![]() ![]() On the far end of the gondola, co-located with the general parking, there is a large, upscale grocery store that features fine wines and gourmet cheeses. Telluride is also fortunate in having one of the oldest and still operating hydroelectric facilities in the US that power 25% of the town’s electric generation needs. It is also the first and only public transportation system of its kind in the United States, and its electric power is primarily wind-driven. This publicly funded transit system serves both skiers and locals and serves as the main commuting transit between the four areas, thereby avoiding needless automobile traffic. Sophia point, 1,000 feet above the Mountain Village, and then dropping 2,000 feet to the town of Telluride, for a 13-minute, spectacular commute. Telluride is blessed with having a free gondola that travels between the lower parking area and the Mountain Village, with a second gondola only feet away from the offloading point at the Mountain Village, that connects the Mountain Village with St. We spent the rest of the day walking around the Mountain Village, becoming acquainted with the shops, the transportation system, our wonderful hotel, and the lift system. Partial view of the Telluride base area on our first snowy day. We traveled by the parking area where the gondola begins its upward trek, traveling another half a mile to get to our hotel, The Madeline. The scenery changed from a high arid plain featuring shrubs in Montrose, to juniper-covered foothills, to magnificent, snow-covered mountains lined with aspens, douglas firs and ponderosa pines, and in the distance, the bare tree line just above Telluride. As we ascended the 4,000 feet on the way to the Telluride Mountain Village, the snow amounts on the side of the road increased from a couple of inches to a couple of feet with giant drifts lining the road. Arrival at Montrose was a delight.įrom Montrose, we had friends waiting for us in an SUV, which is highly recommended for the one-and-a-half hour travel to Telluride (or an All-Wheel Drive). ![]() ![]() However, we landed late in Houston due to fog and severe rain, and took off an hour late due to the same conditions. We traveled through Houston as we were concerned about weather in the Northern tier airports such as Denver, Chicago or Cincinnati. ![]() Almost made me forget the security gauntlet at the airport, the crowded airports and even with upgraded airport lounge access and upgraded seats, the stress of the modern day air transport service. Montrose is an easy, congenial and smaller regional airport where everyone, even TSA agents, smile at you and wish you a good ski vacation. We arrived at Telluride through Montrose airport, about an hour-and-a-half away, a mere 5,700-foot mean sea level and the gateway to Southwestern Colorado. Sophia, with the precipitous Coonskin Trail below. A laid-back atmosphere where everyone is comfortable, polite and dedicated to skiing and boarding. What it does have is people who really want to get there. Its airport is one of the most potentially hazardous in the US given its 9,000-foot altitude which makes it the highest commercial airport in North America. Six hours from I-40 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Three hours from the closest point to I-70 in Grand Junction. Far, far away from the Interstate Highway System. And yet, that’s one of its main attractions. The combination of the ambience, the skiing, the location, the people and the amenities are virtually unmatched. After skiing many locations in four continents, Telluride is now one of my very favorite locations. In mid-March, we spent four amazingly wonderful days in Telluride, Colorado. ![]()
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