Telluride Photos

Ophir Avalanche Video

2009-07-07T07:26:00.000-07:00

I've found imovie on my macbook to be a very easy way to upload short video clips taken from my point & shoot (Canon Powershot) to youtube. Below is a 35 second video clip of an avalanche triggered by explosives dropped from a helicopter above Ophir, Colorado on January 8, 2008:

I believe they were able to make two slides run on a Tuesday -- when the weather finally broke -- after having the road into Ophir closed since the previous Saturday night when a natural release down the St. Louis slide path blocked the road.

Photos of Ophir Colorado

2009-07-06T09:45:00.000-07:00

Unbelievably, yesterday was the first time I ventured above the shelf up high in waterfall canyon and was blow away by both the approach, views down valley, as well as the high alpine terrain and flowers in the upper basin.

It only took about one and half hours to reach the top of the shelf. I bumped into my neighbor who told me it was about another two hours to make to one of the saddles which allows you to look over Ice Lakes to the south.

Will try to see if there's a route which circles back on the western side of Waterfall Creek ... possibly linking up with Janes.

Happy 4th of July in Telluride

2009-07-04T14:55:00.000-07:00

Thousands of visitors have descended upon Telluride for the Fourth of July celebration and are enjoying weather which finally resembles summer! Here's a shot of a lemonade stand at the Telluride Farmer's market on July 3rd:

Fireworks are scheduled to begin later on this evening after dark ... always a great show in the box canyon of Telluride.

Photos of Telluride Bluegrass Festival Campground

2009-06-16T06:54:00.000-07:00

The festivarians have arrived in Telluride Town Park.

Many campers had arrived about a week prior to the start of the Telluride Bluegrass festival and have quite elaborate campsite setups including couches, stoves, full bars, etc. I noticed a sign which said everything needs to be removed by the monday after the festival by noon ... ouch!

Winter Still Hanging on in Telluride: Photos Inside

2009-06-14T09:47:00.000-07:00

It's certainly not unheard of to receive snow in June in Telluride. In fact, I vividly recall receiving a 3 foot snowstorm on June 6th about 7 years ago and made a hike up the front side of the Telluride Ski Resort (starting in Telluride) and snowboarded down Milk Run. Normally, such storms are a one off; however, the recent dusting has been a part of a constant stream of moisture which has blanketed the area for the past month or so.

The photo above was taken on June 13th, near the bottom of Jane's run in waterfall canyon in Ophir, Colorado. While we did have some some prior residual snowpack at higher elevations, you can still see the reminants of the dusting we received higher up at about 10,000ft.+ at dusk.

Telluride Bluegrass Festival: Photos To Come

2009-06-14T09:46:00.001-07:00

The Telluride Bluegrass Festival is about to take place in Telluride, officially starting on Thursday morning. I don't have a ticket yet, but am hoping for a cheap four day pass to be available on the street Thursday morning. I've had good luck over the past five years or so getting a 4-day pass for about $120 - $150 from people looking to unload their extra bluegrass festival pass. However, last year was a lot tighter and recall being very very lucky to even get a pass at all! Nonetheless, I'm thinking that with the economy the way it is year we might not see as many attendees to the bluegrass festival in Telluride.

In any case, it's an interesting lineup which includes most of the "bluegrass regulars" such as Sam Bush, Peter Rowan, Jerry Douglass, Emmy Lou Harris, Yonder Mountain String Band, Bela Fleck … with the addition of bluegrass "jambands" Railroad Earth and Cornmeal. There's also the non-bluegrass additions of Elvis Costello and David Byrne (of the Talking Heads).

I should have some photos of performers and crowd scenes throughout the weekend. I've noticed over the years that it's often difficult to get ideal lighting on performers who take the main stage for good photos … since there's really never much in the way of direct light througout the day except an hour here or there.

Photographs of Telluride Jazz Festival

2009-06-07T11:25:00.000-07:00

The 33rd annual Telluride Jazz Celebration is occurring in Telluride Town Park this weekend.

This year had a great line up for Telluride Jazz Fest, including: Ozomatli, Benevento & Russo Dual, Bill Frisell Trio, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, Lizz Wright, Donald Harrison Quintet, Jimmy Herring, and many others.

The weather had been somewhat rainy, and there have been rainbows. Here's a shot of a rainbow over the Wilkinson Public Library and a bit of signage in Telluride Colorado:

Oppose Bear Creek Expansion in Telluride

2009-06-07T07:18:00.000-07:00

Bear Creek is easily the most moderate of hikes in the Telluride area which allows the widest range of individuals to leave pavement behind and access what is both a lush and dramatic excursion into the backcountry. There are easily a dozen waterfalls of various shapes and sizes which are either visible from out in the open or tucked away in some lost little nook or cranny carved out by ages of weathering and the force of water rushing through the canyon. I suppose some might retort the river trail hike is the easiest in town (which is true), it does not transport one to an almost immediate and close contact with the natural surroundings abound.

The "official" Bear Creek trailhead starts out on the very southern end of Pine Street (which runs perpendicular to main street), but one can also gain access to the creek from a variety of other lesser known trail heads and egress routes such as starting out from the southeast corner of Town Park, along the Gold Hill ridgeline (near electra), from Ophir and Bridal Veil Basin (or any of the other basins to the east) ... all of which (except the entrance @ the SE corner of Telluride Town Park) are higher elevation routes. All of these routes are accessible year round; however, backcountry travel in the winter requires proper gear and the ability to use such in the face of an ever present danger of avalanche.

The main Bear Creek trail is probably 1.5 - 2 miles to the "main" waterfall (as well as the Wasatch trailhead) and for the most part is a very gentle trail in so far as it not being too steep at any one stretch. It is also wide and accommodating for those who like room from side to side. The point being, it is not uncommon to encounter a 7 year old child and a 77 year old adult enjoying Bear Creek from top to bottom.

Early this summer, I was struck by how easily one can see the Telluride Ski Area's new Revelation lift from the main trail in Bear Creek. What's done is done regarding this lift, but it clearly demonstrates the level of visual obtrusion which ski lifts impose upon those who are simply seeking to immerse themselves in a natural setting The higher one travels on the Ballard (east) side of the creek, the more noticeable the new Revelation Bowl lift becomes. This would also hold true for any new ski lifts which might come online down the road. If a new lift is installed in upper Bear Creek, then surely it will visually affect those who enjoy hiking on the Wasatch Loop ... which traverses through an extremely unique and pristine high alpine setting.

It seems to me, Bear Creek is without question a national "jewel" in every respect and rests partially within the National Forest Service' jurisdiction. I have hiked and traveled extensively throughout the state of Colorado and can say with absolute certainty there are not any clones of Bear Creek in existence and very few areas come close to approaching it's natural stark beauty and rugged landscape. Since Bear Creek is already accessible (to ski or snowboard at one's own risk) via an access gate from the Telluride Ski Resort, it seems we're currently at a "build out" of the "best of both worlds" situation: skiers and snowboarders are able to indulge in all of the adventure offered, while other non-skiers can enjoy the most natural of experiences possible. I also believe access to the general public to a Bear Creek which is not built out or mechanized ought to trump ANY ambitions the Telluride Ski Area may have.

More Photos of Telluride

2009-06-02T15:12:00.000-07:00

An off season project to replace the waterline on main street in Telluride is almost complete. You can see the reminants of the old water line.

It's been a constant deluge of rain in and around town for the past couple of weeks. Here's a photo of the Valley Floor (now owned by the Town of Telluride).

Recent Photos of Telluride

2009-06-01T06:51:00.000-07:00

We've certainly had a mix of varied weather over the past month or so in Telluride. Over the past 10 days, it seems as if we've been in the middle of the monsoon season: it normally starts out clear and sunny in the mornings and clouds gradually build up and unleash rain and thunder throughout the day. There are often large windows of sunshine and a final burst in early evening which leads to a relatively clear sunset.

Took my first short hike up to Coronet Falls this spring and noted the newly constructed trail which includes a new route fairly close to the trailhead which includes a couple switchbacks through an area which has typically washed out in the past. The trail was technically closed at times last summer due to a more severe wash out of the old trail. I must say it's now a bit easier egress. There was still some ice/snow at the bottom of the falls (as you can see looking out back toward the ski area) ... which is impressive given that I believe it takes on mid-day sun exposure for at least a good few hours. In this other shot, you can see there's still snow on some of the ski runs near the top of the Telluride Ski Area.

Below is a shot of Ajax Mountain to the east of the Town of Telluride. Taken near Telluride Town Park.

Telluride Jazz Celebration is scheduled to take place this coming weekend starting on Friday which hosts the main events in town park.

Rainbows in Ophir Colorado

2009-05-25T14:09:00.000-07:00

We've been socked in for the past few days with some rainy weather. It hasn't been 100% non-stop, so occasionally the sun will shine and every once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right!

The Telluride Mountain Film Festival is still underway in Telluride on this Memorial Day weekend. I haven't seen any movies, but have heard there are some great ones, as always.

Telluride Ski Area & Possible Bear Creek Expansion

2009-05-24T09:25:00.000-07:00

The Telluride Ski Resort is apparently moving in the direction to request a consideration of an expansion of the Telluride Ski Area into Bear Creek (beyond the newly installed Revelation Bowl lift) and has already initiated a "snow/avalanche study" last season to harvest information on route to such an goal.

According to the Telluride Ski Resort website, the following is a breakdown of "Trail Difficulty":

23% Beginner
36% Intermediate
41% Advanced / Expert

Too bad the Telluride Ski Resort doesn't qualify or break down the "Advanced / Expert" category further; however, I will go on record with a first hand anecdotal account that Telluride offers up a wide selection of single and double black diamond trails -- ranging from long sustained steep bump runs to very steep runs embedded within a wide array of extreme terrain. Most recently, the Telluride Ski Resort has opened up most of the upper Gold Hill chutes and all the terrain along the prospect ridgeline up to Palmyra Peak. The newly opened terrain is hike-to access and requires extensive avalanche control work by ski patrol. In fact, the Telluride Ski Are recently invested in a howitzer to assist to this end. In other words, for the expert skier or snowboarder, Telluride is ALREADY THERE in terms of having more than enough variety and acreage to satiate even the most die-hard enthusiast.

Currently, there is an access gate into Bear Creek above the Revelation Bowl lift which allows skiers and snowboarders, who are prepared to assume individual responsibility for their actions (and potentially their lives), to venture out into the back country. The terrain in Bear Creek past the access gate is not controlled for avalanches nor is it policed by ski patrol for safety. While the snow safety conditions are much more risky, snow quality is often of a much higher level ... even in light of an ever increasing back country visitor population.

All in all, it seems there's currently (and for the foreseeable future) a great balance between the amount of expert inbounds terrain which is controlled vs. expert back country terrain which offers higher quality snow conditions and an unparalleled opportunity for adventure.

So, the question about expansion into Bear Creek by the Telluride Ski Resort becomes a loud and resounding "Why?" when there already exists an overabundance of expert terrain of many different varieties. Moreover, the new Revelation Bowl lift now provides visitors an opportunity to simply "experience" the perspective of skiing in Bear Creek with many of the grand views you get from actually being there. The answer to the question of "why" may involve much speculation which I will devote ample time to in subsequent postings. However, on the face of it, I'll leave it for now to simply say "enough is enough" ... since most people have more than they need of controlled expert terrain. The cost of intruding upon a pristine high alpine environment is simply not justified! Additionally, it appears that despite the best efforts of ski patrol, they are already stretched very thin in so far as controlling expert ski terrain which is currently available and are often slow to open up pods or areas in a timely manner due to lack of resources and the vast amount of terrain which requires avalanche mitigation activity. Increasing the amount of such terrain will only stretch resources further and most likely increase operational costs (new personnel hires and equipment) ... which will further increase what are currently high fees for lift tickets and season passes. Many -- if not most -- of the expert skier and snowboarders who I've talked to about this are very much opposed to any sort of expansion into Bear Creek.

The previous line of reasoning is from my perspective as a die-hard snowboarder (who will venture just about anywhere) and does not even begin to scratch the surface of a broader rationale for opposing an expansion by those who have never even paid the Telluride Ski Resort a dime, but independently enjoy National Forest lands in Bear Creek via public access points and egress routes.

My guess is the Telluride Ski Resort has probably been very methodical and deliberate in their apparent pursuit to expand the boundaries of the ski area, yet most of us in opposition have simply been huffing and puffing around town or writing the occasional letter here or there. In other words, the expansion effort is being propelled by a well oiled professional "machine", while the opposition is simply a loose association of individuals who simply know in their hearts this is simply not a good idea (on many fronts). In the middle of all of this is the National Forest Service, who has seemingly acquiesced to most of the Telluride Ski Resort's requests in the past. So, those who are strongly opposed to such an expansion ought to collaborate to put forth a cohesive and strong set of arguments to the NFS as well as on a public relations front. Such an opposition effort really needs to gain some traction as soon as possible given the professional and abundant resources of the expansion endeavor. I will be writing further upon this subject in the future and welcome all comments from any perspective.

Telluride Ski Resort Prices Yet To Be Released

2009-05-21T07:34:00.000-07:00

We have yet to see the Telluride Ski & Golf Company release their rates for the 2009/2010 season for the Telluride Ski Area. All indications are that fees will probably remain the same if not increase slightly. Last year, an early bird season pass was priced at about $1,200 while a single day lift ticket was $92.

Of course, there are deals to be found on the internet and regional point of purchase special events which allow a discount on multiple day tickets. The key for any visitor is to plan well in advance and keep your eyes and ears open for specials online. Regionally, people might want to visit local ski swaps and such for those who live in Colorado and the southwest.

Unfortunately for local ski and snowboarding enthusiasts, as well as local employers, we don't have much choice regarding season pass rates ... unless the ski company unveils an entirely new and innovative pricing structure. However, I'm not banking on such an eventuality and am anticipating shelling out about $1,300 beans ... at least that's my guess as of today. Any "breaks" will simply amount to an extension of time to obtain the early bird rate (vs. the full fee of about $1,800) or possibly some payment plan or credit arrangement.

I'll be first in line to publish a positive review of a new and creative pricing structure.

Anyhow, summer is fast approaching with the launch of Mountain Film Festival on Memorial Day weekend. The Telluride Jazz Celebration quickly follows in early June (5-7). However, if you're able and willing to "earn your turns", there are stilll tracks to be had up at higher elevations. The snow is a bit "dirty" from the tremendous dust storms we experienced in early-mid April, but it actually skis very well!

Arapahoe Basin Still Going Strong

2009-05-17T10:07:00.000-07:00

I visited Arapahoe Basin, otherwise known as "A-Basin" four times in May 2009. The first was on the way out to Chicago (via Denver) on May 1 before visiting my family and seeing the dead (formerly Grateful Dead) play at the Rosemont Horizon with my brother ... which was a great show!

Most of the mountain was open including the Pali lift; however, it was slightly overcast so the pali face and other runs were a bit on the crunchy side. There was some soft snow and slush to be skied or ridden (on a snowboard) down lower on the mountain.

I came back to visit a second time on May 8th on route back to Telluride (Ophir) after seeing the dead again in Denver. It was a bit warmer and sunnier this time around, so the snowboarding was a bit more forgiving. I rode the Montezuma lift and snowboarded down those runs for the first time ever.

Went out for a quick snowboarding trip on May 14th & 15th, both days were warmer and sunnier than the first, but the Pali lift was closed. I believe the management and ski patrol at A Basin are a bit more cautious after a late season in bounds avalanche took the life of a skier a few years ago.

Nonetheless, the snowboarding was great ... the snow was soft all over. I bought a season pass before my first day at the basin for about $290. It is valid for the rest of this season (June 7 is the projected closing date) as well as all of next season. Also included is a free (unguided) lift ticket at Silverton and 5 days at some resort in California.

Telluride Ski Area Has Strong Ending

2009-05-17T10:02:00.000-07:00

After getting off to a great start in Telluride -- probably the best December I can recall, January seemed to be about average (typically a dry month) and Feb/March waned a bit below average. The Telluride Ski Area was kept open for an additional week from April 6-12, with the final two days being powder days! While only lift 9 and lift 7 were operating, it was a great way to close the ski and snowboarding season!

Excellent Start To Season!

2009-01-13T06:41:00.000-08:00

The 2008/2009 snowboard/ski season has gotten off to an excellent start, with record a breaking snowfall in December. January has seen a small stream of light powder days, but the snowpack is excellent at the ski area and deep (although somewhat dangerous) in the backcountry.

I'm at roughly 25 days (20 in Telluride, 4 backcountry Ophir, 1 day at Breck), of which probably 18 or so have been serious powder days!

Yesterday, I took a hike up in the Ophir backcountry and had what could've been the best run of the season ... the snow was setup perfectly. If I wasn't so tired, I'd try again today!

The photo of Ophir was taken two days ago ... you can catch a glimpse of my house in the foreground.

Why can't they start out on the right foot?

2008-11-06T20:24:00.000-08:00

The Telluride Ski and Golf Company is reporting 24" from the recent storm. I'm not saying this is impossible, but I do find it VERY hard to believe. Up in Ophir, we received about 10-12" in town ... maybe 14-16" up high (haven't heard any reports though); however, it was very windy so there are variable deposits which probably do total over 2 feet, but there are also spots with next to no snow at all. Maybe Telski measured a drift, or maybe there was a local cell which kept giving ... but I doubt it (too much wind).

Wolf Creek is reporting 14"
Aspen is reporting 16"
Red Mountain Pass 11"
Crested Butte's ski area website isn't publishing snow reports yet.

There was about SIX TO EIGHT INCHES (tops) of new on the ground in the Town of Telluride this morning! Typically, this would translate into about 12-16 inches up high on the ski mountain. I'd guess around 12-14 is probably realistic given the profile of this storm.

So, we're missing about a foot between reality and Telski's report. Again, I could be mistaken, or it could simply be a matter of where the snow is being measured (i.e. large drift).

I can't really prove this, but based upon the regional reports and from what I saw on my deck and around Ophir, I'm fairly convinced the Telluride Ski Company is doing quite a bit more than overstating things.

I've seen REALLY strange things happen in terms of snowfall differentials withing a 30 mile radius. I remember one storm where Rico received something like 3-4 feet, while Telluride (about 30 miles away) got only about 12". So, it can happen ... but this storm was just WAY TOO WINDY - most spots in the area will get about same amount of snow. The big differentials normally happen during a really wet storm ... where cells linger and just stall out over a spot and keep dumping. It was far from the case on Wednesday. Again, I think they're measuring a large snow drift.

Maybe there's a sense of pressure at Telski to make this season work out given the economic down turn (bookings for lodging were down 20%), capital expenditures (new lift), and high lift ticket prices ($92 per day). If I lived in New York and made travel plans based on this preliminary information and later found out it was simply not true, I'd be furious.

Ultimately, I hope independent website which report (or at least verify) snow via first hand assessment will keep the "official" snow reports in check.

Again, it could still be true.

Telluride Ski Area Lift Ticket Prices Now $92 For Single Day!

2008-10-29T10:56:00.000-07:00

Lift tickets at the Telluride Ski Area will now cost visitors $92 per day! While there are certainly deals to be had on multiple day passes and via online purchases, this marks a new high (or should I say "low") point for skiing at Telluride.

Not only does this price out many locals and regional folks who would like to ski or snowboard at the ski area, it also smacks of elitism in so far as creating a barrier to utilize what is essentially National Forest lands.

When and where will it stop?

It's possible this coming winter season at Telluride will prove to be costly for both visitors and Telski (Telluride Ski and Golf Company): the ski company may actually suffer tremendously if the economy remains unstable and tourists don't have much in the way of discretionary income ... resulting in a significant decline in skiers. Accorinding to current data, bookings at loding establishments are already down 20% from last season ... and there's still plenty of options to book rooms over the holidays (a bellweather of sorts).

Telski has also recently invested a lot of cash into a new lift -- Revelation Bowl -- as well as two new on mountain dining options ... which probably puts them in a position of needing cash flow. Season passes were raised by 20%, up to $1,200 (early bird). On the other side of the equation, retro-bonuses for Telski employees were unexpectedly axed at the end of last season. So, maybe they'll have sufficient cash to cover the shortfall.

Nonetheless, it'll certainly be interesting to see how things pan out.

Another Telski Rant

2008-10-23T15:17:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, I was diagnosed with (currently primary) Raynaud's disease as of this summer. I experienced many symptoms starting about a year ago, but they progressed and kind of leveled off this past spring. We'll see how things progress this winter ... since cold weather makes things worse.

As far as my ability to snowboard, I was definitely affected last season; however, it was more of a nuisance with an occasional severe flare-up which caused me to stay away from snowboarding for a day or two. Mostly, it would be one of my big toes which would incur some sharp pains ... similarly on my very lower shins.

I'm hoping (and praying) that I'll be able to at least be able to participate at this level for the upcoming season, but it's still a big question mark. Sadly, "career" may be over and my Bonfire shell may have to be raised up into the rafters along with all my boards ... only to serve as decoration and a memory of what once was!

However, my demise has yet to come to be. This is where the "problem" with Telski comes into the picture. I have 8 days left to take advantage of the early bird rate of $1,200 for a season pass. I just called their office this morning and asked if I was unable to continue (with a doctor's note) to snowboard at some point in the season could I get a pro-rated refund? The answer was yet, but it would be a CREDIT! This would be fair enough if blew out an ACL and knew I'd be back up next year, but if I can't make it this year chances are I won't be able to EVER snowboard again. I was told I could use the credit for golf.

I don't believe there was a "credit only" policy in the past. This seems very unfair to me, but I suppose there will be some who will tell me to quit whining and be glad Telski is willing to give me SOMETHING! There are actually quite a few Telluride Ski and Golf Company apologists out there these days with respect to bad policy ... it's unfortunate, but to be expected.

If I'm forced to play golf (and rub elbows with those who pass one another Gray Poupon), I may have to print up some creative custom t-shirts to exercise my first amendment rights.

How I am voting on local ballot measures

2008-10-13T08:57:00.001-07:00

The upcoming election has four local ballot initiatives which ask voters to approve spending measures for various capital improvements. The short answer: I'm voting NO on all measures.

Since I live in Ophir, I am unable to vote on the ballot item with respect to fixing the spur -- which is a Telluride specific item.

Across the board, while I believe some projects are more "worthy" than others, I do not feel this is the appropriate time to increase the tax burden of both residents and local area businesses. The world/national/local economy is currently on a precipice of sorts; we are in unchartered waters with an unknown outcome.

Instead of increasing taxes, I believe it's time to re-evaluate our priorities and tighten our collective belts.

Telluride Trail Closed To Mountain Bikers

2008-07-25T15:51:00.000-07:00

According to a report by the Telluride Daily Planet published 7/25/2008, mountain biking will no longer be allowed down the Telluride Trail (dirt switchback access road from the top of the San Sophia gondola station down into town). There will be a forest service agent posted at the top to enforce this ban. According to the story, conflicts with hikers / Telski and general dangers are the primary reasons given for the closure.

If I had to bet a large sum of money, I'd probably say Telski is taking a conservative legal position on this issue and was able to pursuade the National Forest Service to this end. People who point it on a bike will undoubtedly be subjecting themselves to bodily harm, and some may even be a danger to others.

A more jaded possibility would be that this is the initial phase of a pre-meditated plan which ultimately sees mountain baking down t-trail rise from the ashes as a pay-per-use activity and another source of revenue for Telski.

As an avid hiker (who doesn't mountain bike a whole lot these days), I rarely have any bad encounters and generally support mountain bikers. I see Telski's (conservative legal) position, but would have hoped they found a multi-use solution; which I do believe exists.

New Waterfall Canyon Hike

2008-07-02T09:16:00.001-07:00

... at least it's new to me! After running into Larry R. and Brian M. a couple weeks ago in Waterfall Canyon, we were looking at some elk way up high in the sunshine above tree line on the eastern ridgeline of the mouth of Watefall canyon. I asked about whether or not there was a trail to get up there, and they said yes & in fact was one of the best hikes around Ophir. I didn't get exact directions, but was told the trail head is on the east side of the Opus loop and actually dead ends; requiring one to bushwhack it along the ridgeline.

So, I first started out by hiking to the east Ophir bridge and took an immediate left ... I hiked about a 1/10 of a mile before approaching what was either a natural cave or old mine on the right with what looked to be tailings on the left (north) ... all near the beaver ponds. I couldn't find any distinct trails from this point on, so I backtracked and continued up the Opus trail. Eventually, I found smaller single track heading east. I stayed on that which climbed steadily along the mountainside. Eventually there was an old tram station with a mine probably very nearby (tailings present). I continued on another 1/4 mile or so and eventually came to the major drainage in between Swamp and Waterfall canyons. The intersection of the trail I was on and the drainage was basically just a wide choke with scree on either side of the water ... which I hiked directly up about another 1/4 mile or so (I believe continuing on the trail would've brought me to Swamp Canyon.). I reached a slight plateau and noticed what was either human or elk trail cutting back west. Knowing the switchbacks I was after were back west (and possibly on the west face of the target ridgeline), I proceeded. The trail is almost certainly an elk trail ... saw plenty of elk tracks as well as some bear tracks. I basically had to bushwack a traverse across the mountain side. Nothing too technical, but a fair amount of needling through relatively heavy foliage was necessary. I could look to my right (north) and occasionally see landmarks on the Ophir valley floor ... so I was able to track where I was east - west. Eventually I wound up on a very well defined elk track on the target ridgline: so I was now at the mouth of Waterfall canyon (the canyon now being to my left [south]). The elk trail decended quickly on to what was clearly an old mining road, even though it was fairly well grown over by foliage.

I finally found the trail I was seeking and proceeded up, but was fairly well spent in terms of my feet condition ... so only made it up a few switchbacks (which were fairly long). I was amazed to be able to peer downvalley and almost "around the corner" of the Ophir Needles! It's kind of the ultimate relief for the often claustrophibic feeling of living in the Ophir valley. I did not see Sunshine Mountain, but I imagine if I were to go up higher it would all come into view. Waterfall canyon was also seen from a different perspective; from the east, but much more immersed in so far as everything being "right there" in front of you. Jane's and the other popular backcountry routes were all visble as well. I imagine sunrise must be excellent; sunsets as well ... especially when there's a cloud ceiling which allows sunlight to pass through and illuminate the often colorful sky.

4th of July crowd has been steadily pouring into town

2008-07-02T08:04:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure of the total numbers, but the 4th is typically a relatively large crowd for Telluride. Starting in the morning with the impressive military jet flyover, the festivities officially commence with the traditional parade down mainstreet. There's always lots of local kids in costumes & floats, as well as some of the protest variety ... which apparently have ruffled the feathers of some out of town visitors in the past who may be seeking a more sanitized brand of patriotism. Still, I don't think the politics of some will keep visitors from visiting the impressive box canyon which is home to Telluride. Immediately after the parade is the town picnic in Telluride Town Park, complete with all the hokey games (bobbing for apples, potatoe sack and three legged races, catching fish with bare hands in big pool, etc.). Fireworks usually start 9pm or so and is normally an excellent show. I'm particularly a fan of the sounds which boom, echo, and reverberate throughout the valley; they really go right through you. It's also particularly interesting to see the fireworks from up at a higher vantage point on Tomboy Road (north end of town). Many folks setup shop along Tomboy and are treated to almost eye level fireworks display.

Telluride Bluegrass Festival in Full Swing

2008-06-20T10:25:00.000-07:00

As the Summer Solstice quickly approaches, the Town of Telluride is fully immersed (or overrun) by the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. The 35th anniversary festival has produced an excellent line up which includes a closing act tonight by a reunion of Leftover Salmon. My favorite performer, Peter Rowan, will also be playing this afternoon. The weather has finally turned for the better over the past week with more typical June summer days. It'll be interesting to see how the rest of the summer's weather unfolds given the epic winter (snow and cold) we've just had!

Aspen Mountain Re-Opens For Skiing & Snowboarding

2008-06-14T09:23:00.000-07:00

I was pleasantly surprised (but not floored) to read that Ajax is currently open this weekend for skiing and snowboarding on limited terrain! Still contemplating making the 4hr+ drive early in the morning tomorrow, but the limited hours (10am - 1pm) makes it kind of difficult to leave at 6am and get in my full nickel's worth. I don't know if I'd want to leave today and have to be immersed in the summer tourist season and high prices (there's a food and wine festival going on now)? So, we'll see. Lift served access is still an option in June!

Would the Telski ever do something like this? I've lived here since '95 and have NEVER seen any sort of extension of the ski season, so I'm not holding my breath. While I haven't gotten an up close look, my guess is that lifts 4 & 9 are probably both sitting pretty good in terms of snow near the top stations with decent pathways coming down. Even if it's sketchy today, it was probably very doable in mid May.

So, what does this all say? Has Aspen come full circle after its build out? Is Telluride still just keeping it's head down and putting one development foot after another without any regard for the soul which has kept this town together? Will it take a complete gutting of the community before Telski offers up the goods? Cynical? Maybe. But we've been dropped many a clue over the course of Dave Riley's tenure at the helm of Telski .... the delayed opening of lift 9, removal of automatic end of season retro bonus for Telski employees, and even the opening of new hike-to terrain tells a certain story if you read between the lines.