Grateful for Telluride and the Telluride Ski Resort

The Town of Telluride, Colorado After the Storm

With all that’s happening in the world, most of us are feeling extra stressed these days. This is true even in Telluride, Colorado, one of the safest and most beautiful places on earth. No one is immune to feeling reverberations from all these horrific terrorist acts. As I wrote in my story, Paris Attacks Hit Home, we are one.

The Telluride Scene

Still though, we are so privileged in this sweet little ski town. Few people lock the doors to their cars and houses except during bear season, since our local bruin population has become pretty savvy about entering spaces redolent with lingering pizza, berry and pie smells. We live in a bubble of sorts where our biggest threats come from pushing it too hard on the slopes or getting caught in an avalanche during a backcountry ski.

Telluride Ski Resort: Ready to Roll

Although Telluride is renowned for some of the finest music festivals in the world, our universe primarily revolves around the great outdoors. The mountains–and most specifically Telluride Ski Resort–reign supreme, offering us endless hours of fun, relaxation and recreation.

Snowmaking Before the Storm

Telluride officially opens on Thursday, November 26, Thanksgiving, however, folks can test their ski and snowboard legs tomorrow on Donation Day by offering $25. to the Telluride Ski and Snowboard Club in exchange for a day on the slopes. I’d imagine lots of snowsports enthusiasts will be hitting the mountain throughout the holiday weekend because with the over three feet of snow we’ve recently received, the conditions should be fantabulous. Plus, much more terrain than usual will be opened from the get-go.

After the Storm at Mountain Lodge Telluride

I’m entering my twelfth season as a ski instructor for the Telluride Ski & Snowboard School, one of the accomplishments I’m most proud of in addition to my writing achievements. There are so many reasons why I love it and among the top is that it makes me happy to be a part of the Telluride Ski Resort family. Really. Whether you’re an instructor, a snowcat driver, a liftie or the head of the management team, one of our biggest goals is to assure that people have a great time. And in the process, we have a blast, too, in one of the most awe-inspiring settings in the world.

View from Allred’s

The Ski School Crew

French Pastries for the Instructors

Training Review

We had our first Ski School meeting on Sunday for return instructors. Truly it felt like coming home, replete with an extraordinary brunch put on by the staff of Allred’s. Heaps of hugs and hash browns were served up all around. Then afterward the love continued at a party at Bootdoctors, one of the best ski shops in town for retail, rentals and tunings. Boy, did it feel good to be back in the fold.

Off to Bootdoctors

Fresh Skis at Bootdoctors

This Year’s Fashions on the Slopes

Fun for the Kids

Yes, Paris, Brussels, Mali and other hot spots will remain on our mind and in our hearts. We will continue to send prayers, best wishes and donations to all. We will be sending love and light from one of the most brilliant places on earth, Telluride, Colorado, the other City of Light, often called that because it was the first city in the world to have electric street lights.

Looking Down Onto Telluride

Telluride Gondola

Somehow this year I feel the snow diamonds on our crystalline, super-cold mornings will be shining even more brightly. And as I point them out to my students from the chairlift, I might just be asking them to make a special wish for the people of the world as we pass by such sparkling snowscapes. Yes, I will do that and at the same time, I will be counting my blessings and expressing my gratitude for living and working in one of the most special places on earth.

Amen.

Please note that if you’d like to book a lesson with an instructor at the Telluride Ski & Snowboard School, do it fast, since we always sell out (of privates) during the busy time. I’m mostly all booked up for the Christmas period already.

Early season skiing should be fantastic this year. Two of my favorite places to stay, Mountain Lodge Telluride and the New Sheridan Hotel, are offering discounted rates on lodging before the crowds arrive. Both also have wonderful restaurants, The View and the Chop House, that should be tops on your list, whether you’re staying at the properties or not. Reservations are recommended for both.

With our snowy backdrop, National Historic District and a blizzard of twinkling lights, T-ride ranks as one of the most festive places around throughout the holiday season (and actually all winter, since most of the lights and decorations are kept up throughout the ski season). Check out the variety of events taking place during the Holiday Prelude as you plan your stay in one of the most charming ski towns in America.

A Wintry Scene in Telluride

Thank you to Telluride Tourism, Mountain Lodge Telluride, Lisa Webster Wilson and my trusty iPhone for the images in this post.

Holiday Prelude on the Main Street of Telluride