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Truckee girl takes a ski get away in Telluride

Vicki Kahn
The San Juan Mountains tower over the historic town of Telluride.
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This recession thing has gotten out of hand, to the point that it has started affecting my psyche. What’s a girl to do? Plan a quick and easy get-away to a ski resort! The airline had plenty of seats (if you don’t fly on a Friday or a Sunday), Telluride had lots of places to stay, and packing was a snap as ski vacations are always casual. So off we went…

Tucked in a box canyon at 8,745 feet with the rugged San Juan Mountains jutting approximately 4,000 feet straight up, the one-time mining town, Telluride, is steeped in lots of Wild West history. This is where Butch Cassidy robbed his first bank. The town is a National Historic Landmark with stringent building codes to assure the historic character of the town is preserved. Refreshingly, generic commercialization is conspicuously absent, with the laid back, authentic, yet quirky character of the town shining through. Telluride is sort of like a Truckee version of Aspen, except with more hippies!

For those looking for a swankier spot to hang, hop on the free gondola (it runs 7 a.m. to midnight) which takes you to the Mountain Village, an upscale contemporary resort community, with private residence clubs, hotels and multi-million dollar “log cabins.” A stark contrast to its sister community down below.



Looking for diverse terrain? Telluride offers 2,000 acres to ski to your heart’s content. The recently opened Revelation Bowl added 400 acres of skiing terrain without having to hike. This is the land of steep and deep with double diamond chutes beckoning those who crave an adrenaline rush. Want to do a drive-by real estate look on skis? A long and easy run, the “Galloping Goose” is a 4.6 mile cruise that skis you by Mountain Village’s high-end residences.

Dining and drinking in Telluride is almost as important pastime as skiing. A myriad of watering holes and fine dining establishments line Colorado Avenue, the main drag, as well as some located close to the Gondola. For dinner, the New Sheridan Chop House, Cosmos, Siam, Rustico’s and Honga’s were a few we enjoyed. Although there were no lift lines or crowds skiing, the bars and restaurants were bustling. On the mountain a new European style Alpino Vino near the top of Gold Hill offered fine wines and light fare in a cozy atmosphere with killer views. Mid-mountain Gorrono Ranch is an old sheep herder’s homestead from the late 1800s offering hearty lunches and live music out on the snow “beach.”



There is no need for a car in Telluride; in fact people were riding their bikes in March. Everything can be accessed by walking, skiing, a free bus or the gondola. If you’re feeling the urge for a change of scenery and altitude check out http://www.tellurideskiresort.com.

“Vicki Kahn can be e-mailed at vickikahn@sbcglobal.net


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