High Country

The nickname “Paradise” is often used when describing my hometown of Crested Butte, Colorado, also the subject of our documentary film, HIGH COUNTRY, and rightly so. Crested Butte is an old mining-town-turned-ski-town nestled at the headwaters of the Gunnison Valley in Southwestern Colorado. It is surrounded by some of the most pristine, untouched wilderness in Colorado. It’s the kind of place, that when driving into, one literally gasps in awe of the beauty. To the outside world, it is a town known for its world-class biking, skiing, hiking, wildflowers, and natural beauty. But, to locals, it is known for much more. It is considered with great pride as a place defined by its conservationist spirit, it’s antics, it’s costume parties, it’s defiance of the norms, and mostly by its strength of community. But, as a resort town, Crested Butte is not alone in it’s struggles to cope with economic pressures and environmental impacts at the hand of tourism and growth.
"Crested Butte is a microcosm of a much larger American debate", a debate of who we want to be. If we simply acquiesce and standby as progress bounds forward, we’re going to be left in the dust, licking our wounds and complaining. But, if we embrace our local communities with care, if we consider the future, then we might see some positivity within the progress. We exist in one of the most divisive eras in American history; in order for us to save our communities and conserve our natural world we must embrace progress with care and consideration, much like the town of Crested Butte has consistently attempted to do.