[Closed] Moan vs Crested Butte Vs Morzine/Alps MTB

Look up Follow Cam Friday on You Tube, a few good Crested Butte ones if you scroll back.

Been asking myself if it is worth the effort to head out to Colorado for a month or stick to the Alps.

I've been to Moab about 10 times, Crested Butte once (about 12 yes ago) and I've been to various places in the Alps.
So whether it's worth the extra cost/time to get out to the US depends on what sort of experience you want (and also when you want to travel)

The Alps I'd say are more convenient in the sense that at the right time of year you've got the benefit of lifts and simple things like mountain huts for lunch/beer/coffee during the day whereas Moab and CB don't really have facilities "on trail".
(That may not be a bad thing from your perspective).

CB is very high though, so some acclimatization will be required and the season will be short. I have no idea whether they have lift serviced trails.

Moab will be unbearably hot during the day from late May to early September so either go earlier or later or start rides very early or very late in the day. Moab also has shuttle services. Most of the best trails could be ridden from town but it's wouldn't be very enjoyable getting there

My take: if you're bored of Europe, go to Moab...

Been to both in last few years.

Yes, I think it's worth the effort - we moved about on both trips a few days in different locations throughout CO, UT, AZ

Moab is my favourite - we went late Aug, early Sep and heat was OK (coming from Scotland). I've managed to ride the Whole Enchilada twice now and still my all time favourite trail anywhere.

Crested Butte was good but felt more like riding in the Alps - skl resort, trail and ground conditions, etc. There are some shuttles to stuff like 401 trail and there is a smallish lift-assisted bike park.

My choice - definitely go to Moab and add in Fruita and Grand Junction into the trip (from Denver).

Reply didn't post....

Moab, great place great trails though weather can be an issue as 40c+ and no shade is hard work, it's a very dry heat, edge of the season when it's a little cooler you run  the risk of snow at the top of some big places - Top of Whole Enchilada can be closed  as it's 11,000ft.

I'd combine it with Park City/Deer Valley for some traditional lift assisted riding, both are great fun with Deer Valley edging it for me.

If that is on your list then BC/Whistler etc should be too.

Morzine is it's own thing and not that representative of the alps in general, I reckon it's a once every few years for me. Great at being what it is and hard to find something similar anywhere else.

IVe been to all three of those exact destinations......

I'm in no hurry to get back to Morzine but I'd go back to Moab in a heartbeat, then detour to Crested Butte.

September is the time to go to Moab, it's quiet and a bit cooler (dry desert heat isn't like humid Euro heat, you don't feel it but you do need to DRINK GALLONS OF WATER!)

Moab is my sort of riding, totally different to anywhere else I've ever been and not as taxing as the altitude of Crested Butte, but if its vast scenery you want, go to CB first. It's jaw dropping.

No queues for chairlifts, lots quieter, no need for a hoofing great downhill bike half the time either.

Ive also been to Tenerife. That's better riding than Morzine/ Les Gets IMO.

I've been to Morzine/Les Gets AND Crested Butted (but not Moab) .

Crested Butte is one of the most amazing places to ride, however it is more XC adventurous old school MTBing. So long days out into the countryside with no trail facilities. We were there in June and so were carrying 6 litres of water, 3 in a bladder, than another 3 frozen in bottles in the bag. Yes it's an altitude but we adapted pretty quickly within the first ride and had no issues however everyone is different.

Very different to the Alps but amazing! feel free to ask away with questions.

Crested Butte was amazing, much more "natural" than Morzine and spectacular scenery if you want that too.

Quite a lot of info in this thread. Not sure what happened to the video though....

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/our-holiday-in-colorado/

Found it. no idea how you embed it though......

Thanks all - so much info in the heads of forum members - hard to find good written content online these days when you’re looking for something very specific.

I’ll be travelling at the height of summer, angling towards Butte for this trip as it sounds like I’ll bake in Moab.

Crazy when you price up everything there is not a massive difference between travelling to the Alps and the US.

Don't forget to add sales tax to everything you see in the US,

http://www.salestaxstates.com/sales-tax-calculator-colorado-crested_butte-81224

and factor in a currency variation.

sillysilly,

I used to guide out in Moab and Colorado. I've been for a week in Morzine area too and as others have said, it depends what you want out of a holiday.
In general the Rockies and Moab back country are no where near as populated and don't have relatively easy access to waymarked trails and facilities etc. like you have in the port de soleil area so you need to be reasonably self sufficient.
Personally, I don't miss Moab. It's a novelty definitely and a complete contrast for UK riders to the usual riding we have access to but I find it very samey unless you get up into the Le Sals which is pretty remote. CB is amazing but again, getting access to the really good stuff needs some work - rides from town are as others have described above. If you want amazing riding straight from your door with loads of variety, I'd look at Breckenridge and the wider Summit County (althoug, Breck is the best place to base yourself, imo).

Anyway, we don't run trips at the moment but there are plenty of trail descriptions to read through here: www.ride-the-world.co.uk under the "XC/Trail" section.

Any specifics, just PM me, I'll probably know the answer or have done it before!

I've ridden in Moab, i rode with Charlie from Poison Spider, he had on a latest pair of Rock Shox Mag21Ti's.... it was a while ago, but i'm sure the rocks haven't changed much. Fab place, i'd use the waether to guide where i went. The Four Corners states are amazing.