Last year’s snowfall of 418 inches, surpassed the long-standing 1979-1980 record giving a spectacular season. Opening Day this winter is Tuesday, November 25, 2008.

Crested Butte Mountain Resort receives more than 25 feet of snowfall a year. There's a go-for-it attitude that prevails among friendly, relaxed skiers and management. There's plenty of terrain for all abilities, but experienced skiers and riders will want to know that there are more double-black diamond ski trails than any other resort in Colorado.

The mountain rises dramatically from the surrounding plain, lending credence to its extreme reputation. But a peek at the trail map tells a different story. About 45 percent of the terrain is rated green or blue. The Gold Link and East River lifts serve predominantly intermediate terrain - some ten trails in all. All told there are 362 acres of intermediate terrain.

Beginners have a number of good, long runs to enjoy. The majority of beginner terrain is accessible from the Red Lady Express Lift, with Houston probably the easiest green after the learning terrain.

The East River Lift is now a high-speed quad which added four new trails and 15 intermediate acres to the mountain's terrain. A Bombardier Snowcat was added to the grooming fleet to ensure that even more terrain is groomed every night.