Telluride

It would be somewhat boring and self-fulfilling to say that this past weekend's trip to Telluride was perfect, but in reality it was everything I was hoping it would be; yet another chance to spend time in some of the most beautiful and inspiring mountains in the country with people whose company I value like air. There is something deeply magnetic and soulful that resonates with me about Telluride; I don't know if it's the down to earth, quirky town, the wealth of world-class ski terrain at your fingertips, or watching the alpenglow fade on Palmyra Peak after a long day of skiing powder, but something just sticks with me. This past weekend I ventured down to the San Juan's again from Boulder with some of my good friends from Golden, former Colorado School of Mines classmates and all-around badass's.

We left Thursday afternoon after a whirlwind of a week, getting schoolwork done and building up anticipation for great skiing and seeing my good friend Ashley, who grew up and still lives in Telluride. The drive from the Front Range is surreal and fantastic, passing through mountains, desert, canyonlands, and back up out of the red dust of the western slope into the hulking white mass of the San Juans, the most rugged and remote peaks in Colorado. We got into town around 9:00, making great time on the sweeping, lonely roads of western Colorado. We went straight to the resort she works at to meet up with Ashley, who checked us into our basically free condo a block from the lift. Good having friends in Telluride!! We then set out to the Silver Dollar Saloon, or the Buck as it is known locally, a historic and rowdy "locals bar" down the street. After meeting up with some of Ashley's friends and hanging out for a while, we ventured across the street to another Telluride classic, the Sheridan Hotel, whose engraved ceiling panels and worn oak bar harken to the mining heyday here almost 100 years ago, when a largely lawless group of miners, schemers, and adventurers eked out a living in these mountains. The night deteriorated into a predictably fun and drama-filled shitshow from there, so I will spare the details, but needless to say I was impressed on Friday morning when I stepped into my ski bindings at 10:00 AM and got on the lift. Oh and did I mention free lift tickets? Not only is Ashley one of my besty's and and a local, but she has some nice connections as well. :)

Telluride has gotten almost 40 inches in multiple storms the past week, and conditions on the hill were wonderful, with the famous Colorado bluebird ski weather is full effect. I quickly dissipated the remains of the morning's hangover on the steep, mogul and powder riddled steeps of Chair 9 and Gold Hill, whose dramatic profile forms a serrated ridgeline above town. My quads burned as I hiked up the alpine crest of Palmyra Peak en route to Black Iron Bowl, a recently opened in-bounds hike to area known for steep chutes and deep powder. My hike was rewarded though with hoot and holler-inducing powder and a views across the valley that made most of life's tribulations seem pretty insignificant. Relaxing in the hot tub later that afternoon, sipping on a Sunshine Wheat and watching the golden alpenglow settle over the high peaks, I really saw that I am not in a position to complain about anything in life right now and feel so incredibly blessed by the good experiences and people around me. Carpe Diem!!!