Dave's Blog - All Comments

re: Another Beautiful March at Telluride

RPM — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:28:16 GMT

Dave, yesterday was one of a few spring days where Lift 7 was classic spring skiing. The problem was that upper Milk Run was closed at approximately 2:30 to set up gates for a race. It took the crew about 30 minutes to set up the course...Couldn't the race crew have waited another hr to set this up. This is the time when Milk Run is the best. Telluride Ski Resort, the race crew, and more importantly YOU needs to get with the program! I do not think that it is that imperative for the race crew to set up gates during the best conditions in the spring. They could of held out for a least one more hour.

Dave's reply: I haven't talked with the Race Department about this at all, and they may have some reasons we're not aware of, but I'll forward you comments along to the management and ask them to consider your points the next time it comes up. Thanks for your input, it's appreciated.

_________________

Updated reply from Elizabeth Howe regarding future races on Milk Run:

In response to the blog comment, below is a schedule of TSSC alpine training:

The Telluride Ski Resort supports the efforts of our local athletes. The TSSC was instrumental with our success during the World Cup and our support of their training efforts will ensure their success at future races and their continued support for our future events. When Milk Run is in use for training or competition, we encourage our guests to check out similar groomed black terrain available on Coonskin, Plunge, Bushwacker, Majestic and Silver Cloud.

3/16 1-5 Milk Run3/20 10-1 Milk Run3/21 10-1 Milk Run3/23 1-5 Milk Run

3/24 1-5 Milk Run

Additionally, there will also be race activity on Milk Run beginning 3/25 and continuing through 4/1 for the USSA Alpine Smartwool Finale and NAASF races.

J e

Elizabeth HoweExecutive Director of Resort Services

re: Another Beautiful March at Telluride

Mark — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 03:31:01 GMT

Dave,

Just wanted to say that the skiing was phenomenal on Monday and my family was able to ski today and said it was great as well. Unfortunately I had to work, at least I was able to coordinate some work with skiing. Everyone has been extremely friendly and this year we made it from Arizona for two trips, hope to do it again next year and may even do some mountain biking and jeeping this summer. Keep up the good work, we skied many areas before we found Telluride and if you and your staff keep this up, we aren't going anywhere else. See you this summer.

Dave's reply: Hi Mark, we'll keep working hard to make sure you and the family have the best alpine vacations possible - that's what we do! Thanks for the kind blog comments.

re: Another Beautiful March at Telluride

Leo Fonseca — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:52:45 GMT

Hi Dave, i was a Lift Op last season and i can only say that i miss Telluride a lot.

I can't wait to get back to Telluride next season and have the best time of my life all over again.

I hope i'll see you soon.

Dave's reply: Hi Leo, thanks for your blog comments. Hope you can enjoy Telluride again in the future.

re: Another Beautiful March at Telluride

bward — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 02:20:55 GMT

Dave: Just had to tell you that I was looking forward all winter to skiing Telluride, but on the two days I happened to be there (for my son's freestyle competition), Gold Hill chutes and Palmyra Peak were closed for Warren Miller. I'm a Telluride fan, but it was frustrating to be shut out.

Dave's reply: The area was closed Friday and Saturday for a film shoot, then a snowstorm came in which loaded unstable snow into the area which the patrol has been working on. Sorry about the inconvenience to you.

re: Another Beautiful March at Telluride

szk — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:25:19 GMT

Today was the best day of skiing this season! Love Telluride! Life doesn't get much better! Thank you!

Dave's reply: I heard it was fantastic. Glad you were able to enjoy it!

re: Another Beautiful March at Telluride

TickyTock — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:49:08 GMT

Dave,

I gotta agree with sds and Steve. What you said is all true, but as a local, I can say I would definitely stick around for any amount of time if the lift operations are extended. Perhaps if you made the move to leave the ski area open longer, the airlines/gondola/locals would follow suit. Be a positive leader!

Dave's reply: Thanks for your input.

re: Another Beautiful March at Telluride

wondering — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:27:46 GMT

Dave, are you ever going to open upper gold hill again? It's like owning a Ferrari without the keys and no way to hotwire it.

Dave's reply: yes, of course. It's been snowing hard up there, with no visibility. Patrol has to conduct extensive avalanche control work to safely open the area again, now that the sun has come back out.

re: Another Beautiful March at Telluride

taylor — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 01:37:14 GMT

Hi dave,

I was wandering after the recent amount of snow is there any chance that palmyra peak and gold hill chutes 2-10 will open up in the next 3 days or as soon as possible? thanks for all your great updates.

Dave's reply: now that the snowstorm has passed, the patrol will get a chance to work through the avalanche control routes. I can't predict with accuracy how fast that will go. The areas will open sequentially. It looks good for at least some of the extreme to reopen over the next few days. Enjoy!

re: Another Beautiful March at Telluride

NickD — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:16:05 GMT

It's a real shame that Gold Hill and Palmyra have been closed in the wake of the last storm cycle. It's rare to see the chutes so filled and the aprons so fluffy - too bad we couldn't ski them. Rumor has it that they were closed to allow some filming. Is that true?

Dave's reply: last week on Friday and Saturday the areas were used for filming a Warren Miller segment. Since then, it's been snowing hard up there with no visibility and significant avalanche danger. The patrol will be working on getting the extreme terrain open again now that the weather has cleared.

re: Another Beautiful March at Telluride

Steve — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 15:41:47 GMT

I'd like to echo the previous comment and some from earlier blogs. The conditions are too good to close the resort so early in April. You speak of ways to increase skier days and hot bed occupancy ...

Set the lead, announce later closing next season (at least two more weeks), and bring additional revenue to TOT and TMV. The hotels and restaurants will follow your lead.

Dave's reply: When the airlines cut back their flights in April, the gondola closes for spring maintenance, and all the locals leave town for spring break, it gets pretty quiet.

re: Another Beautiful March at Telluride

sds — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 11:32:34 GMT

Your photos do speak a thousand words--they are mesmerizing. Since the sun was still high and your crew were the only skiers on the hill, I'm assuming these pics were taken in late afternoon after the lifts shut down and 'sweep' is done?

It's a shame with these conditions and coverage to shut her off in 20 days!

Dave's reply: Some were taken before the lifts opened, some shortly after we opened. Telluride is just not a crowded ski resort!

re: The New Stairs to Gold Hill Chute #9 Opened Today

Mike Piazza — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 13:21:01 GMT

Dave,

Thanks so much for all of your hard work and innovation to make Telluride what it is today ! My wife and friends made our first trip in late February and fell in love with your mountain ! You were actually installing the staircase while we were there and we were able to see the progress through the internet. Thanks for keeping the lines of communication so open. I'm sure everyone appreciates it very much!!!

We can't wait to come back to Telluride !! Truly unmatched !!!

Keep up the good work !

Mike

Dave's reply: Hi Mike, thanks for your kind blog comments. Hope you can make it back again soon. It's great this month in Telluride.

re: The New Stairs to Gold Hill Chute #9 Opened Today

sds — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 09:10:34 GMT

Dave

Your pics are stunning--your crew is awsome--your blog is the best in the west!!!

Ignore AF and yaya--they're left over from the "glacial outburst" bunch.

Dave's reply: Hi sds, what a great ski season this year. It's going too fast though.

re: The New Stairs to Gold Hill Chute #9 Opened Today

Lori Duffy — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:17:20 GMT

Gordy Sato came into Doug's Sports today and told me to check out your blog, love the picture by picture story going up the stairs and down the chute. Telluride looks awesome! We'll have to get more of us from Hood River to explore Telluride!

Dave's reply: Hi Lori, that would be great! Thanks for connecting.

re: The New Stairs to Gold Hill Chute #9 Opened Today

Roscoe — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 02:58:43 GMT

Will their be any local talent involved in the photo shoot? We should be celebrating our local talent as well as our slopes. I under stain peoples frustration with the closure but feel its well worth it if local talent is involved.

Dave's reply: Yes - Hilary O'Neill, Brian O'Neill, Galena Gleason, Chason Russell.