outdoor extremes - play

Crested Butte awaiting top telemark weekend

By The Denver Post

Article Last Updated: 03/17/2008 10:52:11 PM MDT

There likely is to be no larger gathering of the telemark tribe anywhere this winter than this weekend at Crested Butte, when Babes in the Backcountry, the Crested Butte tele extremes and the wacky Al Johnson Memorial Uphill/Downhill Telemark Race all converge for a free-heeled extravaganza certain to send you home with a limp.

Leslie Ross' Babes in the Backcountry clinics celebrate their 10th anniversary in the Butte with a full schedule of social events both on and off the slopes, including telemark and steeps clinics, backcountry tours, gear demos and a special Saturday night presentation from Allison Gannett benefiting the Save Our Snow Foundation, before assembling a babe-licious dream team for Sunday's A.J. Memorial Race.

In between, more than 100 of the rowdiest free-heeled freeskiers will congregate for the annual huckfest on the steeps of C.B.'s Extreme Limits terrain. The two-day event (Friday-Saturday) is unique to Crested Butte, attracting the biggest names in telemarking.

The weekend culminates with Sunday's 32nd annual Al Johnson Memorial, a C.B. charity tradition named for the die-hard 19th century mailman who delivered the goods on skis. Hundreds of costumed participants ascend 600 vertical feet to the crest of the North Face, then race their tele skis back down the double-black diamond terrain to the finish.

Do it: For information and registration, log onto www.babesinthebackcountry.com, www.skicb.com or www.aljohnsonrace.com (970-349-1323). Babes in the Backcountry participants qualify for discounted lodging and lift tickets.