January Mountain Memo – CB Land Trust

Photo By Trevor Bona

Slate River Wetlands Campaign

We’re starting the year with strong momentum and an important opportunity ahead. Thanks to the remarkable generosity of this community, we have under $750,000 left to raise to purchase and permanently protect a 90-acre parcel in the Slate River Wetlands.

This effort continues more than 30 years of conservation work along the Slate River, protecting the lands, waters, and working landscapes that define the Gunnison Valley. The Slate River is an important tributary of the Colorado River Basin, a lifeline for more than 40 million people across seven states. Safeguarding this parcel helps protect clean water at its source while supporting sustainable cattle grazing and preserving vital wetland habitat for wild trout, Great Blue Heron, elk, and moose.

As the final large, intact piece of the Upper Slate River Valley not yet conserved or developed, this land represents a rare, once-in-a-generation opportunity. With your support, we can ensure the Slate River Wetlands remain open, productive, and permanently protected, today and for generations to come.

Winter Events

We hope to see you this winter at one of our free winter field trips. Email jessica@cblandtrust.org with questions and to RSVP.

TOMORROW! Saturday, January 17 @ 10 AM | Spanish-Language Snowshoe with Juntos por Gunnison & Crested Butte Nordic
Join us with Juntos por Gunnison and CB Nordic for a snowshoe field trip in Spanish! Meet at the 4-way @ 10 AM to carpool to the Alien Shack.

Friday, January 23 @ 9:45 | Ski or Snowshoe Field Trip with RMBL
Ski or snowshoe to the Magic Meadows Yurt and learn about ongoing Natural Resources Conservation Service Cooperative snowpack monitoring, along with an overview of snow science by Crested Butte local and watershed scientist, Rosemary Carroll.

Saturday, February 14 @ 10 AM | Breathwork Field Trip with CB State of Mind
Ski or snowshoe to the Magic Meadows Yurt for a heart-focused Transformational Breathwork experience with Certified Breathwork Facilitator, Keela Gendron. We’ll explore how breathwork and nature help reset the nervous system through intentional movement, grounding rituals, and restorative breath patterns. Enjoy warm drinks, a special heart-opening tea, and good company in a cozy yurt setting. Nordic day passes included.

Friday, March 20 @ 10 AM | Conservation, Cocoa, and Conversation with CB Museum
From coal mines to conservation, come learn about the history of the Lower Loop area. Ski or snowshoe with us to the Magic Meadows yurt.

Email jessica@cblandtrust.org with questions and to RSVP.

Winter Recreation on Conserved Lands

With winter finally settling into the valley, skiers, snowshoers, and fat bikers are beginning to return to the trails. Did you know that much of the Crested Butte Nordic trail system winds across conserved lands protected by the Crested Butte Land Trust, providing reliable access to winter recreation year after year? Exploring these trails is a great reminder that land conservation doesn’t stop when the snow falls; it supports outdoor experiences in every season.

Check out this trail map and explore our website’s maps page to see how protected lands connect winter and summer recreation across the valley. For current trail conditions, passes, and ways to get outside this winter, visit cbnordic.org.