If the Pub Crawl at this year’s Santa Ski festivities will be your first one, you’ll no doubt want to be making a few preparations ahead of time to not only make certain you survive, but that you get the most out of the experience as well.
Look to the Experts
You can of course look to anyone who has participated in pub crawls before for guidance, and if you come across someone who has made it safely through a major St. Patrick’s Day event, you’ve probably hit the jackpot as far as getting some good tips are concerned. The larger St. Patrick’s Day events usually take place in the cities, however, and there seldom is six feet of powder to contend with or get lost in should you wander off course. You will of course be either escorted by or escorting other Santas, so help should always be nearby.
Bear in mind that most Pub Crawls have certain rules, although those rules are usually in place to make the Crawl as much fun as possible. The bars or pubs you will visit are often kept secret as well, although in a town the size of Crested Butte, most people probably know which bars will participate. It’s hard to keep things secret in small, closely-knit communities.
- St. Patrick’s Day Tip Number One – Always carry cash. This tip can probably be dispensed with. If you’ve been registered for the Crested Butte Santa Crawl you will have your Santa suit, a lift ticket, and tickets for five free drinks.
- Tip Number Two – Don’t wear high heels. Who wears high heels out of doors in Gunnison and Crested Butte in December anyway? The experts recommend wearing flip flops instead, definitely don’t wear those either.
- Tip Number Three – Eat first. That makes good sense. Do so before the Santa Group Ski, however, as the Pub Crawl begins immediately afterward. A hearty lunch between 1 and 2 PM should help you keep your balance through at least the first half of the Crawl.
- Tip Number Four – Have a glass of water at every bar. That makes sense too. Don’t substitute a carbonated beverage for water, however; carbonated beverages can make 5 drinks feel like 10.
- Tip Number Five – Focus on keeping track of your partner (unless you’re on the lookout for a new one). This is important because if you’ve had a little too much to drink and everyone is dressed like Santa, it’s hard to keep track of someone.
Better Yet, Look to another Santa for Advice
The best tip of all would be to talk to someone who has been through a Pub Crawl at Crested Butte Mountain Resort before, especially one that was part of a previous Santa Crawl. Rules will be posted, and those may be all the tips you’ll ever need. Pace yourself, and have a good time. Take pictures of others too, and threaten to post them on Facebook.