Dave's Blog

Dave,

Any news on when the rest of the Gold Hil Chutes will open?  Are they doing a lot of avalanche control their or do they need more snow?

Dave's reply: in many areas the avalanche work caused slides that cut all the way to the dirt and rocks, so we have to wait.

Dave

Was the Avy you refered to with the off duty patroller in the Bear Creek drainage?  Any links to an article?  Are the 'out of bounds' gates open?

You must be busy--I haven't got a reply to my questions sent to your private e-mail address a week ago.  Thanks.

Dave's reply: Hi SDS, here is a story on the out-of-bounds avalanche accident. Yes, USFS backcountry gates are open.

http://www.telluridenews.com/articles/2010/02/02/news/doc4b61027d0ebe4050713811.txt

Please resend your email, I can't seem to locate it. Thank you.

Dave,

Are the closings to Palmyra peak, Black Iron bowl, and the Gold chutes do to unstable snow conditions? Does this have to do with the possible powder Telluride might get on Monday?  

Dave's reply: sometimes it's too much unstable snow, sometimes too little.

Hey Dave,

I've got a quick question. I'm kind of a statistics guy so...

Is it true that with Palmyra Peak Telluride has the highest vertical rise and highest inbounds terrain of any resort in the United States?

Dave's reply: Here is a link that might address your questions:

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Which_US_ski_resort_has_the_highest_vertical

But, the difference is that one has to do some hiking to get to the top of Palmyra Peak. Maybe one day we'll have a tram up there?

Hi Dave,

We are coming next week and are going to pick up our season passes.  What paperwork/documentation do we have to bring along?

Thanks,

Patrick

Dave's reply: Hi Patrick, If you have a receipt that's great, if not ,please bring your drivers license. Everybody has to sign releases and guardians have to sign for minors too, if there are any in the family/group. Have a great time in Telluride. Conditions are fantastic.

Not sure why they are open--the skiing is bad. Not enough snow to make it safe. Who made that poor call?

Dave's reply: Hi Sally, as usual, there is more to the story. The patrol bombed the chutes which caused much of the snow to slide. Subsequently, they wanted to get some skier compaction going so the constant cycle of deep slides would subside. They have a process to get snow to stick on the steep chutes. Ski packing is one of the methods after they have bombed and ski cut. Since we're forecast for 1 to 2 feet of snow today and tomorrow it looks like they timed things pretty well. As for the area being "safe", let's remember that these areas are rated extreme terrain, which includes variable conditions. If a person is not prepared, skilled, and willing to accept that, they should not chose to go there. It's a personal choice.

Update: Feb.7, noon, I just got back from skiing Gold Hill #9 and it was fantastic - filled with deep powder all the way from the top of the chute through Palmyra Basin, to the bottom.

Dave,

Going back to my last comment... Do I have to go with my 16 year old son to pick up his season pass? (To sign papers) or can he go by himself?

-Patrick

Dave's reply: Hi Patrick, for your son to get his season pass you'll need to go and sign too. Sorry for the inconvenience. We can swing by your house if you'd like and take care of it. Feel free to let me know if you'd like to take us up on that at driley@tellurideskiresort.com

Dave,

I commented earlier on the snow-pack. I arrive in Telluride Friday, glad to hear the snow is good.  Of all of the hike-to-terrain availible now what do you recommend?  Hike time doesn't matter for me,  I love hiking and have hiked up Highlands bowl at Aspen Highlands among others.  I heard Bald mountain is great too.

Dave's reply: Everything off Black Iron Bowl (Prospect Ridge), Baldy, Gold Hill 9 - those are really really nice. Palmyra Peak is going to be filling in with this storm we're in right now, which will make it much better. Right now, Tram Shot is probably the best. The Goat Trail between GH #1 and #1.5 is pretty rocky. If you're going to ski any of this, go with someone who has been there before. Remember, this is all extreme terrain.

I was blown away with GH 9 and the Palmyra Basin below today. I love that route. Mtn. Quail and Jello Bowl are sweet also.

Enjoy your vacation in Telluride!

Hi,

 I live in Breckenridge and am getting tired of skiing dust on crust.  I was thinking of driving down there tonight.  Is it still dumping? or was most of the snow skied today?  I only want to drive 6 hours if its at least a foot.  Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Rick

Dave's reply: Hi Rick, During the Super Bowl, it was snowing hard. Seems to have stopped at my house now. I'd say we've got 4" new on the hill since we closed. It might pick back up again, or not. It was really good skiing today up in Revelation Bowl, Gold Hill #9, Dynamo, etc. That's all I know. Thanks for checking in from Summit County.

Updated: 2/8/10 - 9:00 a.m. - got 6" last night, and it's still snowing this morning. Revelation Bowl got about 1.5 times that because of the way it loads in up there..

Hi Dave,

Why no mention of the recent Big Mtn. Freeskiing Competition? It brought in a lot of attention from the international freeskiing community. Telluride's newly opened expert terrain was very well promoted since the event was held in Black Iron Bowl. With no major events this season besides a WC race, I'm bummed that you missed this chance to highlight the new expansion and gain some world-wide legitimacy for our new expert terrain!

Maybe next year?

Dave's reply: ? it was promoted on the website.

Sorry Dave, but you totally squandered your chance to promote the Freeskiing Event.

No pictures or video on the website. Not mentioned on activities link. Oh here it is... listed in the events calender... without ANY information or a link to a site that does have information. Why bring in an event, then ignore it? The ski patrol had no idea about the event until two days before. Now how does a visiting tourist family get to see this event? I went to the top of lift 12 and nobody had a clue about where the event actually was or how to get there to see it. No signs or mention at all whatesoever?!

You spent more promo resources talking about the ice rink at the Capella! I'm just disappointed.

Dave's reply: I don't agree with much of what you've said, but support your right to your opinion.

Press releases went out nationally (before and after the event) and it was on the home page of the website. The patrol has known about this event since the date was set for the event months ago. The ice rink comment is kind of a cheap shoot too :)

As far as access for visitors to see the competition, the route required double black diamond (expert) skiing skills, as you know. We don't want to put a big green arrow up sending everyone into expert terrain to see an event.

Dave,

I am heading out to Telluride in a couple of weeks. I was wondering how difficult the runs off on Palmyra Peak are compared to other parts of the mountain. I am an advanced to expert skier and would love to hike up there, but want to make sure that I do not get in over my head when I'm 1000 vertical feet above Chair 12.

Are they similar to some of the more accessible hike-to terrain on tho mountain or on a completely different level?

Thanks,

William

Dave's reply: Hi William, this is a great question - thanks for asking.

Palmyra Peak is very extreme, both the climb (which will take a person of strong fitness who doesn't live at this elevation approximately 1.5 hours) over some exposed rock, which calls for certain equipment such as rubber soled mountaineering/ski boots, beacon, probe, shovel, pack that holds skis, and the decent, which is long, very steep, with big rock outcroppings. If you are rating yourself as "advanced to expert", I would not recommend the peak. This is very extreme terrain on both the way up and the way down.

Having said that, Telluride has a range of hike-to terrain within the ski area boundary which can offer you an experience which lets you taste what I call extreme "adventure terrain" - like nothing else you will experience at a ski resort in the States.

There is a sequence that I would consider as a reasonable approach to discovering this terrain.

First, a 20 minute hike up Baldy, with nice north to northeast facing runs of powder (the snow and wind generally comes from the west or southwest around here so the north and northeast faces are primo). That's were many people start. Ski west off the top of Prospect Express (12) to the saddle, look for the signs to the hiking trail. You'll know when you summit. It's an incredible view and experience up there. Take pictures.

Second, working your way up Black Iron Bowl, or what some people refer to as Prospect Ridge, you have numerous drop in routes as the trail map shows. From a 5 minute walk to Genevieve, to a 25 to 45 minute walk to Mountain Quail. These routes are steep but intuitive as long as the visibility is good. The whole area is north facing, holds snow like crazy, and is an incredible experience.

Third, or maybe second, I like Gold Hill Chute #9. This is one of my personal favorites. From the top of the Revelation lift, you'll see a sign that lets you know if it's open. If it is, you'll follow a snowcat road around the east side of the cliffs you're looking at, up over the top of the big elephant back (Gold Hill proper), click into your skis at the top and continue to ski south to the saddle, then walk south again up the knife ridge past the signs for 6, 7, and 8, up to 9. Out of all 10 Gold Hill Chutes, #9 is the easiest and most approachable. You're way up in the sky (near 13,000 feet at this point) with unreal views and you may even see God up there (just kidding).  Anyway, ski down #9 into the big powder basin below. This actually will give you the ability to look at and assess the ski routes off Palmyra Peak, as long as visiblity is good (which is normally the case if the area is open). The basin below is like inexpensive heli-skiing and will dump you out down near the bottom of Gold Hill Express (14).

If your up for any of this, I recommend investing in the right equipment to not only be safe, but to be more comfortable - beacon, probe, shovel, pack, maps, photos, etc. Spend some time understanding how to use a beacon in "beacon basin".

Enjoy Telluride. You'll see why we call this place "Unmatched in North America". :)

Bring a camera and a friend. The only problem with all this (disclaimer), is that once you've experience this, you won't want to go anywhere else.

No joke.

Hi Dave,

You provide a great resource with your Telluride blog, it is your blog and you are entitled to put up whatever content you choose, it's not like you are being forced to do it either, it seems to be something you enjoy doing from time to time.  Thats at least the impression I get from reading it, and I think alot of people appreciate it.  Mr. Huckett there is nothing stopping you from starting up your own blog to blog about local happenings within the mountain town of Telluride.  Keep in mind Mr. Huckett that this is a resort as well, and there are many different events going on each day within the resort.   I can understand people wanting to be critical of things, but don't sweat the small stuff.

Dave's reply: Hi Jake, You're right, this is something I just like to do. I wish I had time to be everywhere all the time and do it more often, but I've got too many meetings, etc. If I delegated it, it might be better in terms of coverage, but then it wouldn't be Dave's Blog, it would be the Telluride Ski Resort Blog. I have mixed emotions about it - that might be better? Or, not? I don't know. Anyway, I like to take pictures and blog because I absolutely love this place.

Dave,

I've been coming to Telluride for 13 years now and have the Telluride site as my home page, which I see numerous times a day. I never saw anything about the Free Skiing Event.

Just a FYI.

Thanks

Dave's reply: Hi T-Roy, maybe you need to refresh you browser. The event was on the home page movie for several days, and still is tonight. Not sure what's up with that. Thanks though :)

Dave,

I agree with you, I look at the Telluride Ski Resort website daily and for the past two weeks saw a photo of the back of a yellow-jacketed skier dropping into a cliff-band during last year's Subaru Free Ski event.  It was very clearly advertising this year's competition.

Also just wanted to mention how amazing conditions have been in Black Iron Bowl this past few days.  Guess the cloud-seeding paid off.

Dave's reply: Yep, you're right.

Hey Dave...here in T-Ride and having a great vacation.  My youngest, Jimbo, is upset that Sundance has not been groomed in the last serveral days.  Don't think its been done since the last heavy snow.  Has it just been left off the list or is there a reason?  Jimbo and his sister Mindi sure would like to ski their favorite trail before we leave on Friday.  Is there a chance?  Thanks for all you do.  Later/al

Dave's reply: Hi Al, It will be groomed tonight. Sundance rotates mostly every other night with Double Cabin.

Dave,

I was lucky enough to be standing on the top of prospect ridge on Monday the 8th when ski patrol dropped the gate to Black Iron. After making the quick hike to mountain quail I caught up with ski patrol there and again was aghast when they said they were dropping the Palmyra gate as well. So I continued to hike, boy was I rewarded! Dropping in on tram shot was unbelievable. By the time I dropped in another snowstorm had consumed the peak and the visibility was very low. The snow was plenty and seemingly very stable in the main couloir all the way down. Had the visibility been better it would have been the best decent I have made in bounds to date.

I am looking forward to the re-opening of the peak, are there any indications when ski patrol will drop the rope again?

Dave's reply: Hi Teavor, I love to hear a story like that..  My guess is the patrol will open the Peak again soon, based on the weather forecast I'm looking at. They like to get it open and keep it open.

Hi Dave,

Since some of the recent posts have been a critique of the blog, I thought I'd chime in.

I fully endorse the idea of this as your blog, versus a resort blog.  It shows me someone who's leading from the front.  From what I read, you:

- promote your organization

- accept and act on feedback from your customers

- show the great beauty of Telluride

- occasionally show your side as a dad who enjoys spending time with his daughter

I have a difficult time understanding people taking issue with any of that.  Seeing you on the mountain on a Saturday with a camera and having a new post the next day just reinforced how authentic this blog is.

Please continue to keep up the posts.  It really keeps me connected until my next visit.

TK

Dave's reply: Hi Tod, thanks for your positive feedback. I'll keep at it.

Hi,

I hike Mountain Quail regularly (haven't got past 2x/day, but will).  Love it.  I am wondering if there is anyway not to groom the entire walk, but to leave a boot pack (if you will) along one of the edges.  Not only would it make it an easier hike for me and my rather stretched out calves, but it would help all those who aren't quite as stretched out or as strong.

Dave's reply: Hi Susie, seems like there is room to walk along side of the groom now, but I'll look at it more closely. Thank you for the suggestion.

Hi Dave.

After watching the Olympic curling event last night I wondered if a curling venue would be feasible on the pond in Mountain Village.   Just a thought!

Dave's reply: Hi Bert, I'm not sure, it would likely take a Zamboni to maintain a smooth surface, wouldn't you think?

I hope you enjoy the imminent powder - looks like there will be some EPIC conditions for early spring skiing.

Dave's reply: Hi Sam, yep, we've been doing good in the snow department this season.

I ordered chicken wings in the Hop Garden tonight. 6 pieces of chicken...$10.99. Unmatched in North America!

Dave's reply: I like the spicy wings and sauces too! Actually, they are $9 and the rest goes to the government.