Like many areas in Colorado, Telluride Ski Resort has been pounded by snow over the past two weeks, four-and-a-half feet to be exact. All of that accumulation has allowed the resort to open with much more open terrain than in recent years. T-Ride will open on November 27 with a 30 inch base, offering skiing off of the Village Express, Chondola and Polar Queen Express.
“It is our intent to open as much terrain as possible while ensuring a sustainable snowpack. The recent storms have helped immensely, and our resort operation crews have done a great job preparing the mountain” states Greg Pack, president and general manager of Telluride Ski Resort. “We are excited to start the ski season off strong!”
For more information regarding opening day and additional terrain openings, see the press release below.
Press Release provided by Telluride Resort:
Telluride, Colorado — The past two weeks have showered Telluride with 4.5 feet of snow. Thanks to recent storms and a hefty investment in new snowmaking systems Telluride Ski Resort will be opening more terrain on the first day of ski season than in years past. The Ski Resort is currently reporting a 30 inch base and officially starts spinning the lifts on Nov. 27.
“It is our intent to open as much terrain as possible while ensuring a sustainable snowpack. The recent storms have helped immensely, and our resort operation crews have done a great job preparing the mountain” states Greg Pack, President & General Manager of Telluride Ski & Golf. “We are excited to start the ski season off strong!”
Telluride Ski Resort will run the Village Express (Lift 4), the Chondola (Lift 1), and both magic carpets encompassing runs such as Village Bypass, Meadows, The Peaks, Boomerang & Lower Boomerang, all of Misty Maiden, and the lower part of Hoot Brown intermediate Terrain Park (accessed via Misty Maiden). Skiers will be able to access the mountain on a short hike from mid-way Gondola Station San Sophia to Village Bypass.
This year Telluride Ski Resort will also run Polar Queen Express (Lift 5) on opening day thanks to new snowmaking projects along Boomerang and Cake Walk. All of the terrain in the Polar Queen Express (Lift 5) area will be open with the exception of one tree run that still needs more coverage. Lower Happy Thought, Stormin’ Norman, Dew Drop, Polar Queen, Alta, Silver Tip, Henry’s and Cake Walk will be available to intermediate skiers and riders. There are possible bonus trails that may be announced day of. Stay tuned to the ski resort’s website, www.tellurideskiresort.com/snow and social outlets for those updates.
“We have great conditions for opening this year thanks to recent snowfall and our investment in our snowmaking systems,” states Jeff Proteau, VP of Mountain Operations and Planning. “This is one of the best opening days we’ve had in years.”
Saturday the ski resort will offer a limited opening of Apex Lift (Lift 6) around mid-morning. Runs will include Allais Alley, Zulu Queen, Silver Glade, Chongo’s, Giant Steps, and Woozley’s Way. There will be no groomed intermediate runs out of the Apex Lift area, so terrain will be limited to advanced and advanced intermediate skiers only. The ski resort will reevaluate the trails after Saturday to determine if it can remain open. Mountain operations are hard at work making and grooming snow so that access to more terrain is available soon. Updates and terrain announcements can be found on the ski resort’s website.
First and second chair honors this year will go to six locals: Brett Schreckengost, Bob “Glider Bob” Saunders, James Guest, Roudy Roudebush, Deb Dion Kees, and Cindy Farny, the stars of Telluride’s Telluride In a Word video series. The video series, created by Brett Schreckengost, follows each local as they try to describe and encompass all of what Telluride is into one word. To watch the series visit, www.tellurideskiresort.com/content/telluride-in-a-word/
For the first time ever Telluride has partnered with the Ah Haa School of the Arts to create an Opening Day Banner. Local kids participating in Ah Haa’s No School Art Days used their creativity to paint and decorate a banner to be held in front of first chair celebrating the start of ski season. For more information on the Ah Haa School for the arts visit, www.ahhaa.org.
