Dave's Blog

I don't know where the heck Chuck Horning found you for our new CEO but I'm sure glad he hired you. Not only do you understand the ski buisness but you understand Telluride. The service is better this year, the food is better, the grooming is better and with your blog we can communicate directly with you on important things. I agree with your opinion regarding Chair 9 and really think the San Joaquin lift is a winner for Telluride and your business. That lift and bowl will be a huge marketing hammer for Telski. Keep up the good work.

Dave's reply: Wow, thank you so much for your support Alexx! I'm blessed with a great team at Telluride - their the ones who are really making great things happen this year and I'm proud to be working with them. Also, I'm very appreciative and thankful that Mr. Horning has given me the opportunity to be a part of Telluride.

Bravo!!

Dave's reply: Thanks Craig.

Why don't you replace Chair 9 with a high-speed quad and use the old 9 triple as the new San Juaquin Bowl lift?

This could be quite cost effective - 2 new lifts for the price of one.

Dave's reply: Hi Chris, it sure isn't 2 new lifts for the price of one. As I said, San Joaquin is the priority. With footrests and safety bars, replacing Chair 9 can wait for now. Thanks for your comments.

I agree with Alexx, you seem like a pretty smart CEO. That's nice to see for Telluride. I'm basically your dream customer. My wife and I are empty nesters with time and money to spend on the best ski resorts. We take a few ten day vacations per year to the best ski resorts such as Sun Valley, Jackson Hole, and Telluride. We stay in the best hotels and spend lots of $ in the ski schools. The thought of a lift in San Joaquin bowl is a huge draw to me and the wife. We looked at your blog tonight and decided we would be booking our vacation right now for next January if that lift was built. Get it done Dave.

Dave's reply: Humm the pressure is on now! Thanks for your support John.

You're going to make this resort great once again.

Dave's reply: We're trying :)

I'd like to see Chair 9 upgraded but can see why you came to this. It's a very interesting move and I think you're going to kick Crested Butte's ass if you follow through with San Joaquin.

Dave's reply: There are many great resorts in Colorado but I've always felt that Telluride is the best. We have many things that we can do to continually improve the resort experience - and we intend to drive forward on those opportunities.

can you get some pictures of someone skiing the black iron bowl by jello's bowl or mt. Quail, the run reveiw and would the foot rest be done this season.

Dave's reply: I'll grab some pictures of Jello Bowl for you and post. The foot rest will not be installed on Chair 9 this season - it will take some time to engineer, build and install. Thanks Ryan.

Your priority is in the right place.  Expanding the amount of accessible terrain is something to look forward to in the coming year(s).  Where exactly is this bowl located?

Dave's reply: San Joaquin Bowl is just east off the top of Chair 14 (Gold Hill). It's basically the north northeast bowl off Gold Hill proper.

Cannot comment much on this since I have not been there since march 07. I also have only rode 9 twice since I have very recently became a advanced skier but I do remember that my grampa (age 73) was aching with pain the first time he got on it. In my opinion rip it out sooner or later you will have to do it. If nothing put bars it old people can't handle it. He has skied for 35 years in Telluride but has to stay on Mt. Village side because the HSQ's. Dave I want to know what you think so put more than "thanks for you comment".

Dave's reply: Hi Fritz, I was intentionally letting the public voice their thoughts without weighing in on the last blog. I'm normally much more responsive with my replies and will continue that practice. A footrest will make a huge difference to Chair 9 - as long as people don't fall asleep on the way up :)

Dave,

Thanks for the opportunity to comment on Lift 9. When you do put the safety bars and footrests on the chairs, please make sure that they are constructed properly.  Ever since they were added to Lift 6, most of them tend to fall down when one gets on the chair.  They are not balanced right and are really annoying.  My friends and I get on the lift with one hand in the air to fend off the footrests.

Thanks for listening.

Gary

Dave's reply: Hi Gary, Yes - I've noticed that. It was a retrofit on Chair 6 also and my guess is that the designer was trying to reduce weight. That created the imbalance.

as long as you're having footrests engineered for chair 9, is it possible to keep snowboards in mind for the design? The existing footrests on the HSQs  make me think snowboards weren't considered when they were designed. They make you have to contort the knee in weird ways to get into it. Maybe I'm just being a puss but I'll bet I'm not the only one.

Nice work on your priorities! I'll give up a faster chair 9 for a lift in revelation bowl. Can you please make sure the fixed grip chair will be reasonably fast? Also, as long as you're in the neighborhood, how about golds 1 and 2 with a gate for 3 through 10? Then a high speed quad from the bottom of 8 to the top of 9 with a midway get off/on station. Last, do some selective glading opening some usable  terrain to disperse crowds on powderdays.......thanks for all your hard work.

This place is shaping up to being like Silverton with lots of lifts, think about going up chair 14, ripping to the bottom of revelation bowl, taking that lift to the top of Gold Hill leaving you to decide which gold will it be? or drop the other side? This place has so much potential and I'm so glad that you and Telski seem to be wanting to realize it. Baller

Dave's reply: We'll continue in a responsible and thoughtful way to realize Telluride's long-term potential. One step at a time.

WOW!!! Sounds great! But being kinda new here I need some perspective, where is San Joaquin Bowl? What kind of terrain does it serve? Where will the lift start and end? Thanks!!!!

Dave's reply: San Joaquin Bowl can be seen from the top of Chair 14 (Gold Hill). It's directly to the east. The top terminal is on the little ledge called Hillary Step to the south. The bottom is down in the hole to your left, above the cliffs (you can't really see this from the top of 14. It's an above tree line powder bowl that has all advanced terrain with a very consistent pitch from top to bottom. There are a couple routes a winch cat can access too.

I've been a three time-a-year visitor to Telluride for the last 20 years.  Your ideas sound like a perfect plan to me.  New lift-accessed terrain would be an incredible addition to the ski area, and is at the top of my wish list.  Second, a modest current expenditure just to make the current chair 9 more livable (bars and footrests) satisfies me, while you map out plans for an eventual new Lift 9.  

I can't wait to land in Telluride this upcoming Wednesday and take a deep breath.  Dave, following your blogs had allowed me to live through the ski season as if I've been in town all year.  Thanks for keeping at the blog, and for working hard to improve the ski experience in Telluride.

Dave's reply: My pleasure Ike. Thanks for you interest in Telluride!

i guess with the added lift, it'll spread skiers out a little more, so a high speed on 9 will not necessarily compromise the snow conditions (since I noticed thats what some people were worried about).

who is going to argue with you when you offer to open new bowl terrain.

i've been skiing/snowboarding at telluride since I was 10, and I remember hiking up to gold hill from the top of lift 6 looking out over those powdery slopes to my left thinking... some day, I'll ski that. Well looks like every one else will too, but I still can't wait. That update made my day dave!

Dave's reply: The other thing that has re-distributed skiers and snowboarders to a great degree is the opening of Black Iron Bowl. That has taken people off other advanced terrain.

I saw there is a season total snowfall category under the snow report tab, but the number is na. Im curios of what that number is this year, and hoping it gets updated soon. Great job on the blog and trying to get a lift in San Joaquin!

Dave's reply: Hi Michael, thanks for pointing that out. We'll get it going!

Dave,

San Joaquin lift is approved, but is it thought through yet?  What about the 2-4' deep avalanche that occurred naturally after our last big storm cycle?  Will the new lift be designed/built to withstand avalanches?  Other concerns for the ski patrol will be injuries, rescues and lift evacuations.  How will they be dealt with?  There will no doubt be some great powder turns out there, but there are many issues to be carefully considered as the only way out is coming back up Revelation Bowl.  Will the cat crew be venturing out there to build a snow road for rescue and lift maintenance?  Anyway, I hope that you are considering more than the powder skiing and marketing aspects of the new proposed lift.  

Dave's reply: We're familiar with all the issues and we've thought them through.

An emergency snowcat/snowmobile access road from the bottom terminal out is essential. We designed and surveyed it last fall.

Lift evacuation would be easier on this lift than Chair 14 and Chair 9 due to the fact there are no cliff areas under the new lift.

AC work will increase and skier compaction will also help. The slide we had in the bowl during the last big snow event occured because of a lack of both. That would certainly change if we had a lift in there. Think Gold Hill before the lift was installed there. The lift engineers are considering avalanche and snow creep with respect to concrete and steel specifications.

I've been responsible for the construction of seven chairlifts in my career, some of which are located in very extreme terrain. All safety and operational issues have been considered for this project. Thank you for your comments.

right on, dave. the san j lift is a great priority. sooner the better!  tweeking 9 will please many, although since we've gone this long, i would almost be tempted to wait to do anything to it until it's totally replaced.  thanks!

Dave's reply: The way I look at it Chair 9 is a long lift and really needs a footrest/safety bar. When the lift is removed at a later date it would likely be sold or re-installed somewhere here - and the footrest/safety bar would continue to have value at it's new home.

Thanks once again - The direction you and the TSG team are taking is very exciting and positive.

Dave's reply: Thanks Rich.

I appreciate all the interest in Chair 9 and the San Joaquin lift.  Seems to me that the resort is choosing to spend alot of its resourses (present and future)on the advanced skier.  At 60, I used to be one.  Now, after several knee and back surgeries, I find myself cruising on groomed blues with my family and friends.  We spend 5 weeks a year in Telluride.  I just returned from my 6th "boys" trip.  

I know there has been a great amount of money spent on new grooming equipment.  May I suggest using the current equipment keeping families and old farts like myself happy and returning by doing a "noon groom" on one or two of the blues and/or greens.  This may not seem important, but when the beautiful powder gets ruddy it causes these old knees to quit early.  Just a thought.  I agree that your addition to the community is a great asset.  Thank you for your thoughts.

Dave's reply: Hi Al, We're very committed to the beginner and intermediate skiers also. Recent investments in snowmaking and grooming continue to support that objective. Telluride has been known for it's steep advanced terrain and beautiful views for many years but we actually have tremendous beginner and intermediate terrain also.

I'm focused on the San Joaquin lift for several reasons not the least of which is the fact that the forest service and the ski area went through an exhaustive process to approve it's construction. I want to honor that work and the forest service's decision.

Grooming during operating hours has its challenges but I'll give it some thought. Thank you.

all this talk of lift nine and revalation bowl is all well and good, but what about the terrian parks. your website says there are a bunch of feature i havent been able to find. please put them up soon or get the website changed!!!

Dave's reply: Thanks for pointing that out. I do see some errors on that page. We'll get it updated asap.

I think the San Joaquin lift is a great idea. As Vail gets more rediculous crowds, Telluride get's more attractive to me and my wife. I don't mind paying the same high prices if I get a great experience. Adding an above treeline alpine bowl like San Joaquin will be a major addition and is very European. I hope you are able to get the lift built this summer. We visited Telluride for a ski week in mid-December and saw lots of development going up in Mountain Village. We had not been there for several years prior and we couldn't believe how nice the resort has become. The customer service is over the top great and we loved the deck and live music at Gorrono. I can't wait to stay in the new Capela Hotel at the village and hope to ski the new San Joaquin lift next winter. Keep up the great work.

Dave's reply: Hi John, Thank you for your nice comments - especially recognizing the staff's guest service. We'll keep working on the San Joaquin project. Thank you for choosing Telluride for your vacation!

Go for it Riley. You rock.

Dave's reply: I'm only as good as the staff that surrounds me! Thanks for choosing Telluride as your season-long resort.

We just discovered Telluride in early December when another couple suggested we take our ski vacation with them to your resort. Telluride is the best kept secret in the United States. We loved the village, town, and ski resort. Most of our ski friends here in Seattle didn't have a clue about Telluride but I've changed that. The San Joaquin lift sounds like a good plan to me. We'll be back next December with a pack of friends to hopefully ski it.

Dave's reply: Hi Anne, Thanks for checking out Telluride! See you next December!

If you build the San Joaquin lift, we will come. We love your blog also adn are amazed that you answer all the comments. Other ski resort CEOs should do the same for their customers.

Dave's reply: Thank you UK skier. I enjoy having a communication link with our guests. Hope to see you in Telluride soon!

Forget replacing Chair 9, San Joaquin would be big news for Telluride. Living in California, we usually ski the Lake Tahoe areas and Mammoth but we'd fly out for a taste of San Joaquin. That looks like something located in the Swiss Alps.

Dave's reply: Thanks for your input Franklin. We're having a great season right now - is it time for a taste of Telluride? 

Dear Dave,

With the recent opening of the extreme terrain, and telluride continued expanson of the monuntain is unreal. I am a Crested Butte native now living in durango and going from that mountain to this one has been one of the most increidble events of my life. You are doing a fantastic job and i have seen a drmatic change from last year to this year. I dream of telluride everynight and now with the thought of skiing San Joaquin bowl my dreams will be better than ever. Thanks again for everything you have done and i see next year far exceeding this year, which has been amazing in itself.

Dave's reply: Thanks for your passion towards Telluride!

Opening more terrain - right on!

Dave's reply: We're working on it. Thanks Ed.

Today was yet another perfect example of why chair 9 needs to be replaced.  The runs were skied out in one run anyway, so why are we waiting 10-15 minutes to get back on the lift?  For those who only had a couple hours in the morning to ski we only got a couple runs. And a delay on chair 8? No wonder everyone coming from town was so frustrated today

Dave's reply: Hi Erik, Delays this morning on chairs 8/9/6 was solely due to avalanche control work. Chairs 12 and 14 never did open today due to avalanche danger. Ski Patrol will take however much time they feel is necessary to complete their work. They worked very hard in rough conditions to make the area safe today. It will be the same situation tomorrow with the high winds and heavy snowfall.

Personally, I don't understand why people in town wait at Chair 8 when it is probable that AC work will delay the opening on 8 and 9 in conditions like we had this morning. I was skiing Chair 5 early and had 6 runs in deep pow before 10:30 a.m.

Why don't the town skiers just get on the gondola and do laps on 5 with the village skiers while waiting for patrol to open 6/9? People stand down there at Oak St. and get all upset but the gondola is running a few feet away..

Soooo? riddle me this...how is it possible that I woke up at 7 this morning, was 10th in line at Chair 8 @ 8:00am and yet wasnt riding up chair 9 till 10:30 with over 100 people ahead of me? please please someone answer this for me...They told us 8 was closed due to avalanch control, please tell me what control were they doing on 8 please tell me...There was no reason for all the people that had been standing in pow line all morning at the bottom of 8 to not have been allowed to load 8 and wait at the bottom of chair 9 to await opening. Instead I saw my chances at freshies and a beautiful day shattered when chair 8 opened at 10:18 and I crested the top of 8 and saw dozens upon dozens of people already loaded on 9 halfway up. People that had been let down lookout before chair 8 was even open...how is this possible? We even had security at the bottom of chair 8 on radio trying to prevent this from happening, they were asking them to hold lookout out of respect for the people that had been waiting, yet they didnt why? seriously why? We have never had this problem before in the 26 years that I have lived here...Why has this happened twice this year? please I want to know? What sort of ass backwards operation do we have going on in Telluride these days?

Dave's reply: Hi Aura, We have not changed our operating procedures this season. We open Chair 8 when Chair 9 opens. I recommend that skiers from town get on the gondola and do some laps on Chair 5 while waiting for patrol to open Chair 6 to 9 in blizzard / avalanche conditions like we had today. Thank you.

I Love Lift 7! I recently moved to cimmaron lodge and ride 7 nearly every day to work and play. I've never been delayed once. The terrain expansion sounds awesome. Replace lift 9? Quite the quandary. Good luck.

Dave's reply: Howdy Diggity! Thanks for posting! See you and the dog stand.

I think you need to pump up the stats for the resort

Dave's reply: That would do it!

Dave...thank you for your response, however...I just dont think you understand what im asking...

I understand that ski patrol is making sure that the area is as safe as possible for us to go up and enjoy our day and believe me I praise them each and every time I see them, they have helped me in numorous times of need and I consider many of them friends...However like I said before, i grew up here, and in all that time I cant ever remember being held at 8 for more than minutes in the past...Powder line at 7 in the morning is a magical place, friends stoking other friends up...old acquaintences catching up, kids growing up and experiencing a magical time in their life...Its about the powder and the experience...Just give us a fighting chance...I wasnt privvy to the information you had this morning on when they were going to open 9 and I wasnt going to waste my time    on the intermediate terrain over on 5 if they could open 9 at any minute...do you get that? I'm not trying to attack, Im frustrated that I was let down and now your telling me that its my fault cause I could have been riding intermediate terrain on 5. Im truly sorry for such misunderstandings...

//

Best,

Aura Zink

Dave's reply: Thank you for continuing the dialog Aura - I appreciate your passion for powder and the Chair 9 experience.

First - just so you're aware - I would not be surprised with a delay tomorrow morning at Chair 6, 8 and 9 again. And, it may take another full day to open 12 and 14 - we'll see. With the heavy snow and huge wind loading on the back side of the ridges there will be significant AC work for the patrol in the morning.

My point was that you have a choice, stand in line at Chair 8 or go sliding. I chose to go sliding this morning. It's not a question of fault - just choice. The gondola was turning. I realize it's a gamble.

I'm surprised that you say in the past Chair 8 has only been delayed "minutes" during a big AC morning. Although this is my first ski season working at Telluride, my experience in this business is that delays for AC work during blizzard cycles happen regularly in the steep pods at most big mountain ski resorts. I'll make a few calls to verify Telluride's history.

The staff tries to open Chair 6 and 8/9 simultaneously on a powder morning when we are experiencing AC delays. Your point that "a hundred people" were at Chair 9 when you were essential first in line on Chair 8 confuses me and is something I've been making phone calls over this evening to verify and track down.

Actually, I was unable to get any runs in on Chair 9 today, I had to go back to work at 10:30 am..  :(      

Thanks again for your input. Your thoughts and needs are important to us. Your input through this blog is going to be brought up in a mountain department management meeting tomorrow morning at 10:00 am.

we are called "townies" because we live here, live in town. not in the village, whom are "tourist". I find it very disrespectful to all of us who have been for sometime, for you to segregate us in such a mannaer as you did in your blog today. this town has created its own way of being a community and the powder line at chair 8 is one of those treasured commodities we all cherish. cherish as a time of gathering with everyone on such a high of emotions. this time is unique only to itself. its a tradition, to some a friendly competition of who's first, and you dismiss these time honored events as though we are a mere nuisance. your villagers are so enthralled by the chair 8 line they come down to engage in these fun times before an epic day of powder. we are the people who support, operate, and love this mountain in which you work for. we moved here for that specific reason, we are not visitors that will be gone tomorrow, we are not novice skier and boarders. we are dedicated fans who got up early to catch that fresh track. we are not the person who is visiting, got up late, and started on 4 to 5 to 6 to nine by ten in the morning and poached my freshies. we stand in line for a reason, because we love to ski, we love to visit with friends on good days, we love our powder skiing, and for you to just act as though we are a continuing problem bewilders me as well as aggravates me. you can change the way of things within your operation of the mountain. but why would you want to change the way of the town that created the mountain we all find so special.  

we dont ride 5 because we are locals. we ride 9, the steep and deep.

dont consider this an attack on how you run the mountain, but more of my plea to understand the chair 8 powder line. i think you have made many good decisions for the hill, such as holding out on nine at the start of the season. just understand our point of view on this.

Dave's reply: Hi Michael, I respect the heck out of that kind passion. That's not a "hassle" or "nuisance" to me at all! I think it's pretty cool.

My concern relates to the unacceptable rudeness towards my employees - which happens only at Chair 8 on a powder morning. These are good people doing good work - and that's just not cool at all regardless of the cultural commodity. Is that right?

The suggestion to hop on the gondola was merely an attempt to provide an alternative. If people want to wait at Chair 8 that's fine with me - as long as they don't bag on TSG staff members!

P.S. The village people are not all tourists and the town people are not all locals. No disrespect intended! :) In 2008, I think we've become one great community with a mix of visitors, local residents, and a large chunk of second home owners - all who matter equally. We all need each other. IMHO.  

Dave, I think Aura may be referring to the fact that you can take the gondola or chair 7 up to Telluride Trail, take that over to Lower Lookout, and be first in line for Chair 9 IF Chair 8 isn't running. But only if Chair 8 isn't running. If all lifts open at 9:00, the fastest way to the base of Chair 9 is via Chair 8. I think Aura just wanted to get up Chair 8 first so she could be in line at Chair 9 first, but then everyone understands that avalanche control work may be necessary on the runs off of Chair 9 and there may be a wait at the base of 9.

Dave's reply: Hi Snowball, Always nice to hear from you. Yep, I understand what you and Aura are talking about.

thanks for the dialouge about all this but just to clarify something in regards to the treatment of your employees. i had a good friend get there earlier than your employees this morning, noticed the unlocked door that was wide open due to the high winds and proceeded to shovel the snow outta of the booth and the ramp. Why? cause why not, its a powder day. he thought the good karma would come back to him. so to say your employees are hasseled has to be taken with a grain of salt, as i belive having your job done for you while arriving to work should also allow for some fun in the snow heckling. laughter is a good way to rid the situation of anger.

Dave's reply: Wow, that's awesome. The contrast to that was that I had an employee in my office about 11:00 am today telling me that he had been cussed out and came very close to pulling a season pass for abusive language and behavior. It's probably a situation where I only hear about the problems - not the random acts of kindness like you observed!

Hello Dave,

 There seems to be a communication problem at Chair 8.  It wasn't until 9:10 that we, the people in line, heard there was going to be a delay in opening 8 and 9.  The ski area must have known earlier in the morning that was going to be the situation.  Why were we not told lifts 8 and 9 would not be open at 9:00?  We were just left standing there when we could have moved to another lift and have gotten in line somewhere else.  When I found out I took the gondola and made my way to 5 and did laps until 6 and 9 opened.  I just could have been on 5 earlier if we had better info at Chair 8 on pow pow days.  

 All that said, what a great day in Telluride. Thanks for the blog to let people express their opinions and ideas.

Dave's reply: Hi Robert, Yes - you are right and we had a few "colorful" conversations and emails internally this morning about our need to improve communication between staff and our guests at the bottom of Chair 8 during an AC delay. I totally agree. The communication between Patrol Dispatch, Lift Ops Dispatch, Guest Services, Security, Lift Operations staff, and our guests needs to be enhanced in these situations. That is our responsibility. The problem will always include the uncertainty as to how long the AC work will take - but we've got to be able to make some informed predictions and communicate that information better.. We'll work to improve that. Thank you.

Dave, thank you. seriously, its nice to know that my frustrations don't fall on deaf ears.

And just a side story: Loading 9 i couldn't stop talking with my friend about the delay and the stranger sitting next to me ever so kindly reminded me what a beautiful day it was, and all that we had to be thankful for...It was one moments that made me thankful to live in such an amazing place... the beauty, the people, the mountain...

and even if I didnt get first tracks I still got incredible freshies...

Dave's reply: I wish I could have been there ;-)   Maybe next time we can talk it out on the lift!

Thanks for blogging - it makes a difference and we appreciate you taking the time to let us know your thoughts and opinions.

Bravo Mr. Riley..Brilliant!!!! And, I would say that the "State of OUR Union" is strong. The ongoing communications on this blog WILL prove to be Telski's greatest idea.. Think of it as the ultimate "Suggestion Box" for the local/tourist/etc...Its real cheap too!!!!

Dave's reply: Hi Scott, The ultimate "suggestion box" - I hadn't thought of it that way but you're right. I like the electronic nature and fast exchange also.

Moving On....

Regarding the San Juaqin Bowl (Or is it Revelation?) The thought of Telski opening this terrain gives me chills, and thoughts of future permanent investment in Telluride. As a person who enjoys the backcountry experience I continue to be impressed by you and your staffs long term goals for the ski area. Its an exciting time for Telluride. Thanks..Keep up the great work..

Dave

I just discovered, and am enjoying, your blog yesterday.  I'm glad to see the changes you have planned.  Just to be sure that I've got it right, the San Joaquin project will be on the "backside" of Telluride - straight ahead from the top of the Gold Hill lift?

I've read the comments from some of the locals with a grin.  (I'm a "visitor" that owns a condo in Mtn. Village.)  I'm with you, I'd rather be out slding around on some part of the mountain rather than getting tense in a lift line waiting for it to open.  I do like to ski lift 5 as it lets me ski bumps, while my wife skis groomers.  Also, my legs and flat-lander lungs can't take a full day on lift 9.  A couple of years ago, the bumps got groomed off of the Palmyra run.  Are you planning to keep it bumpy this year?

Looking forward to hitting the T-ride slopes.

Bill from Minnesota.

Dave's reply: Hi Bill from Minnesota. Thanks for posting.

Yes, you've got San Joaquin located. Regarding grooming on Palmyra, the winch cat grooms skiers left periodically and we leave bumps on skiers right - best of both worlds.

Dave:

Lets be real (just for a minute). The whole chair 8 thing is about selfishness not passion. Passion would be getting out there and loving it anytime, not just on epic powder days. Michael, open you eyes, Dave has been trying to bring people together, not divide and label them.

It was nothing more than michael's closed mindedness that kept him standing in line at 8 while some 'villager' poached HIS freshies by way of the gondola or chair 5. And "hold lookout out of repect"!! How funny is that.

OK, Townie rule 1: Its Mr. 'townie' to you dude.  ;-) Townie rule 2: no one fom MV gets on the mountain until all the 'townies' has made it to the top of 9. I can't remember rule 3...does the duct tape go on the left elbow or the right. I think right means you're a townie and left means you're gay...or is it the otherway around. hmmmm.

Dave, I think your blog is great, but in some way it has exposed the underlying serious hostility that the townies have towards everyone else which has really diminished my general view of the Telluride scene.

Anyway, I have to get up really, really early to make sure I have the first tee time in the morning. I hate putting on a green that some bozo tourist has just walk across with those big shoes on his way to keeping my taxes low, paying for my roads, schools, parks, public transportation, and keeping me gainfully employed so I can own a second home in the 2nd coolest place I know.

Dave's reply: Thanks for the comments this morning Craig. All is good in TOT and TMV!

How about posting news on the website when lifts are delayed?  It might give people a chance to check before they left there houses.  That said, why would anyone stand in a powder line on 8, when the gondola is running feet away.  Oh, yeah, that's right, its not COOL to ski of the gondola, chair 4, and chair 5.  Guess what, though, you can access chair 9 and 6 from these lifts.  I'm a local and i get really tired of the attitude. Yesterday was awesome, and whatever way you had to get up there, just get up there!  

Dave's reply: We started the updated web posts this morning on the snow conditions page. You're reading our minds!

Regarding the attitude of a few - I actually don't think it's correct to refer to tweeked people generally as locals. I know many many locals who are happy and don't follow the twisted trails of life. Let's not let a few brand the many :)

Also, you and I are on the same page - we're going to get the freshies on 5 when it makes sense!

In the past, Lift 8 would run.  Some folks would ski over to 9 and wait, and others would chose to ski 8 for a lap or two, in hopes of timing it just right when 9 opened. I've gotten some great powder turns on Jaws and the Lower Plunge Fingers while people waited at the base of 9.

Dave's reply: Hi Pete, You're right.

We had a mountain department meeting today and part of it was to discuss this issue. About a season or two ago, a decision was made to not open Chair 8 until 9 was ready to open, that required a closure at the intersection of Telluride Trails and Lower Lookout. We all decided today to go back to the old system that you are describing. We'll open 8 and let people do laps while patrol is still working in avalanche control in the Chair 9 pod. No need for the TT / LL closure at that point.

Thank you.

I just wanted to thank who ever is responsible for all the downhill powder races that have taken place this year.  Being a downhill racer I can not say how fun and exhilarting it has been waiting at the rope line for the next lift to open or not open with 50 or so other people and just waiting for the rope to drop so that I can scream down the hill past everyone while I am watching arms and elbows fly along with bodies fly off the side of the ski run into the powder and people getting run over, sure someone could get really hurt I guess, but I have really enjoyed it this year and I have never seen it here before it is like a dream come true.  Please keep this new event alive it is the best new addition to the mountain in a decade even if it is a little dangerous.

Dave's reply: Please see my reply to Pete above. Thank you.

So where is the 40' railbow rail you talked about on the web page?  Why did you take away the $3 PBR's thats Pabst blue ribbon, from gorronos ranch saloon?

Dave's reply: I'm not familiar with the status of the rainbow rail but will look into it.  $3 PBR's are not happening at Gorrono Ranch Saloon. Running a restaurant and saloon at that location is an expensive proposition - but highly desired! Sorry :)

Dave, was up? I read all of these wounderful comments and realize that riding snow brings up a lot of feelings for people. Im just unsure of why negative feelings??? no one has to ride a lift or skin up a hill, we do it to have fun!!! Tow rope, puma, cat, double, triple, quad, whateverjust give me a steep slope, peppere it with some shoots, cliffs, trees tight, spaced,whatever. What exactly is a local?? two, five, ten, twenty years in town. We all live here, so smile and have fun. If the lift is not running, move to the next, motivate and get after it!!!quit whinning and sack up. Dave believe it should be a free for all, like chineesee doownn hill:p

Dave's reply: Thanks Loco. There is alway a crusty one in the bag =)

Hi Dave, WOW!!! What a great year so far.

  It seems that your blog is a huge success and I would imagine very time consuming for you. So many opinions to sort through and answer, but the chance to offer ones comments to the front office is greatly appreciated. Chair 9 "at times" reminds me of an old saying, "we're slow but we do poor work." Having said that, except for some pow days when 12 and 14 are closed due to high winds or control work  like this past Monday, 9 can be relatively quiet. I'm not so sure the terrain would change that drastically with an upgrade to a faster lift as some have said here. Many pow hounds would just get burned out faster and go back to work sooner on pow days. It would be nice to have a faster lift on pod 9 especially on those cold dark days but I like the idea of the San Joaquin Lift project.  

  It seems that control work is already stretched to it's limit after a storm, especially this great year. More terrain, obviously means more control people. BTW, they do a great job keeping us safe. A new lift 15 along with more employees means added lift ticket prices along with higher season pass prices which are already extremely pricey for a resort with the likes of chairs 7 and 9 but still likes to call itself a "world class resort." Damn, your job isn't easy, is it? I have a tough time just deciding what pow run to take sometimes.

 All in all, you're doing a great job as I posted earlier this year. Oh, BTW, I keep hearing from folks that lower 4 is not as good since those jumps were left there after the Jeep competition. I understand they were costly to build for the competition and it was cheaper to leave them in that general area then to move them but it narrows the area a great deal. I realize that the jumps are very popular but they could be on the run just north of where they are now as they have been in the past few years.  

 Anyway, I'm going to try to go back to sleep for a bit. Keep up the great work. Thanks for listening to me ramble at 4 AM. Warm regards, Leon

Dave's reply: Thanks for the comments Leon and for giving us things to chew on in our meetings :)

As a first time visitor or Telluride I agree after spending much of my first morning on Chair 9 that it is in need of an upgrade to a high speed quad.  Also, please consider painting large lift numbers on the housing of your lift loading areas to help those like myself who are unfamiliar with the mountain find the lift they are looking for.  Thanks, you have a great mountain and we are enjoying our stay

Dave's reply: Hi Chuck, Thanks for picking Telluride for your vacation and for your suggestions!

You couldn't pay me $3 to drink a PBR....lol

My first time at Telluride was a couple of weeks back. We are sold. We could not of asked for a better experience all the way around. One of your ambassadors even offered to carry my wife's skis down the stairs by the Gondola one morning. That's never happened at any of the other resorts we've been to.

I've always thought of Aspen/Snowmass as being the Cadillac of CO skiing. Telluride is now the Caddilac in my mind. You've also gotten a lot of free advertising from all of our friends asking about Telluride. I'm sure a couple of them are going to venture your way just to see what we are raving about.....Nice Job!

Dave's reply: Hi Skillet, Thank you for your nice post.

My dream guest is one who has skied a lot of other destination resorts. The reason is that when they do visit Telluride they are blown away with this resort and community!

I visited a well-known destination resort last week and came away very proud of Telluride's staff and the overall experience we provide in contrast to that resort.

Thanks for your support and we hope to see you back on the slopes of Telluride again soon!

Hard to think about spring corn with all this powder falling.  Soon the clocks will switch and spring will appear.  There was a tradition in Telluride that with the rolling forward of the clocks and the  return of the sun, the area would change the operating hours to allow skiers to enjoy the bright light and soft snow.  School kids of all ages stealthily changed into their ski clothes during the afternoon break.  When the clock struck three, the dash to the slopes began. Parents, students, and teachers  rode the lifts to the top and reveled in the soft snow.  The working class shifted their schedules so they could join in the fun.  It was a community celebration of the coming of spring and the end of the ski season.  When the area decide to shorten the season so it no longer overlapped the change in time, this tradition died a sad death.  No need to start with the clocks on March 9, simply make this a gala event for the last two weeks of the season. This is a tradition that is uniquely Telluride, a time for all to come together before the mudseason grips the town and the long wait for the summer’s festival season to begin.

Dave's reply: Hi Troc, We've been researching this. Evidently our past practices have been all over the board. We have not decided on the issue yet. Thanks for the input.

Dave:

I've read the above comments with quite a bit of interest.  As a Telluride "guest" I spend much of my family time staying in MV but ski Lift 9 with all the "locals."  Coming from MV on a powder day, I'm well familiar with the problems and issues regarding AC and opening of lifts and the problems is creates.  Telluride's geographical structure and layout is unique and poses some interesting problems.  I of course, have my own strategies for getting to the goods early on a pow day from MV.  My fav is getting on Gondie at the opening and racing down T-trail to base of 9 (you've got to be a good skater).  This is risky, of course, if 9 isn't open.  Depends on what type of day it is.  I try to do my research and figure out whether it's worthwhile to do a few laps on 6 or 4 or 5 first.  It's all about playing the game of skiing at a ski area.  

Trying to please evryone at the same time is a losing proposition.  On the flipside, creating a strategy which only favors "townies" isn't fair to guests (and as someone pointed out above, causes dangerous, impromptu "powder races").

Lifts should be opened as soon as deemed safe by your AC professionals, and not in a particular order which favors one side of Telluride or the other.

I think you're doing a great job.  Love the blog.

Thanks,

Josh

Dave's reply: Hi Josh, Please see my reply to Pete above. Thanks!

I just heard that Ski Patrol says the reason they are having a hard time opening terrain this year is because they are short staffed, they do not get overtime, and something about not being able to come in earlier even when they know they will have more work than usual.  I have been in Telluride for many years and skied all over the world but I have never seen all the delayed openings that we are seeing in Telluride this year.  I don't mean to complain I am just wondering if we are trying to make cut backs in the wrong areas.  This could just be a rumor so I thought I would ask you.  It is a great snow year here in Telluride and I just want everyone to be safe.

P.S.  Thank you for getting Milk Run open for the public the past few powder days, it has one of the most amazing fall lines.  

Keep up the good work Dave.

Dave's reply: Hi McIovin, Your sources are incorrect. I added money to the ski patrol budget this year. The patrol has done an outstanding job with openings. The delay a few days ago was caused in large part by access problems due to high wind loading and drifts on routes.

craig, obviously you dont understand the powder line. so i am glad you oppose the tradition held there which means you will not be in attendance next time. more freshies for us "townies"

also i guess the many people who are up early standing in line are all close minded as well. glad to know you think half of this town is close minded, including many of its distiguished residences. your comments make you seem close minded as its not just about freshies, which if you understood my entry, you would get. but obviously you dont, therefore i feel some sadness for you and your hateful mentality.

your hateful comments come across well. again someone dogging the powder line and all the goodness it brings.

Dave's reply: Let's not get personal now :)

I just want to clarify some things...when I said that: "in the 26 years that I have lived here"...I at no time was claiming local status only wanting to make a point of the frustration I had for chair 8 not opening on time, and in the time that I have lived here (26 years which happens to be a looooong time) I just dont remember this incident happening. Can you all understand this...

And in response to "tweaked angry locals" I can only laugh...Im just a 26 year old girl wanting to ride powder and I promise you if you rode the lift with me or met me at the bar or if we were to stand in line together at the Coffee Cowboy you would never say that I was tweaked or angry...So next time your out and about...Im the 6' tall blond with the funny name, (lots of people know it, so if you overhear someone say it, come up and introduce yourself and I gaurantee I'll put a smile on your face...)  

:)

//A-Z

Dave's reply: Thanks Aura, I'll look for you!

Wow! lots of Great ideas. I think the Rev. Bowl would be a prioraty before Lift 9. I am excited to say my part in this and I want to congratulate you for letting us have a say. I really love getting up in the morning having a quick bit a BIT (Baked in Telluride) and having some pow turns on Bushwacker, but on the other hand lift 9 is a snail. Lift 9 makes an 90 year old look like a cheetah. Maybe just tweak the motor and add bars and 10 years more of "The good ol' plunge". Love the blog keep and em' comin. Oh yeah and get more pictures, every time I look at them I think no way dave did that must be a pro, but I know its you. So make Crested Buttes customers cry with Tellurides kick butt powder and CEO. Thanks Dave

Dave's reply: Thanks Michael.  Appreciate the support for Telluride! I truly believe we have the best overall resort community in North America. Some may point to this or that but this place wins #1 in the overall catagory.

Yep, all blog pictures are from me and my little hand held Sony digi cam. Thinking of upgrading to a real camera with some real lenses.. It's pretty easy to take great photos at Telluride though!

I agree on the high pow bowl. It's the "over-the-top" place. 

CHINEEEEESSSSSEEEEEE DOOOOWWWNNNNHHHHIIIILLLLL!!!!!!!

WOOOOHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!  

Dave's reply: Yeee Haaa snowrider :+)

Dave, love the blog, totally blown away by your ability to respond to all reader posts.  Completely amazing.  Maybe I missed this somewhere, but what will the vertical be of the San Joaquin bowl and the new acreage?  Would it be all advanced skiing or are there a few intermediate lines for my wife to ski?  Would the top of the lift reach the back side of Gold Hill at over 13,000 ft?

Big fan of the mtn, -Coastal Kid from CT

PS - horray for safety bars on chair 9.

Dave's reply: The bowl has about 800 vertical feet and 45 acres of open bowl skiing - all advanced. Top elevaton is about 12,500' - just shy of the top of Gold Hill.

Dave-What is the official rule about exiting the top of the gondola w/ skis at 9am?  Is it possible to load the G from either town or MTV around 8:50am and getting off at the top [to start skiing] at, say, 9:02am. how does the line work in this scenario?

Dave's reply: Hi Steven, below is the response Jeff Proteau provided:

Great idea to put a lift into the San Joaquin Bowl.  Being from Virginia, hiking with my skis up into the bowl is a bit too hard on my lungs.  So I welcome the opportunity to ride to the top!  It may be wimping out but after 40 years of skiing it is the only way I will be able to ski that bowl.

We just got back from a week in Telluride.  Thanks to you and your staff we had a great time.  The skiing was incredible and the on mountain food was definitely better (loved the fish tacos).  Last year we gave in to pressure from the rest of our group to skip Telluride and ski Park City instead.  My wife and I spent the whole trip comparing Park City to Telluride (both the skiing and the town).  For us, there was no comparison (no lift lines and more diverse terrain).  Fortunately, the rest of the group also decided that Telluride was the place to be so we came back this year and will continue to keep coming back every year.

Keep up the great work and keep on blogging.

Steve

P.S. Don't tell anyone how great the skiing is in Telluride at the end of January.  3 days of sun and 3 days of snow and not a lift line in sight.  Nothing is better than that!  Now if you could only turn down that wind machine that was blowing on Monday!      

Dave's reply: Hi Steven, nothing is better than a true testimonial from a guest! We hope to see you back again soon. Thank you for your loyalty to Telluride!

It looks like you are trying to catch people in the huge net that goes across See Forever.  What is up with that this year?  I know that several people have commented on it and I could not believe it when I saw it for myself.  Seems a little more dangerous than people skiing fast.

Dave's reply: Ski Patrol has put that up because of the cross traffic in that area. I don't see it as a problem because it is very visible. All one has to do is slow down and go around it - just as it says.

Dave,

  I like chair 9 as-is except for the lack of a safety bar, and well, perhaps some of the chairs could have a pull-down bubble for those very very cold days in the shade.  For that matter, so could lift 10.  Perhaps every 3rd or 4th chair could have a bubble.  On light traffic days, one could opt to wait for a bubble - or not.  You know what I mean by a bubble, I am sure.

As far as speed is concerned, with speed comes wind-chill, thus the bubble idea, especially on Lift 10, the other long-long ride.  I think there are lightweight bubbles these days.

 On another subject, I love the evolution for the tellurideskiresort.com site.  Great work by you and your staff. It is amazing what has been accomplished in such a short time since you came on board.  Years of change and great ideas packed into months...and it is not over yet this season! Congratulations. Happy New Year (This greeting can go on as long as it IS Happy, and it IS in my view)

Dave's reply: Hi Paul, great comments - thank you. As far as "bubbles" go, if we installed them on either Chair 9 or 10 it would mean taking chairs off the line to compensate for the weight. I'm not a real fan of them. They reduce the chairs ability to operate in the wind because they act like a big sail too.

Hi Dave,

Any info on wether or not mountain quail will open today and what time? Thanks

Dave's reply: Hi Steve, sorry but I'm out of the office today - keep an eye on the website conditions page. Thank you :)

NOOOOOOOOO to high speed quad on 9. It's great to keep skiers "hangin' in the air' instead of overcrowding the slopes. Patience is a virtue, it's nice to earn the turns, and besides, the slow ride cools you down on those warmer days.

YEAAAAAHHHHHH to San Joaquin expansion.

Dave's reply: thanks for your comments Catherine.

How in the world can the base only be 79". With 2 record snow months in a row and it never got passed 90". There have been times when I have been in Telluride several years ago and they did not set a record but it was 140" base around this time. Who makes these measurements? Maybe take your meter sticks to Kant Mak Em were the snow is deep, because I am still trying to think how the base got that low. Thanks for listening

-Fritz

Dave's reply: Interesting question - I'm going to have to look into that!

Dave,

I am stoked on the news about San Joaquin/Revelation bowl chair!  

Thanks for the vision to push for that expansion - I can't wait to ski it!

Say, we have always had some reciprocal deals hidden in our Telluride season pass with other ski areas in the region - like 3 days at Taos (which we just visited last weekend and they have really great snow this year).  What other ski areas are in this double secret deal?  I'm super curious.  And why is it so secret?

Thanks, Dave.  Keep up the good work -

NCSF

Dave's reply: Hi Nathan, the deal with Taos is the only one we have with another resort. Enjoy!

Hey Fritz I've been skiing/ living here for the last 20 years and we are lucky to ever come close to 100" for a base, let alone in January.  I doubt if Telluride has ever recorded a 140" base

Dave's reply: As you know, since our snow has little moisture, it settles so much.

Dear Dave,

This morning I rode up 7, headed across Telluride Trail to access Lower Lookout and Lift 9, as I always do.  Much to my surprise, in the middle of Telluride Trail, between Coonskin and North Chute was a sign saying "Lift 9 Temporarily Closed".  If I had known that, I would have headed to 4, 5, and skied 6 waiting for 9 to open.  As it was I skied N. Chute and Stumper to the bottom (great run!), loaded back on 7, discovering there was still nothing on the message board about 9 being closed. I eventually got to 6 and had some great runs, wishing I had been there earlier.  In the future, how about having a message at the bottom of 7 and a sign at the entrance to Telluride Trail at the top of 7.  Then skiers have a choice as to where to go.  The placement of the sign part way down T. Trail this morning seemed to be a bad idea.

Also, many compliment again to Telski employees, who have all been very polite this year.

Again, many thanks for listening!

Gary

Dave's reply: Hi Gary, a sheave needed to be adjusted on the heavy side of Tower 22. We'll implement your suggestion regarding the electronic sign - that's what they should be used for! Thank you :)

A different sort of chair 9 issue.....  today we pulled into the very short lift line at 9 and were waiting our turn when a group of "locals" pulled into the ski school line and jumped onto the next chair. I was miffed that anyone could think this was acceptable and/or that they had "the right" to do this. I looked at my ski buddy like WTF?? and he said he has seen it happening all season long. We have lived here a long time too, guess we just aren't as cool as some of our neighbors.

Dave's reply: That would set me off too. I'll explore solutions with the staff. Thank you.

To WTF- what, you only lived here for like 1 year bra, you think you shouldn't wait for us longtimers?? Get over it bra- I been local for 20 some years- you lose bra, you lose.

Peace out.

Dave's reply: Peace out? What a lame comment...

Just because you've live here for 20 years doesn' t mean you have the right to be a jerk. You have a responsibility to represent Telluride as a stand-up citizen.

Cutting in line is low-life.

is there still a terrain park at lift 10 on ute park????????????????????

Dave's reply: we've put the rails and jumps under Chair 4.

Dave,

I just called the snow report, and thought perhaps I had dialed Disneyland on accident!

May I suggest they use about 40 less adjectives and tone it down a bit.  If we're calling, we're skiing.  We don't need to be sold on it.  Stick to the facts, that's all we want!!

Thanks-

Dave's reply: Can't blame him for being excited - the conditions are incredible, awesome, fantastic and unmatched :)

    Dave,  Thanks again for this forum to express out comments, very cool. &nbs