Telluride, CO 4/5/07

[ChrisC]

I was in Telluride to close the mountain for Easter weekend. The spring skiing was excellent - sunny, temps near 50 and progressive corn snow softening. Snow depths were excellent due to a 90"+ February (2nd best on record) and an OK March - only one or two expert slopes into town were closed. No rocks to be found up high.

The additional benefit of late season Telluride skiing is the snowpack stabilizes. (The San Juan Mountains have a very weakly bonded snowpack due to dry snow, low humidity, altitude, cold temps and sun).
In bounds, Telluride now opens the entire ridge to Palmyra Peak above Chair 12 - the zone known as Mountain Quail. It's a moderate 15-20 min hike that gives access to nice, steep open bowl & chutey terrain. This is the area used by the US Free Skiing World Tour (stops at Telluride, Jackson, Snowbird, Squaw and Kirkwood). It's good stuff.

Chair 9 Terrain

Kant Mak M. The reef bands are covered.

Gold Hill

Hiking above Chair 12 to Mountain Quail. Palmyra Peak in background.
Mountain Quail area. Snow was chalky goodness - despite a week+ of heat and no snow.

 

[Tony Crocker]

NASJA 2004 was in Telluride March 25-28. A similar scorching hot March to this year. I'll bet Telluride had a good dose of snow in the week before you were there. In 2004 there were lots of bare spots on the lower runs into town. West facing steeps on Gold Hill were a coral reef, and nobody was skiing the Mountain Quail area you show. Chair 9 was good even before the 6-8 inches we got March 27. On March 29 you could see a few tracks in the upper part of the backcountry you skied into Bear Creek. But nobody was in there March 25-26. If it had been good then, I think our hosts might have provided guided tours.

This is interesting, because my impression is that there was more complaining about the March heat wave this year than in 2004 at many ski areas. In 2004 I felt lucky to be at Telluride, because I believe it would hold up to a heat wave much better than most areas.

 

[ChrisC]

NASJA 2004 was in Telluride March 25-28. A similar scorching hot March to this year. I'll bet Telluride had a good dose of snow in the week before you were there.

The did have good snow in parts of March - including a 20" storm towards the end of that time period.

In 2004 there were lots of bare spots on the lower runs into town. West facing steeps on Gold Hill were a coral reef, and nobody was skiing the Mountain Quail area you show.

Lower runs are always iffy - Jaws, L. Coonskin, L. Milk Run, etc. Generally they peak in Feb/March - but with heat, they die quickly.

Mountain Quail has recently been opening in March to the general public in the last 2 years. Never stopped by the grizzled ski patrol hut to ask the deal. Maybe control work is being done/learned. A lift is scheduled for that area between 12 ans 14. It's much better hike-to terrain than Bald Mt. (the other hike-to area off Chair 12)- it's about 3 good open north faces with lots of lines.

Chair 9 was good even before the 6-8 inches we got March 27.

Chair 9 skis quite well all the time. It has great northern exposure, few rocks and nice prevailing winds. I'm always surprised by it.

On March 29 you could see a few tracks in the upper part of the backcountry you skied into Bear Creek. But nobody was in there March 25-26. If it had been good then, I think our hosts might have provided guided tours.

Bear Creek is a really great area. I think it is as good as Jackson's side-country. Better than any Tahoe side-country for convenience. (I cannot comment on Alta/Bird - no experience). It's just very dangerous. Someone dies in there at least every 2-3/years.

This is interesting, because my impression is that there was more complaining about the March heat wave this year than in 2004 at many ski areas. In 2004 I felt lucky to be at Telluride, because I believe it would hold up to a heat wave much better than most areas.

It's been a very nice consistent year for them. I think Telluride March 2007 snowfall > March 2004. But not the usual nice average for the region. My brother was not complaining too much this year. Just that they would get some good spring storms (12"+) and it would rapidly consolidate with 50f+ temps.