You've heard of Vail. But Minturn? Not likely. And many locals there would prefer it stay that way (sorry!). The quiet former-mining town has long been home to service workers and ski bums priced out by their fancy neighbors to the northeast—just a few miles over the looming ridge line sits Vail Resort.
During our brief stay over a recent weekend we heard more than one grumbling of Vailification of the tiny one-road town. Being smack dab in the middle of some of Colorado’s most legendary terrain will do that to ya. But for now things seem stable—you can still grill your own steak at the Minturn Country Club, and the historic Minturn Saloon still churns out cheap beer and its signature qual platters—and snow is falling, so the vibe is still right.
We lucked out with a weather window, and our local guides from Minturn-based snowboard maker Weston Backcountry were eager to show us one hell of an authentic time. The community-focused brand is all about getting outdoor enthusiasts into the backcountry, and respecting both Mother Nature and other outdoorists in the process. (Weston provides scholarships for local female riders in getting avy certified, raise funds for public lands, and support veterans by giving 10% of profits from specific collab boards to the National Forest Foundation, American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE), and the 10th Mountain Division Foundation.)