January 21, 2009
Hi Folks,
Many people think of Telluride as an "Expert Only" ski resort. While we do have some of the best advanced and expert terrain in North America, if not the world, we also have a huge amount of exceptional beginner and intermediate terrain.
Years ago, this wasn't the case, and maybe that's why Telluride's reputation is still based on our most difficult terrain. We've also recently opened the new Revelation Bowl and lift along with Palmyra Peak and Black Iron Bowl, totaling approximately 400 acres of new expert hike-to terrain. A lot of the media coverage has been focused on this expansion (rightfully so because it's a big deal in the world of skiing).
But, much has changed at Telluride over the past 10 years as the ski area expanded extensive beginner, novice and intermediate terrain. We also have a fantastic grooming fleet which lays down perfect corduroy every night on miles and miles of wide, long, and easy runs.
The pictures below were all taken over the MLK holiday weekend. You'll notice the lack of crowds on the runs. Crowds are far smaller at Telluride than most all high-end destination ski resorts. This is a defining element of Telluride.
Below, I'll roll out a number of pictures which illustrate the "Soft and Mild Side of Telluride". I hope you enjoy it!
To begin with, below is a picture of the upper "Meadows" run, under the Chondola, showing wall-to-wall groomed beginner terrain below the hotels, shops and restaurants at Mountain Village:
The next picture shows the lower "Meadows" run with the Peaks Resort and See Forever Resort in the background:
The next picture is of the "Double Cabins" ski run off Sunshine Express. The runs in this lift pod are all easy terrain and the high-speed quad lift is over two miles long. There are also great views of the San Juan mountain range and Mountain Village from all the runs:
Below is a picture taken just below the top of Sunshine Express. The runs are really sunny, wide, and gentle on the west side of the ski resort:
Below is another picture in the Sunshine Express lift pod. These are some of the biggest, uncrowded, and nicest runs a beginner skier will ever find, anywhere. Remember, these pictures where taken on MLK weekend!
There are hundreds of ski-in, ski-out hotel rooms, condos, and houses along the easy runs at Telluride Mountain Village. Below is a picture of the Mountain Lodge. There are many great places for familes with young children to stay and ski - right out the back door of your hotel, condo or house.
The gondola you see in the picture below is free (and runs 'till midnight), and will take you back and forth between the historic Town of Telluride and Mountain Village. This is another reason why Telluride is so special; once you're here, you really don't need a car. You'll experience a 100 year-old historic mining town plus a European inspired pedestrian-oriented village. Both are connected with the free gondola with ski runs that run down to both the town and village. It's truly amazing.
Spectacular scenery is everywhere in Telluride:
Big, wide, easy, groomers with great views are common at Telluride. The picture below is taken from the Village Express pod. This run is called Butterfly:
Ute Park is an uncrowded beginner pod at the top of Sunshine Express. It's perfect for learning and allows skiers to experience the high alpine without dealing with steep terrain. Downloading is allowed on Sunshine Express if that is desired:
Mellow groomed intermediate runs are plentiful off Prospect Express also:
The views off the top of Prospect Express are wonderful:
Butterfly leads down to Gorrono Ranch where you'll find the historic Saloon, Gorrono Restaurant, Outpost Bar, BBQ Shack, and live music on the deck daily. The Saloon has been converted from an old homestead cabin located on a 100 year-old sheep ranch. The old "line shack" is where the tack was stored for the horses, etc. It's facinating to see:
"The Beach" at Gorrono Ranch can be a fun place to relax at the end of the day aside the fire pit and the Outpost Bar and Saloon:
Below is a picture of Gorrono Ranch from Village Express:
Don't forget, kids love Telluride too!
In addition to the world-class advanced terrain, these are some of the things that make Telluride, well, Telluride.
Please feel free to post a blog comment or question. We love to hear from you. Just scroll to the bottom, type away in the dialog box, and hit submit. Or, feel free to contact me directly at driley@tellurideskiresort.com I'm happy to help you with anything you need.
Kindest regards,
Dave
January 11, 2009
Hi Folks,
Another epic ski season is underway at Telluride. We've had record snowfall and bright blue days. I had the opportunity to ski around yesterday and snap a few pictures to whet your appetite. As you will see below, Telluride Ski Resort is simply "Unmatched in North America". Enjoy!
Below is a picture looking across the new Revelation Bowl into the East Fork Bear Creek Basin. This is a classic Telluride view:
The next picture below is taken from the top terminal of the new Revelation lift, looking west across Telluride Ski Resort's Prospect Bowl:
The next picture is taken from the top terminal of the new Revelation lift, looking north down the See Forever run, and across the top terminal of Gold Hill Express. The Town of Telluride is located in the bottom of the canyon to the right:
The picture below is looking south across the new Revelation Bowl, with San Joaquin Peak in the background. The snow is sooo good in this bowl because the wind always comes in from the back side of the peak and it just loads and loads into this area. Last night the groomers actually used a winch cat and groomed about 8 passes down the center of the bowl from top to bottom just "skiers left" of the lift. This is the first time Revelation has been groomed from top to bottom since we opened the new bowl to the public. It started snowing today before I was able to get a good picture of the groomed route (Okay, I admit I was distracted today by incredible skiing and failed to get a picture before the snow came in). For now, you'll just have to imagine corduroy down the center :) I'll get a picture of the groomed route for the next blog. It is a very impressive high-alpine groomed run:
Big, round, softies at the top of Revelation:
The bottom terminal of the new Revelation lift stops just short of a 800 foot cliff above Bear Creek. The setting is spectacular:
The portal into Prospect Bowl is inviting. Prospect is full of rolling groomed intermediate terrain under the watch of Palmyra Peak:
Below is a picture of the lower terminal of Prospect Express. This picture was taken on Saturday, January 10, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. If you don't like lift lines, Telluride is your resort!
Below is a picture of the top of Prospect Express, with Palmyra Peak and Silver Mountain in the background:
Below is High Camp Warming Hut, which is located a few hundred yards from the top of Prospect Express:
Beautiful, wide, uncrowded, corduroy runs in Prospect are perfect for carving smooth and gentle turns all day:
Ute Park, just to the west of Prospect Bowl, is perfect for novice skiers and families with youngsters. What I love about Ute Park is that it is real easy terrain, located high on the mountain. This allows novice skiers and snowboarders to experience the high alpine environment and views that many ski areas only make available to advanced skiers. Notice that giant lift line too :)
Incredible snow, beautiful views, uncrowded slopes, and the warm sunshine of SW Colorado combine to make Telluride the resort of choice:
A late afternoon decent on the Plunge, to the Town of Telluride:
So many runs, such good snow, so many choices:
Mountain Village, nestled below soaring mountains, as seen from the Boomerang run in the afternoon. Time to Apres Ski:
I hope you've been enjoying the ski season as much as I have. If you haven't made it to Telluride yet, it's time to come. I guarantee you'll love it.
Feel free to post comments or questions to the blog, we love to hear from you. Just scroll to the bottom, type away in the dialog box, and hit submit. Or, if you'd like to contact me directly for any reason, you can always reach me at driley@tellurideskiresort.com I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have, or put you in touch with one of our experienced vacation planners if you are interested in visiting the nicest resort in North America! We can help you with all the details and make sure your vacation is perfect.
I hope to see you soon on the slopes of Telluride.
Kindest Regards,
Dave