February Mountain Memo

PHOTO BY BARBARA KAUFFMAN

February Mountain Memo E-Newsletter

Did you know the Crested Butte Land Trust has a monthly E-newsletter?

Click here to opt in!

Just curious to read our latest articles and updates? Click here to read our latest Mountain Memo.

Broadaxe Load Mining Claim Purchase

We are excited to share that the Crested Butte Land Trust has purchased the 7.23 acre Broadaxe Load mining claim in North Pole Basin near Treasury Mountain. The Broadaxe Load is the latest addition to the Land Trust’s portfolio of backcountry parcels located throughout the Elk Mountain Range that help protect our high country from development in areas that need to be protected for plants, animals and people to enjoy for generations to come.

By purchasing the Broadaxe Load, the Land Trust is adding to an area of over 6,000 acres known as the High Elk Corridor. Situated between the Raggeds Wilderness and Maroon Bells–Snowmass Wilderness Areas, this is a pristine, alpine and subalpine region protected through unique land conservation efforts over the past few decades. The High Elk Corridor includes unparalleled biological research opportunities, wildlife habitat and migration corridors and critical watershed protection. In addition to creating traditional conservation easements with private landowners, the Land Trust also works to acquire backcountry mining claims and parcels that have high ecological and social value. The acquisition of the Broadaxe Load is one more step toward protecting undisturbed, continuous healthy landscapes for all.

The Land Trust is grateful for our partnership with the former owner of the Broadaxe Load, Brad Larson of Basalt, Colorado. Like many owners of similar parcels, Brad saw the value of selling the land for conservation, rather than for development. Thank you, Brad!

Gold Medal Waters

The Gunnison and Taylor Rivers have been recently included into Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Gold Medal Program. These rivers showcase Colorado’s most healthy fisheries. This designation is the result of many years of hard work in water flow management, fishery monitoring, and habitat improvement and conservation. We are so grateful to all of the conservation and stewardship efforts of our dedicated partners keeping our valley’s waterways healthy and at this highest standard for generations. Check out Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s video on this incredible achievement.

Winter Field Trips

You can still sign up for our remaining two FREE field trips, Fridays at 10 AM.

Join us to play in the snow on Friday, February 24 with the Crested Butte Avalanche Center to learn about the work that they do keeping our community safe in the backcountry.

On Friday, March 24 we will be joined by staff from the Crested Butte Museum to learn about some of the history of the Lower Loop area, including the Smith Hill Mine.

These outings are free AND you’ll receive a free day Nordic ski pass so you can explore Nordic’s amazing trails afterwards! Ski or snowshoe! Email jessica@cblandtrust.org to sign up.

Be Part of the Land Trust’s New Video

We want to showcase as many faces from our community as possible in our new video.

Do you enjoy hiking on the Lower Loop? Biking on Snodgrass or Lupine trails? Taking a dip in Long Lake? Then we want to hear from you! Participating will only take a few minutes of your time this spring.

Thanks for helping us! Click here to sign up.

Here, we highlight fellow organizations and businesses committed to preserving the working lands that make our home so special.

Please enjoy the video below from Crested Butte Avalanche Center and also sign up for our field trip with them next week!