April 30, 2008
Hi Folks,
It is our pleasure to announce that Telluride Ski and Golf is installing a new fixed-grip quad chairlift and again expanding advanced terrain. The new lift - called "Revelation" - will expand into the long-awaited and anticipated "Revelation Bowl" terrain and add vertical rise to the entire ski resort.
Environmentally responsible helicopter construction techniques will be used on this project. Construction is scheduled to be completed by November 15, 2008.
Below is a picture of the new lift location and the new terrain:
Below is a picture of Telluride's newest "perfect powder bowl". You can see a bomb hole from explosives tossed from a helicopter as well as a fracture line from a slide in the lower center of the picture. Our avalanche control in the new bowl will expand next season as we open this area to the public and make it part of our routine avalanche control work. Revelation Bowl faces northeast, which means it's on the back side of the prevailing winds which come up and over the top of Gold Hill summit from the west. Snow loads in the bowl at an incredible rate. For example, if it snows 6" we could easily have 12" in Revelation Bowl due to wind transport. This bowl is pure bliss from a skier's perspective. Revelation Bowl is very "Alps- like", a high-alpine powder bowl with a sea of 13,000'+ peaks to be seen in every direction. The beautiful SW Colorado San Juan mountain range surrounds this very unique and special ski area expansion.
The picture below shows the middle of the new terrain. The bowl is an advanced skier's paradise.
Below is a picture of the bottom of Revelation Bowl where the new lower terminal will be located (lower-center of this picture). Views into Bear Creek from the new terrain and lift are really spectacular - classic Telluride.
The lift serves 800 vertical feet with a slope length of 1,876 feet. Average gradient of the line is 47%. Travel time is 4.2 minutes. Quad chairs are POMA's "Super-Comfort" model with individually padded seats and full one piece back cushions, with retention bars and footrests.
Admittedly, Revelation lift is not a real long lift like Chair 9 - but there is definitely more to the story in terms of terrain accessed by this new lift...
Not only does the Revelation lift provide access to what I like to call the "perfect powder bowl", it also makes it easy to access the Gold Hill Chutes 6 through 10 (with a short 160 vertical foot walk to the top of the Gold Hill summit) - which accesses Palmyra Basin - which accesses the aprons under the Gold Hill cliffs. These areas are clearly the best-of-the-best for advanced skiers and all drain to the bottom of the Gold Hill lift.
Below is a picture of the Gold Hill Chutes 6 through 10:
Below is a picture of Palmyra Basin:
The new Revelation lift will also provide access, through a backcountry access gate, to Bear Creek - for those who are skilled, experienced, and prepared for the hazards and personal responsibility of backcountry skiing. Below is a picture of Bear Creek and the 3,800+ vertical feet it offers - all the way from the top of the Revelation lift to the bottom of Chair 8 down in the town of Telluride.
Telluride broke the mold last ski season by opening Black Iron Bowl, Palmyra Peak, and Gold Hill Chutes 6 -10 for public hike-to-ski. This new terrain transformed Telluride into an advanced skier's utopia (without exaggeration). With the addition of the new Revelation lift for the 2008/2009 ski season, this is a very exciting time for Telluride.
While we've been leading by example with new advanced and expert terrain, Telluride still has a perfect blend of diverse terrain for skiers of all abilities. In 2001 Prospect Bowl opened up extensive "park-like" intermediate terrain. Chair 10 and the Chondola have offered perfect beginner / novice terrain for years. Chairs 4 and 5 offer great intermediate cruising terrain while the north side of Telluride Ski Resort (Chairs 7, 8, 9 and the gondola) offer famous advance runs like the Plunge. The popular Chair 6 still holds a special place in the hearts of skiers with runs like Zulu Queen and Apex Glades. The new Revelation Bowl is accessed from the top of the Gold Hill lift which offers incredible bump runs and glades.
Our decision to construct the Revelation lift and aggresively expand our terrain should be viewed as a strong signal that Telluride Ski and Golf is committed to make Telluride the best mountain community in North America. We are encouraged that local community members and elected officials are increasingly focused on the long-term livability, economic vitality, and environmental health of the greater Telluride region. As a result, projects like this become possible. We are, after all, one interdependent community.
Please feel free to post a comment regarding this announcement - we love to hear your thoughts and comments. - Dave
P.S. Stay tuned to the blog this summer, there are several other exciting things we will be announcing over the next few months. For example, during the 2008/2009 ski season - for the first time ever - the Telluride/Montrose Regional Air Organization (TMROA) will be offering 7 day-a-week non-stop jet service from Chicago to Montrose (our regional airport) via United Airlines. This is huge news for our friends in the northeast. United is also adding flights this winter from Los Angeles. Accessibility to / from Telluride will be greatly improved next winter for many of our loyal guests.