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Skiing
Prospect Bowl, Telluride.
Photo: Tony Demin |
Mention
a winter ski vacation in Colorado and perhaps Aspen, Vail or Breckenridge will
come to mind. Many head to these ski destinations before thinking of Telluride,
a quirky, offbeat, warm and welcoming resort town nestled in the San Juan Mountains.
The discovered-but-not-completely-overrun-with-tourists town is just the way the
locals like it.
When Telluride isn't full to capacity (5,100 beds) with summer or winter outdoor
enthusiasts, it is home to 2,200 residents in the town of Telluride (8,725-foot
elevation), and another 1,000 in Mountain Village (9,540 foot-elevation). The
altitude won't be the only thing to leave you gasping for breath. Though this
destination is a bit isolated, it's certainly a hot spot with plenty of exhilarating
things to do.
Every
day during ski season (Nov. 26, 2003 - April 4, 2004), lifts run from 9:00 a.m.
until 4:00 p.m., carrying skiers and snowboarders to a variety of mountain terrain.
Though Telluride is known for its steeps and bumps, 38 percent of the mountain
is intermediate terrain and there is a fair share of runs for beginning skiers,
as well. In January of 2002, the opening of Prospect Bowl gave skiers an additional
733 acres of terrain, nearly doubling the size of the ski slopes on the mountain.
|
Clock tower, New Sheridan and Ajax.
Photo: George Huey |
Extremely
experienced skiers can access backcountry terrain through a gate at the top of
Golden Hill Lift, but the area is not patrolled and can be extremely hazardous.
Adrenaline junkies will also enjoy the Air Garden Terrain Park, where skiers and
snowboarders can try out a steep half pipe and the latest jibs. Another adventure,
snowbiking, where a bike rests low to the ground with two skis instead of wheels,
can be enjoyed on terrain accessible from any detachable quad lift. (CONTINUE...)
