Backcountry Skiing Crested Butte, Colorado, 3rd Edition is a large format aerial ski atlas by Beacon Guidebooks owner Andy Sovick.

What it's for

This guidebook is for choosing and planning ski and splitboard tours around Crested Butte. It uses large aerial images instead of the smaller spiral format of the other atlases in the series. The publisher states it is intended for people who already have backcountry experience and avalanche training, and that 15% of its Crested Butte proceeds go to the Crested Butte Avalanche Center.

Features

• Aerial photos: marked with ascent and descent indicators
• Run details: individual run descriptions with slope angle and aspect
• Terrain data: Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale (ATES) ratings
• Access: parking and trailhead information
• Route data: maximum slope angle, aspect, and elevation for each zone and route
• Planning info: overview maps, snowmobile policies, and trailhead information
• Zones covered: Zachary's, White Ridge West, Avery, Upper Copper Creek, East River Mini Golf, Bellview, Baldy Northeast, Baldy East, Baldy West, Gothic Mountain, Snodgrass, Coney's, Schuylkill, Upper Slate and Pittsburg, Poverty Gulch, Mineral and Augusta, Purple Palace, Mt. Emmons North, Happy and Climax, Ruby, Owen, and Purple, Axtell Mountain, Anthracites, West Brush Creek, Teocalli
• Companions: made to pair with the Beacon Guidebooks Crested Butte ski map and ski app, each sold separately

How it works

ATES ratings: the Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale classes terrain by how exposed it is to avalanches. It describes the terrain, not the day's snowpack, so use it together with the current avalanche forecast.

Avalanche training: a map or guidebook does not replace avalanche training, a current forecast, or rescue gear and practice. OMG runs AIARE avalanche courses.

Specs

• Author: Andy Sovick
• Edition: 3rd
• Binding: Saddle stitch
• Size: 11 in x 8 in x 0.5 in
• Weight: 0.9 lb
• Publisher: Beacon Guidebooks