Telluride fires Ski Hall of Fame CEO

[ChrisC]

Well, the sh*tshow that is Telluride under owner Chuck Hornig continues. No new lifts, restaurants, or really anything substantial in 10+ years. (Remember - Chuck Horning did Orange commercial real estate). CEO Bill Jensen now gone. https://www.telluridenews.com/image_5b9 ... 5b6bb.html

Here is a Master Plan that has yet to be executed since 20016. https://www.tellurideskiresort.com/the-mountain/mdp/

Chair 7(Coonskin) is now almost 50 years old, Chair 9 (Plunge - serving the best runs) is almost 40 years old, Chair 10 (1st gen HSQ is also nearing 40 years old).

CEO Bill Jensen (Whistler/Blackcomb, Breckenridge, Northstar - with senior positions at Vail Resorts & Intrawest) presented a COVID-19 plan for ski year 2020-21 with some more limited operations. Owner Chuck Hornig flipped out and fired him - begging him to come back the day after. Well, Bill Jensen said NO.

Resume https://www.tellurideinside.com/2019/04 ... famer.html

He's done this before - 2012. Dave Rilery - who gave us the best - most European terrain - in the USA with hike terrain, Palmyra and gates into Bear Creek. https://www.outsideonline.com/1902761/t ... shed-aside

I hope for a Vail / Epic acquisition.

 

[Tony Crocker]

who gave us the best - most European terrain - in the USA with hike terrain

All of that great Euro terrain is above the lifts at lung busting elevation. I was not up to that Palmyra hike in March 2019, and I'm curious how often ChrisC has done it. It's at least twice as arduous as Highlands Bowl. In terms of lift served high alpine terrain, Taos' Kachina Peak a week later on that 2019 trip blew away anything at Telluride IMHO.

For overall quality variety of lift served Euro-style high alpine, Whistler and Mammoth are the best we have in North America.

It's not hard to be convinced from Bill Jensen's resume that Chuck Horning must be clueless. But Horning might make out like a bandit down the road from a Vail/Alterra bidding war.

 

[ChrisC]

Telluride will have as many precautions against COVID as a Trump rally. Maybe a few feet of plexi-glass was purchased and a table or two moved? No plans yet....maybe the resort will copy/paste some other resorts plans?

But Telluride's owner is Trump - repels so many top industry CEOs (after a few years), attacks/assaults women in bars in Telluride and just takes money out of the business versus investment.

 

[ChrisC]

who gave us the best - most European terrain - in the USA with hike terrain

All of that great Euro terrain is above the lifts at lung busting elevation. I was not up to that Palmyra hike in March 2019, and I'm curious how often ChrisC has done it. It's at least twice as arduous as Highlands Bowl. In terms of lift served high alpine terrain, Taos' Kachina Peak a week later on that 2019 trip blew away anything at Telluride IMHO.

For overall quality variety of lift served Euro-style high alpine, Whistler and Mammoth are the best we have in North America.

No - I hike Palmyra maybe 1x every 3 years. It's not always worth it. You are correct - it's too much...kinda of a one and done for the day type experience. And why would a visitor sacrifice a pricey lift ticket when they are using their legs to get more vertical than a chairlift? But my main issue is: the skiable area and aspect. Basically most of the terrain until the summit has some southern exposure - so I never drop off early after Mountain Quail. But at the summit - there are basically just 2 chutes/couloirs - to handle most of the foot traffic. Not always worth it.