Crested Butte Is Home

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

Johnny Biggers moved to Gunnison to attend Western State College in 1979. (The college has since been renamed Western Colorado University) What makes his story unique is that he grew up halfway across the world in Australia, but his love of skiing, along with a magazine article, brought him to the mountains of Colorado. After his plane landed, the first thing he did was hitchhike up to Crested Butte to see the ski area, which he has now called home for nearly 40 years. Johnny quickly realized that the ski patrol got to ski a lot- so he started patrolling while he was still in college. In this episode, we discuss the early days of his patrol career, which spanned openings of the "extreme" terrain that Crested Butte is now known for- the headwall, Phoenix and Spellbound bowls, and the frontside runs like Banana and Funnel. Johnny is still one of the most passionate skiers you'll find- though he no longer patrols, he still skis more than most, not to mention water skiing in the summers. Johnny has a lot of stories, so you're sure to enjoy this episode of the Crested Butte is Home podcast.

To learn more about Johnny Biggers and his construction company, Crested Butte Builders, visit his website or his company Facebook page:

Crested Butte Builders

Crested Butte Builders Facebook Page

Ben Pritchett grew up, well, everywhere. Somehow, he still developed a love of outdorr sports like mountain biking and skiing. Eventually finding himself in the Gunnison Valley, Ben attended Western State College (now known as Western Colorado University). One day, he decided he should stay home and study rather than go backcountry skiing with his friends. Sadly, his friends had a fatal avalanche accident that day, which sent Ben down a path of learning as much as he could about avalanches.

Ben began working with the local Crested Butte Avalanche Center (CBAC), then switched to the statewide Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC). Since then, he went back to the CBAC last year to run the organization but is now once again with the CAIC as the forecaster for the Crested Butte and Sawatch range zones.

While the snow hasn't quite begun to accumulate, it will soon. It's always a good time to start thinking about the snowpack, so enjoy this episode of the Crested Butte is Home podcast with Ben Pritchett.

Want to learn more about Ben Pritchett, his guide service, and local avalanche centers?:

Crested Butte Avalanche Center

Colorado Avalanche Information Center

Colorado Backcountry Guide Service

Tim Poppe originally hails from Houston Texas, as do so many of our residents and visitors. After a move to Denver further shaped his love of outdoor sports, Tim was able to relocate to Crested Butte. Tim is a physical therapist, so on the one hand you hope you'll never meet him. If you do need physical therapy, however, you'll probably get to know him well, and thankfully he's a pretty good guy.

We discuss his own [long!] laundry list of personal injuries, and his favorite activities in Crested Butte, which has grown to include sports that are new to him, like flyfishing. In a town that is full of talented athletes, Tim talks about the challenges of getting motivated athletes to actually take a little time off so they can heal. Tim can also look at your body movement and work on preventing injuries. Not only that, he can also help with bike fit- an often overlooked component that sometimes only becomes an issue when you put in big miles, as it did for me many years ago.

Want to learn more about Tim Poppe, Crested Butte Physiotherapy, or ask about getting a bike fit?:

Crested Butte Physiotherapy

Crested Butte Physiotherapy Facebook

Crested Butte Physiotherapy Instagram

Maddie Rehn is a rarity in Crested Butte- she grew up in the mountains of Colorado. Spending time in the Colorado Outdoors gave Maddie a love for our public lands, and now she works to protect our public lands. 78% of Gunnison County is public land, and it's the reason why so many of us live here- to ski, bike, hike, snowmobile, hunt and more. Public lands are literally our backyard, and it's important that we protect it, while also continuing to enjoy it.

The Gunnison Public Lands Initiative (GPLI), which Maddie coordinates, is a coalition of diverse interests seeking to find compromises and common ground in the way that our public lands are managed. In some cases, that may mean new Wilderness areas, or Special Management areas where the uses are clearly defined. This is an ongoing process, so if you're interested at all in the public lands of Crested Butte and Gunnison, you'll want to listen to this episode and then learn more about the proposals.

Want to learn more about Maddie Rehn, the Gunnison Public Lands Initiative, and take a look at the proposals?:

Gunnison Public lands Initiative

Tim Kugler grew up in Northern Virginia and developed a love for mountains and mountainbiking in college there. After some time in California and elsewhere, a roadtrip led Tim to Crested Butte and the Gunnison Valley. Tim furthered his education here at Western State Colorado University, with a Master's degree, and landed what many would consider a dream job as executive director of Gunnison Trails.

Gunnison Trails is the Gunnison equivalent of the Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association, so their mission is to maintain and build new trails in the Gunnison area, especially at Hartman Rocks. In the summer of 2018, Gunnison Trails also started breaking ground on new trails in the Signal Peak area just Northeast of the college. If you want to know more about Tim's story, the process of getting new trails approved for the Signal Peak area, and mountain biking in the Gunnison area in general, this is the episode for you.

Want to learn more about Gunnison Trails, the Original Growler race and opportunities to build great new trails?:

Gunnison Trails

Original Growler

Gunnison Trails on Facebook

Barb Peters grew up in 1980's Crested Butte- a place far different than the Crested Butte of today. And yet in some ways, it wasn't that different- the kids of those times grew up as athletes just as many do today. Because of that, Barb competed in the first US Extreme Skiing Championships and quickly earned her nickname- Big Air Barb. In one of the most memorable moments of that competition that still exists today, Barb dislodged a huge car-sized chunk of snow which tumbled down the slope behind her towards the spectators at the bottom of the "Big Hourglass" venue.

Last weekend (the first weekend of August), Barb took part in the Rendezvous, an annual event where participants reenact the early 1800's- the days of the Mountain Man (and women) who were often fur trappers. (Think Robert Redford in Jeremiah Johnson or Leonardo DiCaprio in Revenant). If you've ever wondered what the story was with all those tipis in Washington Gulch at this time of year (or the rendezvous participants in the 4th of July parade) this is your chance to learn more about what goes on up there.

Want to learn more about the Crested Butte Rendezvous?:

Crested Butte Rendezvous Facebook Page

Another midwesterner now calling Crested Butte and the Gunnison Valley home, Cooper Ott has been dominating the professional Enduro mountain bike racing circuit for the past couple of years. Enduro racing requires the stamina to make it up to the top of the trails, but the timing doesn't really start until the downhill- so in some ways it's a mix of downhill racing and cross country racing. Cooper is also a coach with the local Devo team, teaching the next generation of riders the skills that she's picked up and have helped her excel at racing. Just to top it off, we also talk a bit about her favorite trails, and most importantly of all- ice cream.

Want to learn more about Cooper Ott, mountain bike coaching, and enduro racing:

Cooper Ott Website

Cooper Ott Instagram

Hailing from Pennsylvania, Tara Tafi moved west for college and eventually put down roots in Crested Butte. Today, she works for the state of Colorado, travelling to mines across the western half of the state, developing plans for their reclamation. Colorado is a state born from mining, and Crested Butte is a former coal mining town (not a hard rock mining town like Telluride or Aspen, which is why we've always been different). So many of the roads and trails that we all hike, bike, and drive on owe their existence to the old mining days. Those mines, however, were largely abandoned and Tara is the one who helps make them safer- which may mean simply closing an open mine shaft, or mitigating acid water drainage. If you want a better understanding of Crested Butte's history and future, give this one a listen.

Want to learn more about mining in Colorado?:

Colorado State Mining Website

Chances are, you've run into Mary Boddington somewhere in Crested Butte. Perhaps you've seen her snowboarding down Crested Butte Mountain Resort, or maybe she's poured you a drink at her bar, the Talk of The Town. In episode 11, Mary and I talk about her childhood in Colorado Springs, riding horses, skateboarding, and learning to snowboard. Her competitive snowboarding career took her from victories in Crested Butte to biggest mountains of Europe. Today, however, she is the new owner of the Talk of the Town bar in Crested Butte, a fixture in town that everyone's been to at least once- and maybe even ridden their townie bike through it, as is sometimes customary. How does Mary balance bar ownership and being an athlete? Listen up and we'll find out...

More on the Talk of the Town here:

Facebook

Instagram