Crested Butte Land Trust

projects
The High Elk Corridor - a world class treasure
estled between the Raggeds and the
Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness lies a
special basin with lush spruce forests, incredible
cascading waterfalls, and meadows filled with a
dizzying array of summer wildflowers.
Called the High Elk Corridor, this valley
system is surrounded by Colorado’s majestic
Elk Mountains. A summer-only deteriorated
jeep road from Crested Butte passes through
the High Elk, linking the old towns of Gothic,
Schofield, Crystal and Marble.
Here, you will encounter breathtaking views of
Galena and Treasury Mountain, Crystal Peak,
and a handful of Colorado’s famous fourteeners.
Here, you will discover the North Pole Basin.
“
N
...I had no idea of how unique the setting was; the cascading stream, the ponds... all of
it packaged in this amazing basin stuffed with wildflowers, watched over by majestic
peaks. We wandered up high and made our way to Crystal Peak just to take it all in.
Keith Bauer, Land Trust supporter
Dawn Reeder
Thanks to your support, a very significant portion of the North Pole Creek, as it cascades through scree fields and spruce
forests from 11,500 feet above sea level, is well on its way to becoming protected.
The Land Trust, in partnership with Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR), and the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory
(RMBL), has begun an initiative to conserve the North Pole Basin and provide a hiking trail for public access.
The 158-acre property, owned by CBMR, is rich with biological diversity. Conservation will create an ecological corridor
between the two wildernesses. These corridors are increasingly important for wildlife as Colorado becomes more developed.
Conservation will also provide an opportunity for RMBL scientists to study this distinct piece of land.
“Outside of its obvious beauty, the High Elk Corridor is a sacred spot,” says Keith. “Preserving it has been a priority for
several organizations - the Crested Butte Land Trust, RMBL, and the Trust for Public Land for many years. There are many
smaller in-holdings that have been protected in the area, but to have this many acres available to preserve is really a blessing.”
The Land Trust will continue to work with RMBL and CBMR over the next several months to raise the necessary funds to
acquire the North Pole Basin. If these efforts are successful, the property will be permanently protected by late spring 2013.
We extend our gratitude to CBMR for supporting our efforts to preserve this exceptional property.
”
Dawn Reeder