Crested Butte

I was back on US 50 southeast of Grand Junction, but turned east at Delta, and drove up into the mountains south of Grand Mesa. This was a beautiful way to shift gears from the desert to the Rockies.

Gunnison County 12 climbs from the Paonia Reservoir up and over Kebler Pass and down the back way into Crested Butte. It provided nice views of the south side of the Elk Mountains (Aspen and Snowmass are on the other side), aspen groves, and small streams interrupted by countless beaver dams.

Crested Butte was the typical contrast of an older town (but with fancy shops and good coffee) and a newer sections geared more toward the winter ski crowds). I refueled with a good latte from Camp Four and headed south to Gunnison and then east over the Continental Divide at 11,312' Monarch Pass and into the Mississippi watershed.