Ski Telluride

World class. Unmatched. Extreme. One of the most beautiful places on the Earth. This is how many describe the Telluride Ski Resort.

The weather is ideal for skiers and snowboarders alike who come to Telluride Ski Resort searching for ideal conditions.  The mountain gets around 300 inches of snow each winter, and on average gets about 300 days of sunshine. Most skiers and snowboarders agree you are bound to have great powder days, as well as beautiful, shining blue bird days with some of the clearest skies you’ve ever seen. With 2,000 acres designated for riding, the Telluride Ski Resort is almost never crowded, even in the busiest of seasonal times.  This means rarely having to wait in line for the chair lift, and many times having the entire ski run to yourself.

The season starts in November, Thanksgiving weekend, and runs until the first week of April. A regular season pass costs $1,950, but purchasing before November is advantageous as the price is reduced to $1,098. Prices drop radically for children and toddlers. Single days and half-days will still set you back a bit.  For some people, the Telluride Card Pass, the 6-day, or the 10-day is a better deal. Telluride Ski Resort has created a little something for everyone, for all levels and abilities of skiers and snowboarders. Beginners and intermediate skiers will enjoy their share of the terrain, and there is ample expert terrain for the most advanced skiers.

This includes heli-skiing in Telluride. Since 1982, Helitrax has been operating out of Telluride and taking people up to some of the highest powder lines in the country. They specialize in guiding small groups and providing unforgettable adventures. While on the mountain, many local experts and visiting seasoned skiers enjoy Chair 9, the Plunge Lift, the access from the Mountain Village is very friendly for beginner skiers of all ages. The Galloping Goose Lift, Chair 1, is the perfect place for learning and practicing, especially for children. The Magic Carpet is also a feature in the Mountain Village, located next to the Village Core besides the Gondola and also in the Meadows under Chair 1. Here, learners can easily take the conveyor belt up a small hill remaining on skis as they are preparing to take the actual chair lifts.

There is a goldmine of intermediate terrain available. Skiers and snowboarders will find fun on Chair 5, The Polar Queen Express, with bumps and long wide runs with some significant steepness. Lessons are available for both private and group instruction. Calling in advance is necessary so that the Ski School can accommodate the needs and wishes of visitors in the best way possible. Rates vary and can be expensive, but well worth the cost. Just a few days of professional instruction can take a skier or snowboarder to the next level.

Courtesy of the Ski Resort, grooming reports are available online each morning, and specify which runs have been groomed the night before, while many runs offer moguls of varying levels of difficulty. Also online through the ski resort is the seasonal and nightly snow report.

For more on the Telluride Ski Resort, see tellurideskiresort.com.