Ski Resort Review: Telluride Ski Resort, Colorado

Can't get your party on with the celebrities in Aspen? Fire up the jet, head down to Telluride, and party with theirs! This former Victorian mining town offers authentic Colorado history and is the expert skiers nirvana. While the town itself is nestled in a stunning box canyon, the ski resort sprawls into the surrounding San Juan Mountains. Started in 1972 by a former Aspenite, Telluride has grown into a legendary Colorado ski resort and has created legendary ski bums.

There's terrain for everyone at Telluride, but it has a well-deserved reputation of offering a backcountry experience within the boundaries of a ski resort. With 2000+ acres of skiable terrain and a peak altitude of 12,570 feet (3,831 m), your legs and lungs may be used to maximum capacity.

The 115 trails are designated 21% Beginner, 32% Intermediate, 47% Advanced / Expert but, this doesn't begin to include the hike-to expert terrain of Bald Mountain, Black Iron Bowl, Gold Hill Chutes 6-10, and Palmyra Peak. The addition of Prospect Bowl in 2001 had intermediates cheering and the Revelation Bowl expansion has expert skiers drooling. With an average annual snowfall of 309 inches of powder, and a record 353 inches in the 07/08 season, there's enough snow to cover the mountain.

For those still learning to ski, terrain around Lift 1 will have you moving till you are ready for Lift 10 and Double Cabin. Intermediates should drop into Prospect Bowl and the area around Lift 4. Experts will find utopia at Telluride. Those desiring a taste of the Alps, should check out the hike-to terrain and the newer Revelation Bowl. It promises to be the "perfect powder bowl".

Freestyle skiers and riders are not left behind at Telluride. The Air Garden and Hoot Brown Terrain Parks are highly rated by Rocky Mountain locals and by Transworld Snowboarding readers. This 13 acre terrain park combo is nicely laid out. Different ability lines will have you looking steezey while still advancing your skills. Start out on the rollers, berms, and spines line and progress up to the jumps and tabletops. Pipe fiends will enjoy the mini-quarter pipe, mini-half-pipe, Quarterpipe, and the 18-foot high Superpipe.

If you want to step your game up a notch, sign up with Telluride's Ski School. It has a staff with current and former PSIA Demo Team Members. They offer adult and youth lessons for skiing and snowboarding with full-day or half-day group lessons. For individualized attention, sign up for a private lesson or a specialty clinic. If you are a beginning freestyler, the progressive terrain park is the perfect place for you to start. They'll have you styling and looking steezey.

Ticket and pass deals are possible for Telluride with some pre-planning. Most ticket deals are to be had online with the purchase of multiday lift tickets. Limited regional preseason sales events offer 6 day, 10 day, Limitless Lesson, and Free Day Card ski passes. If you are there for an extended stay, get a season pass.

If you have never been to Telluride, well, why not? This is the finest skiing in the San Juan Mountains. Come here for a ski vacation but leave feeling like you robbed your first bank. Butch Cassidy did. Telluride just gets better every year.

http://www.telluride.com/the-mountain.html