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Telluride, Colorado, USA
Telluride. One word that always brings a smile to
my face. It’s a remote outpost town high in the mystical San Juans. Home to the
Ute Indians, it’s also home to brilliant blue skies, clear rivers and diverse
wildlife. The majestic peaks form a narrow box canyon that cradles this old mining
town filled with great local culture.
Founded in the late 1800’s, the town has been restored to its historic
beauty. The small 8 by 12 block town is peppered with colorful Victorian homes
and clapboard storefronts. And most importantly, the locals are down-to-earth
artists and athletes who visited for a weekend a decade ago and stayed for the
natural beauty and camaraderie.
Okay, enough fluff. Down to the boarding. Telluride is a
mix of cruisers, steeps and glades that meet everyone’s shredding desires. It’s
spread out over 1,700 acres serviced by 16 lifts. Get it? There’s no lift lines.
However, the layout makes for lots of traversing, which takes awhile to get used
to, and for short runs with a typical vertical drop of less than 1,500’. If big
vertical is your bag, you’ll need to combine two slow lifts, like #8 and #9 for
3,100’. But it’s an awesome run down Bushwacker or the infamous Plunge. If
you’re not into vertical, the Air Garden Terrain Park is the largest in the
southwest with 8 acres of berms, banks, rails and pipes.
If it’s been awhile since you’ve been to Telluride, get
ready for some big changes. New in 2001, Prospect Bowl is a 700 acre expansion
with the addition of two high speed lifts, Gold Hill and Prospect Bowl, to above
11,000’. Previously, the popular Gold Hill’s extreme double black diamond runs
were only accessible by hiking. Now, expert boarders can quickly shred the
steeps, glades, open bowls and chutes of natural avalanche paths like Andy’s
Gold, Little Rose and Dynamo.
Off the Prospect Bowl lift are easy and intermediate
cruisers for the most part. The exceptions are a few short hikable double-black
diamond runs east of the lift, such as La Rosa and Crystal, and west, such as
the 30 minute hike up Bald Mountain for vistas of Mount Wilson and then drop
into Jackpot powder stash.
For the backcountry hounds, off the top of both new
Prospect Bowl lifts are new backcountry access gates for experts only
experienced with appropriate backcountry rescue gear.
Back in town, to enjoy the karma of the old town, try staying right in
town at the historic New Sheridan Hotel. This classic Victorian hotel was
originally constructed in 1891 by the Sheridan Mining Company and was destroyed
by fire twice. The main section was rebuilt in 1895 and the annex in 1994 when
the entire hotel was renovated. The New Hotel Sheridan is known for its
attentive and gracious service. The luxury hotel rooms are simple stunning,
complete with Victorian era antiques. In addition to its gourmet restaurant, the
well-known New Sheridan Bar has changed little since 1895 along with it’s carved
mahogany bar. It is rumored that Billy-the-Kidd came in the bar before and after
a local bank heist for a shot and left firing a couple bullets into the tin
ceiling. After a couple shots yourself, take a look up to find the holes.
New Sheridan Hotel (on left)
Looking for nightlife? Well, you've come to the right
town. Here are a few suggestions that lead to a wild night with several locals.
Start at the Sheridan Bar or Excelsior Cafe for happy hour, and then head over
to Sofios for Mexican or Hongas for sushi (beware too many Mojitas!). Next, it's
off to the Last Dollar, or if you're looking for a dance place, try
Fly-Me-To-The-Moon Saloon. Make sure to end up at late night spot called
O'Bannons. Here are some local wisdoms of life in Telluride (courtesy of Erika
G.): 1) Telluride is a drinking town with a skiing problem; 2) Hey
guys, you don't lose your girlfriend, you lose your turn; 3) Hey girls,
the odds are good, but the goods are odd; 4) The only way to get over
someone is to get under somebody else; and 5) Don't leave any turn
unstoned. Well, there were actually five more, but these were the only
reasonably printable ones.
When you finally wake up, try the Steaming Bean or Maggies
Bakery. If it's already noon, then check out Baked In Telluride for pizza or La
Cocina De Luz for carry-out Mexican.
Now that you're stoked, head up the Plunge Lift. From the top,
shred down one of my favorite runs: Log Pile to West Drain, East Drain, or of
course, the Plunge.
TELLURIDE RESORT (800) 801-4832
NEW SHERIDAN HOTEL (800) 200-1891
For more info, try our links below:
Snow Report
Uncompahgre Cross-Country Skiing
Uncompahgre Mountain Biking
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