultimate goal of helping people.  But he eventually decided that the best way to help people was actually to help them get outside more often.  So he traded academia for the trails, and began mapping trails in Colorado. Eventually, he and his partner began developing phone apps for trail systems and that's when the Gunnison/ Crested Butte Tourism Association asked him to not only map all 750+ miles of singletrack in the area, but to also develop a "game" for people to ride or hike all of the trails in the area, which was dubbed Trailquest.  To date, five people have completed this challenge.  That contest led to other applications, including turn by turn navigation and virtual racing events like the Gunnison Growler, which had to be cancelled (at least in person) in 2020 due to the Corona Virus. Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: Indications from the first two weeks of June are that the Crested Butte and Gunnison real estate market are recovering from Coronavirus quickly.  Pending contracts have nearly doubled and inventory is once again rising (though still low overall).  Stay up to date on real estate news in Crested Butte by signing up for my monthly market updates here.   Learn More: CBG Trails/ Trailquest TerraQuest

Jenny Stillo grew up in warm sunny Honduras, playing on the beach and studying in both English and Spanish at the American school.  For college, she ended up at Western Colorado University in Gunnison, which was trying to attract more international students at the time.  Despite the cold weather and cultural shock, Jenny liked the area and stayed after graduation as so many others do, eventually starting a family and working in Crested Butte. She began nordic skiing and it turned out she was good at it, too- placing highly in a regional race series.  That's when things got really interesting- Denver TV stations picked up on the story of the Honduran nordic skier, and the next thing Jenny knew, the Honduran Olympic committee asked her to represent the country at the 1992 winter games in Albertville France.  Whiile she may not have been a contender at the races against athlete powerhouses like Norway and Sweden, it was (obviously) still an amazing experience and she remains the only winter athlete from Honduras. Recently, she and a friend hiked the 500 mile Camino de Santiago de Compostela in Northern Spain.  She describes this journey as being on par with her Olympic experience.  I recently hiked a shorter portion of this same route and confirm that "the Camino" is an incredible adventure. Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: Real Estate Sales in Crested Butte and Gunnison fell in May 2020 due to the Coronavirus, but June already appears to be on the upswing.  Stay up to date on real estate news in Crested Butte by signing up for my monthly market updates here.   Learn More: Camino de Santiago Wiki page Jenny Stillo professional translation services

Scott Williams grew up in a number of places, including Reno, Nevada, where he used to ski.  But it was when he was in Southern California during the 1984 summer Olympic games that he was introduced to field hockey, a moment that would change his life.  Scott took to the sport quickly and was able to train with some of the best Americans in the sport.  Field hockey, for those of you who don't know, is perhaps a bit more like soccer with a stick, than it is to ice hockey. After high school, he went to the Olympic training center in Colorado Springs to further his field hockey goals.  He was able to qualify for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, and while the team didn't do as well as they hoped, it was still an amazing experience.  Scott was even near the bombing that sadly took place that year, an event which he describes in this interview. We end the conversation talking about what it's like to work from home- something that is new to many people during these Coronavirus times, but something he's been doing for years. Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: Interest rates remain historically low, which means lower monthly payments, a hedge against inflation, and more buying power.  Waiting to buy property may result in higher prices and higher interest rates.  Visit CrestedButteRealEstateAgent.com for more information or to contact Frank Konsella directly. Learn More: Field Hockey Wikipedia Page Western Governor's University

Alan Bernholtz grew up in sunny Los Angeles, California and unsurprisingly took to surfing.  Certain aspects of the surf scene didn't appeal to him however, so at 18 he packed up moved to Aspen.  But Aspen never felt like the friendly community he was looking for, and a chance visit to Crested Butte convinced Alan to move here. After a few other jobs, Alan eventually began working for Jean Pavillard and Adventures to the Edge guide service.  He began guiding on his own in the summer and eventually bought the guide service which was renamed Crested Butte Mountain Guides.  He sold that company to some of his guides and then helped Eleven Experience set up their cat skiing operation in Irwin. But what we spoke about a lot in this interview was community.  It was that sense of community that led to Alan running for town council and eventually mayor.  His guiding focus?- keeping that sense of community in Crested Butte strong, after all, that's what convinced him to move here.  Alan is a natural story teller, so this episode flows right along and I'm sure you'll enjoy it.  PS- it is marked as "explicit", so keep that in mind when you listen to this episode. Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: Sales in April 2020 saw a dip, but it wasn't nearly as drastic as one might think given the COVID-19 outbreak.  In Gunnison, there have even been bidding wars for new homes.  The best way to stay up to date on Gunnison and Crested Butte real estate?  Sign up for my newsletter. Learn More: Eleven Experience

Arvin Ramgoolam was born in Trinidad and Tobago- I was fairly certain that those islands are just off the coast of Venezuela, but it took a Google search to confirm it.  From there, he emigrated to Miami and yet somehow, he still found his way to Crested Butte (don't worry, it's a good story that you'll hear). An opportunity to open a coffee shop with his then-girlfriend (now wife) Danica led to Rumors Coffee and Tea House.  Just a couple of years later, another opportunity arrived and they took over the adjoining bookstore space and named it Townie Books.  For a bookworm like Arvin who would often read three books a week, owning a bookstore is a perfect career.  But it's more than that, and we talk about the community aspects of owning a coffee/ book store. Finally, Arvin and I talk about the craft of being a writer.  He was recently awarded with a fellowship that allows him the freedom to work on his own stories and ideas.  I hope you enjoy this episode of the Crested Butte is Home Podcast- Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: Many people are asking me what the local real estate market will do due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  The honest answer is that we just don't know yet.  Thus far, I have not seen a drop in prices, but we just don't know.  The best way to stay up to date on Gunnison and Crested Butte real estate?  Sign up for my newsletter. Learn More: Townie Books Rumors Coffee and Tea House High Country Conservation Advocates Adina Talve-Goodman Fellowship Townie Books GoFundMe Page

Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association Executive Director John Norton grew up in Pittsburgh, PA, where he played the "typical" ball sports like football.  At Dartmouth College, he met his future wife, an accomplished and avid skier, so he knew he better learn how if he wanted to stick with her.  Today, it's one of his favorite things to do, but he's also a jack-of-all-trades, enjoying kayaking, fishing, mountain biking and everything else we enjoy in Crested Butte. After college, John began climbing the corporate ladder in the marketing department at Proctor and Gamble.  He may have stayed on that track if an old college friend hadn't offered him a job at Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR), in the marketing department there.  The early 90's were an exciting time at CBMR, with new lifts like the North Face and High lift, plus innovative efforts to attract new business, like guaranteeing airline seats and "free ski".  Later, John spent roughly ten years at the Aspen Skiing Company before being called back to Crested Butte and helping secure the sale of CBMR from the Nortons and Calloways to the Muellers (Triple Peaks).   After the Mueller sale, John eventually became the executive director at the local tourism association (TA).  The TA has since grown to encompass local entrepreneurial efforts as well.  In this episode, we talk about all of this and more, so enjoy this one- Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: Like many other places, Crested Butte and Gunnison are experiencing closures due to the Corona virus.  Please consider supporting local businesses by purchasing gift certificates, or donating to local charities.  Not sure where to donate?  Contact me here. Learn More: Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association

Andy Sovick grew up in the foothills West of Fort Collins, CO.  He had dreams of becoming a "mountain man" when he was growing up, but instead attended Fort Lewis college in Durango, where he met his wife.  After graduation, he decided to walk back to Fort Collins with skis on his back.  His wife was offered a job at the old Crested Butte Academy, which is when he found (and fell in love with) Crested Butte. He worked on a number of green building projects.  The green homes that he's describing are something special- if you've been in one, you know they have a special "feel".   Andy started a "passion project" to create a visual guidebook of Crested Butte backcountry skiing utilizing aerial photos of the area.  The book was so well received that it led to a second book in the Silverton area, and has since become so successful that publishing those guidebooks has become Andy's primary career. We finished out the interview talking about travelling with his family.  Along with his wife and 8 year old son, Andy recently traveled throughout South America for several months.  If that's something you've dreamed of doing, you might want to check out some of his tips on travel. Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: Like many other places, Crested Butte and Gunnison are experiencing closures due to the Corona virus.  Please consider supporting local businesses by purchasing gift certificates, or donating to local charities.  Not sure where to donate?  Contact me here. Learn More: Green Building Timelapse Video workaway.info Beacon Guidebooks

Kent Viles hails from Muncie, Indiana (amazingly, my second guest from there).  He grew up with an ability I've never had- the ability to play musical instruments.  Like many of my guests, Kent had a love of skiing and the outdoors despite being far from mountains in the midwest.  So when it came time to choose a college, he found Western Colorado University and has been in Gunnison ever since. Kent has been involved with many aspects of the music industry, as former owner of Wildwood Music, a composer for television and film, as well as wiring houses for music in the early days of whole-house audio.  But what he's most well known for at this point is a guitar which he developed called the Dobrato.  It combines elements of different types of guitars to create it's own highly unique sound.  It's been used in a Grammy-winning song, and played by musical titans including Jimmy Buffet and more.  In this episode, Kent not only describes the development of the instrument, but also plays a short demonstration!  Enjoy! Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: Are you searching for property in Crested Butte?  Buyer's agents help guide you through the process in ways that listing agents (that are working for the seller) simply won't.  I'd love to help- Contact me here. Learn More: Castle Creek Guitars Quotes: In Muncie, there's Ball State University and the fraternities and sororities they'd have [weekend] dance parties, and our band would get booked to play these parties. So I guess I started playing out when I was about 13. We'd stuff all my gear into my mom's car and go by Freddie's house and get his drums and we'd stuff it all into a car. Then we'd tell her come back at nine o'clock and pick us up and she was our roadie.   And so it's a real scramble to put this together when the [film] director finally gets you your piece of film that you're going to score to their [movie] -you know, two months late on their deadlines, the budget is completely spent, and they need it yesterday.   So in 2008/2009, you know the whole industry with the recession, the construction industry, was of course lacking. And I found I couldn't really sustain a full on company doing audio visual and control systems, because we really needed new holes in the ground. So over many bottles of wine and discussions, Castle Creek Guitars, at least the conception of it, was born.   I was playing a resophonic style guitar, and people think of them as dobros. And it's kind of a blue-grassy toned instrument. Well, I had an idea that I'd really like to add a vibrato to it just to add another voice or another color to the palette of what this instrument was producing.  A lot of people think of it as a whammy bar.   [The Dobrato] So with one motion, I can do vibrato, and a secondary motion, I can pull my B to C sharp, which is the pedal steel move. So now our instrument, not only does it have a very unique voice because of how I wanted to tone out the resophonic guitar, but it also has a vibrato B-bender. That's really never existed before.

Ian Billick grew up in Kansas, but he was also lucky enough to be exposed to the mountains as well.  While pursuing a degree in math and science, he received some great career advice and that led him to a profession that would help him spend time outside.  And thanks to that, he found Gothic and the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL), where he is the executive director. Ian tells a great story about how RMBL started (you'd never guess the KKK was indirectly involved), and talks about some of the science that is currently happening in Gothic.  Another question I asked is "How does RMBL fit in with competing interests like recreation as Crested Butte grows?"  His answer makes complete sense.  We also talked about the potential involvement that RMBL may have with the "North Parcel", a large plot of land near the Snodgrass trailhead- how it's developed may shape Crested Butte for decades to come. Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: Mount Crested Butte recently enacted new rules and taxes for short term rentals.  Interested in knowing more about them?  Contact me here. Learn More: Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory RMBL on Facebook Quotes: ...And then all of the miners started swarming in the 1870s, so Gothic incorporated as a mining town in 1879. And it filled up to five or 10,000 people, it was one of the main ways in and out of Aspen. Aspen didn't have a train and so they would send mill trains up over East Maroon Pass.   [John Johnson] remembered all of these old abandoned mining structures, buildings and cabins up in Gothic. And so he moved the Field Station up [there], just taking over the buildings and he got several other scientists to join with him and setting up the field station 1928.   So we're sitting on all of this housing, and it's bad for us financially because it's empty for half the year. All these people would love to have housing. So we're like, well, if we need to do more housing, why not do it in Mount Crested Butte, and then we could work with the ski resort or other employers and then they could use that housing in the winter

Yon Iacchio grew up on the East Coast like so many other residents of the Gunnison Valley.  After a little bit of time at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Yon stayed and skied and climbed up and down the front range- even putting up a new climbing route in Venezuela. Recently, Yon and his wife purchased the Tomichi Creek Trading Post in Sargents.  Sargents is located on the West side of Monarch Pass.  One of the great things about the Gunnison valley is our access to outdoor recreation in three major mountain ranges.  Crested Butte is in the Elk Mountains, Lake City is located 45 miles South of Gunnison in the San Juan range, while Sargents and Taylor Park are hubs for adventure in the Sawatch Range.  In this episode, Yon and I talk about the recreational opportunities in Sargents- including a free Nordic skiing track that he's been working on.  It's a great story involving a partnership between a local ranch owner, a Uranium mine located up Marshall Pass, and the Tomichi Creek Trading Post.  Enjoy this episode and check out the Trading Post the next time you're in the area. Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: The Crested Butte real estate market has been busy the first month of 2020.  Compared to the same time last year, there are far more properties under contract, and a higher dollar volume as well.  Is this a sign of how things will be in 2020?  Time will tell... Interested in knowing more about the Crested Butte and Gunnison real estate market?- sign up for my newsletters. Learn More: Tomichi Creek Trading Post Tomichi Creek Trading Post on Facebook

Than Acuff grew up on the East coast, skiing and playing soccer before heading West to attend Colorado College in Colorado Springs.  He began visiting Crested Butte and like so many of us, knew it was the place for him.  As soon as he graduated, he found himself in Crested Butte, working the typical ski bum jobs that so many of us here in Crested Butte started off with. Eventually, however, other opportunities began to present themselves.  He was asked to be the soccer coach for the high school team, and was able to lead the Titans to a state championship in 2018.  Meanwhile, an "off the cuff" tale of a soccer tournament in Grand Junction led to his job as the long-time sports reporter for the Crested Butte News.  In fact, he even helped start the News when it split off from the Crested Butte Chronicle and Pilot, which is a great story as well, which we cover. Finally, Than is the director of the Crested Butte Avalanche Center.  He was caught in an avalanche during the 2018-19 winter- thankfully it all went well and it's become a learning experience which he shares on this podcast episode. Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: The Crested Butte Community School has long been recognized as one of the top schools in the state, thanks to the involvement of the community.  Interested in knowing more about the Crested Butte and Gunnison real estate market?- sign up for my newsletters. Learn More: Crested Butte Avalanche Center  -Also see Episode 18 with Ben Pritchett Crested Butte News Sports Page Crested Butte Community School    

OK, Ben Breslauer probably isn't the busiest person in the world, but for those of us looking in, it might seem like it.  Ben started and continues to run the Crested Butte Burger Company, at the base of the ski area.  Additionally, he's the facilities manager for the Club at Crested Butte, with locations in both Mount Crested Butte as well as the golf course in Skyland. For most people, that would be enough.  But Ben is also highly involved with local non-profits and public lands committees.  He is the president of the G.O.A.T.S (Gunnison Valley OHV Alliance of Trailriders), on the board of directors for the CBAC (Crested Butte Avalanche Center), and a founding committee member for both GPLI (Gunnison Public Lands Initiative) and STOR (Sustainable Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Committee).  Just writing that sentence made me tired- find out how he finds the time to do all this, why he does it, and still find time to ski, mountain bike, dirtbike and more.  Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: It's the start of a new year- and a new decade.  So I looked back at real estate appreciation in Crested Butte over the past 10/5/3/1 years.  Interested in knowing more about the Crested Butte and Gunnison real estate market?- sign up for my newsletters. Learn More: The Club at Crested Butte Crested Butte Burger Company G.O.A.T.S GPLI  -Also see Episode 16 with Maddie Rehn CBAC  -Also see Episode 18 with Ben Pritchett STOR  

Growing up in Boston, Danny Hartigan developed a love of skateboarding as well as snowboarding.  He recalls the early days of snowboarding when he had to take a test to prove he should be allowed to snowboard at "ski" areas.  Snowboarding brought him west, to Western Colorado University in Gunnison.   He continued to skateboard during the summer and perhaps surprisingly, Colorado is home to a thriving skating scene thanks to parks like the ones found in Crested Butte and Gunnison.  It's even possible that the Big Mine park (one of the earliest in CO) in Crested Butte will be expanded in the coming years. Next, we moved on to kayaking.  The 90's were a time of exploration on the local rivers and Danny talks about his own experiences as well as some of the first descents on creeks like Oh-Be-Joyful and Daisy creek.  This is some great history for all you "river rats" out there. Finally, we talked about his rock and roll band- Gun Rack, which you may see in Crested Butte or in Gunnison.  And we finish off with roofing, ice dams, and what you can do to keep your roof in good shape in Crested Butte. I hope you enjoy this episode of the Crested Butte is Home podcast- please share this episode with your friends via email, social media, or word of mouth! Please subscribe to Crested Butte is Home on your favorite podcast player and leave a review- and thanks for listening. Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: Interested in learning more about the Grand Lodge?  The Grand Lodge is one of Crested Butte's most affordable condo options and a great rental property. Learn More: Gun Rack Facebook Page Contact Frank if you need to reach Danny about roofing

Debra Callihan has deep roots here in the Gunnison Valley.  She was born here while her father was at Western Colorado University, which Debra also attended.  Even when her husband was Colorado's Lieutenant Governor, they tried to spend as much time as they could here, rather than in Denver.  Don't worry- we don't talk about politics too much, though we did discuss it a little bit. Debra is perhaps most well known for her involvement with local animal rescue groups.  She helped keep what is now know as the Gunnison Valley Animal Welfare League (GVAWL) going back in the 80's, growing it into the tremendous organization that it is today.  Seeing a need for a foster-care approach to animal rescue, she is now heavily involved with Gunnison Underdog Rescue (GUR).  GUR has proved to be so successful that they even take in animals from other parts of the state. When it comes to advice for those contemplating adoption, she has several pieces of advice- do your homework, spay or neuter, and "adopt, don't shop". I hope you enjoy this episode of the Crested Butte is Home podcast- please share this episode with your friends via email, social media, or word of mouth! Please subscribe to Crested Butte is Home on your favorite podcast player and leave a review- and thanks for listening. Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: Interested in Crested Butte Real Estate for both you and your furry friend?  While most condos in the area allow pets for homeowners, a few do not.  Contact me and I can help you stay away from the ones that don't. Learn More: Gunnison Underdog Rescue (GUR) Gunnison Underdog Rescue on Facebook Gunnison Valley Animal Welfare League (GVAWL) Paradise Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)  

Noah Wight is my guest on this episode of the Crested Butte is Home podcast.  Noah spent some of his youth at the hippy hamlet of Ward, located west of Boulder, Colorado, before moving to the East coast. He eventually made his way back to the University of Colorado and eventually Crested Butte. Noah has been the owner of Crested Butte's television station, CBTV10, for many years.  Many people will recognize him from his daily weather forecasts for the Gunnison and Crested Butte area.  We talk about the logistics of running a TV station, as well as the challenges of making sure his TV station remains available over the airwaves and other methods. Noah injured his spinal cord years ago (while wearing a helmet), and we talk about that accident, making his home accessible, and his return to skiing and other sports since the injury. I hope you enjoy this episode of the Crested Butte is Home podcast- please share this episode with your friends via email, social media, or word of mouth! Please subscribe to Crested Butte is Home on your favorite podcast player and leave a review- and thanks for listening. Learn More: CBTV 10 Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: Looking for a Ski In/ Ski Out property in Crested Butte?  This link will provide you with all the information you need, including current listings!

  The tables are turned on this week's episode, with Frank Konsella becoming the interviewee rather than the interviewer.  We start off talking about where I grew up, in the foothills above Golden, CO. Like many of my guests, I grew up ski racing at Winter Park, so when it came time to find a place to live, I naturally chose somewhere with great skiing- Crested Butte.  Skiing has always been a big part of my life, so of course we talk about all the layers of skiing that I've been involved with- from competing in Big Mountain events, to skiing all of Colorado's Fourteeners, to writing a backcountry guidebook along with Brittany Konsella. We finished up the interview talking (not surprisingly) about real estate.  So if you've always wanted to know more about me- this is your chance. I hope you enjoy this episode of the Crested Butte is Home podcast- please share this episode with your friends via email, social media, or word of mouth! Please subscribe to Crested Butte is Home on your favorite podcast player and leave a review- and thanks for listening. Learn More: 14erskiers Our CO ski guidebook Share The Slate Crested Butte- Gunnison Trail App Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: Please sign up for my Crested Butte/ Gunnison real estate Newsletter!

Growing up in the midwest, Stephanie Ballard jokingly described her favorite pastime as "picking tar out of potholes with sticks".  All kidding aside, she actually had a talent for volleyball and went to school in Charleston, South Carolina.  Her dream of being an interior designer was on hold for a little while after college, while she successfully followed other career options. Eventually she made her way to southern California, took a pay cut, and began what she calls an apprenticeship in interior design.  Her career got a boost when Hollywood called and she appeared on interior design shows on Bravo and Lifetime television.  After meeting her Crested Butte-based fiance in California, she made the move to Crested Butte and now operates Covet Living interiors in a space that she shares with me and my colleagues here at Signature Properties.  In this episode we talked a lot about design, what's a trend versus what is timeless, and more. If you have any interest in design and decorating, you will surely enjoy this episode. I hope you enjoy this episode of the Crested Butte is Home podcast- please share this episode with your friends via email, social media, or word of mouth! Please subscribe to Crested Butte is Home on your favorite podcast player and leave a review- and thanks for listening. Learn More: Covet Living Interiors Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: Thinking about purchasing a property that might need some remodeling and interior design?  That can be a great way to go about purchasing property here in Crested Butte.  Let's chat!

  Tanith Martinez grew up at the Orvis Hot Springs between Ridgway and Ouray, Colorado.  On a trip to Alaska, she watched a pilot land a bushplane nearby and decided that's what she wanted to do.  After high school, she immediately started working towards getting her pilot's license at Northwest Colorado Community College.  By the time she was finishing her undergraduate education at Metro State College of Denver, she was already teaching other aspiring pilots how to fly. After teaching for several years up and down the front range, Tanith and her family made the move to where they really wanted to be: Gunnison.  Tanith now has her own plane and continues to teach others how to fly and get their pilot's license.  She also offers sightseeing tours, hunting reconnaissance flights, and even real estate tours for larger ranch properties. I hope you enjoy this episode of the Crested Butte is Home podcast- please share this episode with your friends! Please subscribe to Crested Butte is Home on your favorite podcast player and leave a review- and thanks for listening. Learn More: On the Fly Aviation Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: In this episode, I discussed Buckhorn Ranch, a fly in/fly out community here in Crested Butte.  More information including current listings can be found at my website.

  Eric Larsen grew up in Wisconsin, where he loved to be outside and come up with his own adventures in his backyard.  That desire to be outside and explore has continued to this day.  Eric is a professional explorer, and has led trips to the North Pole, South Pole, Mount Everest, Greenland and more. Eric continues to come up with new ways of exploring.  As one example, he's been doing mini "state adventures", where he comes up with a cool adventure in each state.  We talk about what goes into planning these big expeditions, as well as the business aspects, like attracting sponsorship money.  Here in Crested Butte, his adventures are more straightforward and familiar to many of us- as simple as spending time with his family or riding the 401 trail on his mountain bike.  The ability to have an adventure right from his front door is one of the reasons why Eric recently relocated here. I hope you enjoy this episode of the Crested Butte is Home podcast- please share this episode with your friends! Please subscribe to Crested Butte is Home on your favorite podcast player and leave a review- and thanks for listening. Learn More: Eric Larsen Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: In this episode I discuss some of my awesome new listings in the Crested Butte area- all of my listings can be found here.

  Wendy Fisher grew up skiing in Northern California with her family and quickly learned to love the sport.  She began racing and excelled at it- so much so that she ended up at Burke Mountain Ski Academy in Vermont and the U.S. Ski Team.  In 1991 she won the overall title at the U.S National Alpine Championships right here in Crested Butte.  The following year, she qualified for the Olympics in Albertville France, though a training run crash kept her from competing. In this episode, we talk about all of those accomplishments, followed by what she thought was going to be a move away from skiing.  A series of fortunate events brought her back to competitive skiing in Big Mountain Freeskiing.  With newfound freedom, she competed in freeskiing contests, starred in ski movies from Matchstick Productions and Warren Miller, and graced many a magazine cover.   Our conversation about her ski career evolution continued- now she's the mother of two skiers and mostly skis as a family.  This was a great conversation not just about skiing, but also about competing and mindset- plus why she lives in Crested Butte and how this mountain can challenge and rejuvenate even a professional skier. I hope you enjoy this episode of the Crested Butte is Home podcast- please share this episode with your friends! Please subscribe to Crested Butte is Home on your favorite podcast player and leave a review- and thanks for listening. Learn More: Wendy Fisher Website "SuperMom" Video   Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: In this episode I discuss the falling sales numbers coupled with rising prices in the Crested Butte area. See all my market reports.

  Brittany Konsella is one of the Crested Butte area's most accomplished athletes, and I probably could have done multiple episodes with her, rather than jamming it all into one episode.  She's also a big fan of setting goals, and we talk about many of them in this interview.  She is one of just two women to climb and ski all of Colorado's 14,000' peaks, aka the 14ers.  She accomplished this several years ago, and even today only twenty people or so have skied all the fourteeners.   On the bike, she became the first person male or female to finish "Trailquest", a contest devised by the Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association.  Trailquest uses the CBG Trails App, which mapped every trail in the Gunnison/ Crested Butte area, from the most heavily traveled classic rides to the most obscure and abandoned trails in far-flung corners of the county.  In total, there are over 750 miles of unique trails in the area, and Brittany was the first to ride all of them. Finally, we talk about an accident that took place on July 6th, 2019.  At a remote trailhead, Brittany's car accidentally ran over her with both wheels, leading to a broken femur, broken neck, and other injuries.  Her goals today revolve around recovery from those injuries on a day to day, week to week, and month to month basis.  Even now, just seven weeks post-accident, often walking without a cane or crutch, and slowly being cleared for more activities.  And yes- if the last name seems familiar, it's because she's my wife. I hope you enjoy this episode of the Crested Butte is Home podcast- please share this episode with your friends! Please subscribe to Crested Butte is Home on your favorite podcast player and leave a review- and thanks for listening. Learn More: 14erskiers.com Brittany's Injuries Trailquest Trailquest Video with Brittany     Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: Keep track of what's going on in Crested Butte and Gunnison, with neighborhood by neighborhood analysis of the local real estate market: Sign up for my monthly newsletters

Randy Felix has held a number of fascinating jobs over the years.  An interest in climbing led to several years of "rigging" ropes.  One example of rigging would be safely placing chainlink fence over a cliff that threatens a highway below.  He also traveled the world setting up the ropes for adventure races, connecting desert towers with ropes for the racers, or a rappel next to /Telluride's famous Bridal Veil falls, as two examples.  He also began fighting wildfires in Oregon after seeing a help wanted sign.  That led to a career as a firefighter including many years travelling between Breckenridge and Crested Butte for work.  Today, he's one of the first full time paid firefighters at the Crested Butte Fire Department.  He's even volunteered in Honduras to work with firefighters there. Finally, Randy has also donated time to multiple search and rescue organizations.  Presently, he is the president of Crested Butte search and rescue.  If you are lost or injured somewhere in the backcountry, search and rescue is the organization that will come to your aid- and it's a volunteer effort so you won't be charged if you do need help (unless of course you need an ambulance or heli rescue).  If you're looking for a great non-profit organization to donate your time or money to, consider CBSAR. I hope you enjoy this episode of the Crested Butte is Home podcast- please share this episode with your friends! Please subscribe to Crested Butte is Home on your favorite podcast player and leave a review- and thanks for listening. Learn More: Crested Butte Search and Rescue Facebook Page Crested Butte Fire Department "Ropes Rigging" at Primal Quest -There are some great photos of some of the projects Randy describes in the podcast episode. Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: Contact Frank if you or anyone you know is interested in Crested Butte real estate

  Brian Riepe starting racing mountain bikes professionally back in the early days of MTB racing.  Once his career in MTB racing started to end in the late 1990's, he managed Colorado Boomerangs, which produced boomerangs in Gunnison.  There aren't a lot of manufacturing jobs in this area, but that was one of them.  He also competed in endurance horse racing- backcountry horse racing events with required pit stops that frequently lasted 6 hours or more. But mountain biking remained a passion.  With some knowledge of the printing business, he began publishing Mountain Flyer magazine.  Mountain Flyer covered mountain biking with a rocky mountain based perspective, rather than being based in California or the East coast.  He remains at the helm today, though the magazine is now owned by a company with other magazine titles.  We discuss the publishing business and why Mountain Flyer has been successful during times that have been difficult on other publishers.  We also discuss the role of the magazine in terms of promoting mountain bike advocacy.  And then we go down the rabbit hole of E-bikes (bikes with battery assist on the uphill)- which is a surprisingly contentious issue. I hope you enjoy this episode of the Crested Butte is Home podcast- please share this episode with your friends! Please subscribe to Crested Butte is Home on your favorite podcast player and leave a review- and thanks for listening. Learn More: Mountain Flyer Magazine Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: Please sign up for my monthly newsletter, filled with local events, Crested Butte and Gunnison real estate market updates, and more.

  Gary Pierson grew up in the Southeast corner of Colorado in the town of Lamar.  Lamar isn't in the mountains, so Gary grew up doing the things that kids in that part of the state (along with neighboring Kansas and Oklahoma) do, like football.  It wasn't until college, at Adams State in Alamosa, that he began participating in mountain sports like mountain biking and skiing, but he quickly fell in love with the freedom of those sports. His career in college administration took him to several college towns including the midwest, so when the opportunity to come back to Colorado at Western in Gunnison, he jumped at the chance and has been here ever since.  He's fallen in love with not just the recreational opportunities, but also the town of Gunnison and the students of Western, that he helps on a daily basis.   If there's one thing I've learned in these 37 (and counting!) podcast episodes, it's that Western Colorado University plays an integral role in life in the Gunnison valley.  Enjoy this episode where Gary and I get to talk about all things Western- I hope you enjoy this episode of the Crested Butte is Home podcast- please share this episode with your friends! Please subscribe to Crested Butte is Home on your favorite podcast player and leave a review- and thanks for listening. Learn More: Western Colorado University Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: Please sign up for my monthly newsletter, filled with local events, Crested Butte and Gunnison real estate market updates, and more.

  With a name like "Deadhead Ed", it should come as no surprise that Ed Boardman is a big fan of the Grateful Dead.  He saw literally 100's of shows when the Grateful Dead were still touring prior to Jerry Garcia's passing.  And he continues to see shows that "spun off" from the band, such as "Dead and Company", "Phil and Friends", etc.  He also became a "taper", meaning he would record the shows that he was attending in the audience.  Grateful Dead fans the world over eagerly trade live tape recordings of the shows.  This experience had a practical aspect as well- leading Ed to a job at the Crested Butte Center for the Arts in their audio-visual department. Ed originally came to Crested Butte after an unfortunate break-in in Summit County, where he lived for roughly 10 years.  His first winter in Crested Butte was spent in a travel trailer at the old Irwin Lodge, where the annual snowfall tops 500".  He's also competed in every "Arapahoe Basin Enduro", a skiing endurance event where competitors make as many runs as they can on the famous Pallavicini ski lift.  Lastly, Deadhead Ed's Chihuahua Rita is quickly becoming nearly as well known around town as Ed. I hope you enjoy this episode of the Crested Butte is Home podcast- please share this episode with your friends! Please subscribe to Crested Butte is Home on your favorite podcast player and leave a review- and thanks for listening. Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: In this episode, I point out my condo page- one of the many helpful pages on my website that you can't find anywhere else. Most of the local condo pages have their own page, complete with a map, current listings, recent sales, and other helpful info.

  David Scheefer grew up in the shadows of the Olympic venues of Lake Placid, New York. Not surprisingly, that meant that he participated in all types of winter sports, including nordic skiing, alpine skiing, skating, bobsled, and if you were a kid in Lake Placed and had the guts, you could even do the Nordic ski jump. David attended Western State College (as it was then known) in Gunnison, and never left.  He spent much of his time living in the Quartz creek town of Ohio City, which had a famous high-end restaurant at one time where David worked.  (Quartz creek is located Northeast of Gunnison and also includes the town of Pitkin). He built his own cabin there, which led to a career as a craftsman.  One of his projects was building several buildings at the beautiful Castleton Ranch in Ohio Creek, North of Gunnison. He was also one of the early pioneers of backcountry skiing in the area.  At the time, the gear consisted of leather boots and skinny skis, though he wasn't introduced to the telemark turn until later in his ski career.  Many of the local peaks were first descended by David- possibly including the iconic East face of Gothic Mountain, which is visible from Crested Butte Mountain Resort and the Gold Link and Prospect neighborhoods. I hope you enjoy this episode of the Crested Butte is Home podcast- please share this episode with your friends! Please subscribe to Crested Butte is Home on your favorite podcast player and leave a review- and thanks for listening. Gunnison and Crested Butte Real Estate: Crested Butte Real Estate Agent

Will Shoemaker grew up in the midwest, but despite that, his parents were avid skiers so he grew up with a passion for skiing and the outdoors, like so many of us here in Crested Butte and the Gunnison Valley.  Thanks to that passion, Will chose to attend Western Colorado University and became interested in journalism.  Following an internship at the Gunnison Country Times, he eventually stayed on and is now the editor of Gunnison's local newspaper. In this episode, Will and I discussed the challenges of journalism in today's digital age.  While large metro newspapers struggle to compete in a sea of media content, smaller papers like the Gunnsion Country Times continue to stay relevant.  After all, no one else is covering local events and politics the way that local papers do.  We also talk about the future of journalism- how much longer will a paper like the Times remain in a paper, rather than digital, format?  And why are so few articles in the Gunnison Country Times available on the internet for non-subscribers. Of course, we also talk about why Will loves living in the Gunnison Valley.  he and his wife recently completed the Elk Mountain Grand Traverse ski race between Crested Butte and Aspen.  Will is also an avid backcountry snowboarder, hunter, trail runner, and more. I hope you enjoy this episode of the Crested Butte is Home podcast! Please subscribe to Crested Butte is Home on your favorite podcast player and leave a review- and thanks for listening! Learn More: Gunnison Country Times Gunnison and Crested Butte Real Estate: Crested Butte Real Estate Agent

  Ciera Freson was recruited out of her home state of Washington to ski race at Western State College (at is was then known).  While she hadn't even visited Gunnison before arriving for her first fall semester, she quickly fell in love with the school and the area.  After graduation, Ciera stayed on at Western State in the admissions department, recruiting other students to her alma mater.  Ski racing remained in her blood, however, so today she is the coach of the alpine racing program at Western Colorado University (as it is now known). After she married her husband Eric, she realized that she had a real passion for weddings and decided to start a wedding planning business.  That business, Lucky Penny Events, grew quickly and now also includes a rental business.  Weddings in Crested Butte are extremely popular, with several weddings nearly every weekend throughout the summer and fall months.  Ciera gets to plan them, which sounds like a ton of fun when you realize that can include everything up to and including unicorn ponies.  Yes, you read that right, and you'll have to listen to find out what that means... I hope you enjoy this episode of the Crested Butte is Home podcast! Please subscribe to Crested Butte is Home on your favorite podcast player and leave a review- and thanks for listening! Learn More: Lucky Penny Events Lucky Penny on Instagram Gunnison and Crested Butte Real Estate: Crested Butte Real Estate Agent

Renee "Crash" Newton grew up in the Southeast and arrived in the Gunnison Valley as a mountain neophyte. Like so many others, however, she quickly found her place here and took up all the mountain sports- while also bringing a piece of home with her: roller derby, where she got her nickname "Crash".  With her college background in both biology and chemistry, Renee stumbled into a perfect job that used that knowledge, distilling rum at Montanya Distillers (see episode 20 of the Crested Butte is Home Podcast). Recently, Renee went off on her own to start her company Fireweed Ferments, which produces fermented foods such as Sauerkraut and Kimchi.  Fermented foods are all the rage, since they have "good bacteria" for your gut and may help with digestion and other benefits.  We discuss the process of making fermented foods, the history of fermented foods, and why she has such a passion about it.  And let's not forget about some of her recipes that you can find on her website, like a delicious sounding Bloody Mary utilizing her Kimchi. If you've ever wondered about the ancient art of fermenting foods, you won't want to miss this podcast. I hope you enjoy this episode of the Crested Butte is Home podcast! Please subscribe to Crested Butte is Home on your favorite podcast player and leave a review- and thanks for listening! Learn More: Fireweed Ferments Gunnison and Crested Butte Real Estate: Crested Butte Real Estate Agent

Deuce Wynes grew up in the "state of hockey", Minnesota.  Like so many other Minnesota kids, that meant that Deuce began playing hockey at an early age.  High school games were attended by thousands of spectators.  Deuce didn't end his hockey career there, however, and instead took his talents to Division 1 schools including Illinois-Chicago and Lake Superior State, which was just coming off a national championship season. Post college, Deuce got an invite to tryout for the pro hockey team in El Paso Texas- not exactly the same hockey hotbed that Minnesota is, but with passionate fans nonetheless. After a couple of years in Texas, Deuce moved on and took a job opportunity in Crested Butte. Deuce continues to be active in the local hockey scene, however- coaching youth hockey, playing in local leagues (contributing plenty of advice in the process), and passing on his love of the game to his family as well. Deuce is also a talented Crested Butte general contractor with his company Blueline Builders.    I hope you enjoy this episode of the Crested Butte is Home podcast. Please subscribe to Crested Butte is Home on your favorite podcast player and leave a review- and thanks for listening! Learn More: Blueline Builders Real Estate: Crested Butte Real Estate Agent

  Turner Petersen is one of those few lucky souls who actually grew up right here in Crested Butte.  While other guests on the podcast can say the same, Turner is the first guest that graduated from the Crested Butte Community School- just last year. (Prior to the late 90's, Crested Butte kids had to go to Gunnison for high school). Now going to college in Utah, Turner talks about growing up in Crested Butte, and what it means to him now that he is no longer here.  While many of Turner's peers needed to leave Crested Butte to realize what a special place it is, Turner almost always had the same love for skiing, and by extension Crested Butte, that his parents have. He also started backcountry skiing at a relatively early age- in fact he had to wait several years before he was allowed to take his avalanche course by the local guiding company.  What do his parents, peers, and mentors think when someone that age wakes up at 3 in the morning just to ski a local peak, such as Whetstone Mountain's "M face"?  Listen to find out... I hope you enjoy this episode of the Crested Butte is Home podcast. Please subscribe to Crested Butte is Home on your favorite podcast player and leave a review- and thanks for listening! Learn More: Turner Petersen Instagram Real Estate: Crested Butte Real Estate Agent

Like many locals, Ben Morello grew up skiing in the East coast- in this case, the Poconos of Pennsylvania.  He started teaching skiing as a teenager- something he's continued to do for the past 25 years here in Crested Butte.  He also picked up telemark skiing, the freeheel form of skiing that may not be as popular as it once was, but still has diehard fans, including Ben.  In fact, Ben won the 2008 US Telemark Freeskiing Championships. Ben's life still revolves around skiing in the summer, just in a different way.  Come summertime, he builds lifts throughout the western states, most commonly in Colorado.  He's also worked in New Zealand and Canada.  If you've ever wondered how lifts are built and take you to all those amazing places on the mountain, you'll want to tune in for this one.  And let's not forget, Crested Butte is due for some new lifts, so what does a guy who's seen a lot of ski lift layouts think Crested Butte should do with their lifts? I hope you enjoy this episode of the Crested Butte is Home podcast! Please subscribe to Crested Butte is Home on your favorite podcast player and leave a review- and thanks for listening! Real Estate: Crested Butte Real Estate Agent

Sean Crossen grew up on the East Coast as a ski racer.  After graduating from Green Mountain Valley School in Vermont, Sean made his way to Gunnison to attend Western State College (as it was then known).  Sean quit racing, but continued to ski and entered some of the first US Extreme Skiing Championships in the early 90's.  By the early 2000's, Sean became an early pioneer of skiing Colorado's "Fourteeners", the 54 peaks that stand over 14,000' tall.   Sean used his art degree and had an art studio for a short time, though the majority of his income these days comes from painting houses.  Recently, he built his own house in the Larkspur neighborhood- and we talk about that process in the interview. The bulk of this interview, however, revolves around an avalanche accident that took place on February 3rd, 2017 outside Gothic, CO.  This was a close call, and Sean discusses the events leading up to the avalanche, what he remembers while he was caught in the avalanche, and the subsequent rescue that took place.  Even if you aren't a backcountry skier, there are lessons to be learned about first aid, search and rescue, and more.  A special thanks to Sean for recounting his story in such detail. I hope you enjoy this episode of the Crested Butte is Home podcast! Please subscribe to Crested Butte is Home on your favorite podcast player and leave a review- and thanks for listening! Learn More: Gunnison Country Times Article on Building Costs CO Avalanche Info Center Report on Accident Real Estate: Crested Butte Real Estate Agent

Ali Fuchs grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, where she was lucky enough to have a friend who regularly visited Crested Butte with family.  Those early trips gave Ali an early appreciation of Crested Butte, and after college and a few years chasing a career in California, she came home to Crested Butte.  Ali spent the next few years learning how to mountain bike while working in typical ski town jobs, like painting houses and working in restaurant kitchens.  As the years passed, she dreamed of opening her own bike shop and eventually did- Big Al's Bicycle Heaven, now located on Elk Avenue in downtown Crested Butte. In the early days, she would barely be open during the winters, but today she stays open thanks to fat bikes.  Fat bikes have caught on in the past few years, and today many visitors come to Crested Butte and spend a day trying them- or they come here specifically to fat bike, which was the case for many visitors during last week's Fat Bike World Championships.  In this episode, Ali and I spoke at length about what it's like to fat bike, what kind of gear to use, and where fat biking is allowed these days. If you've always wondered why her shop is called "Big Al's", you'll have to wait until the end of the episode, however. I hope you enjoy this episode of the Crested Butte is Home podcast. Please subscribe to Crested Butte is Home on your favorite podcast player and leave a review- and thanks for listening! Learn More: Big Al's Bicycle Heaven Fat Biking Trail Map App Real Estate: Crested Butte Real Estate Agent

  The year was 1993, and the movie was "Soul Sessions and Epic Impressions".  Thus began the career of Murray Wais and his business partner Steve Winter and their fledgling company, Matchstick Productions (MSP).  Every year since then, the Crested Butte based film company wows crowds across North America and beyond, and has grown into one of the most popular action sports film producers in the world. Crested Butte is often shown prominently in their films- from a then unknown Seth Morrison jumping all of the Edge in their first film, to Crested Butte native and two time Olympian Aaron Blunck more recently.  From my own personal perspective, it isn't a stretch for me to say that Matchstick movies and their movies constitutes one of the reasons why I moved to Crested Butte in 1996.  In this episode, Murray and I discuss a wide variety of subjects: How he got into the ski film business. The athletes he has worked with over the years. How the ski film industry has changed. Why MSP stayed in Crested Butte, rather than relocating to a larger city which may have made travel and production logistics easier for the company. How MSP finds the athletes and the music for their movies. I hope you enjoy this special episode of the Crested Butte is Home podcast. Please subscribe to Crested Butte is Home on your favorite podcast player and leave a review- and thanks for listening! Learn More: Matchstick Productions has two websites.  On the ski side, visit: skimovie.com Focusing more on the commercial side: mspfilms.com

  Over twenty five years ago, Pat O'Neill got the call he was hoping for and began his career as a teacher in Crested Butte.  Over that time, he's been able to watch the school grow from the small location where the town offices are now located, to the much larger K-12 school on the edge of town.  Not only has the school grown, it's also become one of the highest rated schools in Colorado, public or private.  We discuss the reasons for that success, as well as some of his favorite books from his English classes. When he isn't teaching, Pat can often be found skiing, and training for races such as the Al Johnson and Elk Mountain Grand Traverse.  The Al Johnson is an annual uphill-downhill telemark race on Crested Butte's North Face, and Pat has won the event on multiple occasions.  The Elk Mountain Grand Traverse is an even bigger event, drawing competitors from around the world to ski the 40 miles from Crested Butte to Aspen.  Pat pioneered the course, has competed every year (finishing all but one time), and won the event as well.  Not bad for a full-time teacher! Please subscribe to Crested Butte is Home on your favorite podcast player and leave a review- and thanks for listening! Learn More: If you would like to donate to Pat's fundraising campaign for Six Points, the GoFundMe site is here. If you're thinking about entering the Elk Mountain Grand Traverse someday, visit their website. Finally, if you would like to know more about the Crested Butte Community School, their website can be found here: https://cbcs.gunnisonschools.net/

Like many other Crested Buttians, Ben Eaton is an East coast transplant, originally from the small ski town of Waterville Valley, New Hampshire. Ben grew up ski racing before attending St. Lawrence University in upstate New York to study art.  After college, he found his way to Vail, both to coach ski racing and to further his knowledge of working with metal, aka blacksmithing.  One thing led to another and he found himself in Crested Butte, and working as a full-time Blacksmith making decorative door handles, fireplaces, etc, as well as his own artwork. Later, while spending time in Europe while his wife pursued her degree, he began paragliding.  (Paragliding is flying through the air with a parachute-like canopy.  Parasailing is what you might see when someone is getting towed behind a boat.  Hang gliding uses a larger wing with framework.  And finally, speed flying is using a much smaller wing at higher speeds generally at lower flying altitudes).  On any given day when the wind is right, you may very well see Ben or one of his flying friends soaring high above the mountain (there is a take-off near the top of the Monument ski run). I hope you enjoy my conversation with Ben about "hand forged custom ironwork" and paragliding as much as I enjoyed the interview!  Please subscribe on your favorite podcast player and leave a review! If you would like to learn more about Ben Eaton, his art, and his business Get Bent Blacksmithing, visit his website here: https://getbentllc.com/ To learn more about Crested Butte paragliding and other "air sports" like hang gliding, visit the Crested Butte Soaring Society's Facebook page, or maybe even attend one of their meetings: https://www.facebook.com/flycrestedbutte/

  Carrie Jo Chernoff Hicks has a great story to tell, and I'm so glad she was able to join me for this episode.  Originally from Maryland, Carrie Jo grew up loving karate, but then she didn't... Instead of giving it up, she stuck with it, however, eventually earning a black belt.  That experience taught her many life lessons that stayed with her, even today. Once Carrie Jo moved to the Crested Butte area, she took up outdoor sports like so many of us have.  In Mountain Biking, she took on the Montezuma's Revenge race- a 24 hour stage race that no one ever finished.  Competing in the Crested Butte Extreme Skiing championships (now more commonly known as "Big Mountain"), she and her husband did so well they were able to make the down payment on their home. Today, Carrie Jo has taken all of those experiences and used them to help her clients at her Crossfit gym, Synergy Athlete.  As I listened to Carrie Jo, it struck me that she is a great motivator thanks to her life experiences and how she can relate those to goal setting.  Finally, we discuss community, and a terrific non-profit that she supports. For more information about Synergy Athlete, Crossfit, and Carrie Jo Chernoff Hicks, visit the website: Synergy Athlete. Or the Facebook Page: Synergy Athlete on Facebook If you would like to learn more about the Crested Butte fund, or donate to it, visit their website: Crested Butte Fund PS- Sorry for the rough audio on both the intro and the "Crested Butte Real Estate Minute".  The interview is fine, however.  I was on vacation and did not have my microphone with me, so I did the best I could with what I had :)

Krista Powers moved from Vermont to Crested Butte in the late 90's- but that doesn't mean she forgot her Vermont roots.  Those roots include maple syrup production starting back with "Grandpa Archie" back in 1959.  Recently, Krista has taken that small business to new levels with her company Vermont Sticky, that can be found in many local establishments throughout the Gunnison Valley.  During a Grand Traverse Ski race from Crested Butte to Aspen, Krista also started to think about making energy gels and energy powdered drinks with maple syrup.  She talks about those products and even lets us in on a product that she hasn't quite released yet. Another interesting topic that we discussed was her involvement with ICELab- a program for small businesses and start-ups that I think is a really great amenity for budding entrepreneurs in the Gunnison valley.  She recently completed the program by making a pitch at "Trout tank", more or less a local version of the TV show Shark Tank. Vermont Sticky products would be a great gift during this holiday season- check out the website below to buy directly or find local retailers:  Vermont Sticky Interested in learning more about ICELab?  Visit their website to learn more about their Incubator and Accelerator programs, Gunnison office space, and more: Gunnison ICELab

Andy Eflin was born in Crested Butte the same year the ski area started- 1961. His dad, Dick Eflin, started the resort, along with Fred Rice.  Class sizes were just a bit smaller back then- Andy had only one other kid his age and eventually he attended school in Gunnison, as kids did through the 1990's.  After time in Durango and Steamboat, Andy returned and opened Eflin sports which he ran along with his father.  Eflin Sports was eventually purchased and renamed Peak Sports- a Vail-owned business.  Quite literally, Andy was able to share his thoughts on Crested Butte transitioning from a "mom and pop" ski area to the publicly owned large corporation that is is today under the new Vail ownership.  Today, Andy can often be found at the Jorgensen Ice Rink in Gunnison, where he works for the city's parks and recreation department. If you'd like to contact Andy or learn more about Gunnison Parks and Recreation programs, go here:  Jorgensen Ice Rink and Events Center

Karen Hoskin can be described as a serial entrepreneur, having started a number of businesses over the years.  She is perhaps best known for Montanya Distillers, however, which produces craft rum right here in Crested Butte.  The tasting room, located in the heart of Crested Butte across the street from the post office, has become one of Crested Butte's go-to visits for small plates and a delicious rum cocktail.  In this podcast episode, Karen and I discussed her business endeavors, the process of making rum in the Colorado mountains, and making the move from Silverton, where Montanya's originally started.  We also discussed collaboration between distillers, wine makers, and others, which is quite similar to what's going on in the craft beer industry (see episode 10- Dave Nornes of Irwin Brewing). On top of that, Karen is an advocate for her employees, many of whom have been able to purchase property locally, and have gone on to start their own businesses.  She's also making Montanya as green as it can be- minimizing waste wherever possible.  And since that isn't enough on her plate, so also started Zoetica, which aims to reduce waste by selling kits with life's daily essentials. Learn more: Montanya Rum Montanya Facebook Page Zoetica