Telluride Inside... and Out

Telluride's Library: Thrills and spills at back to back writing events

[click "Play" to hear Jon Turk's conversation with Susan]

On Wednesday, March 3, starting at 6 p.m., Telluride's Wilkinson Public Library hosts two back to back writing events chock-a-block with thrills and spills. Promise.

Program One, a joint venture between the Library and Between the Covers bookstore, features author/scientist/adventurer Jon Turk, who plans to read from his latest book, "The Raven's Gift."

Telluride goes to Moab

With so much variety in Telluride, it's easy to forget how much there is to do within a few hours' drive in any direction. Saturday, January 23, Damon Demas and I took an overnight trip to Moab and Arches National Park to show our visiting Chilean friend, Andres Correa, another side of our part of the country.

We got a leisurely start on Sunday, ignored the NFL conference playoffs, and spent most of the day in Arches. After exploring several of the areas close to the road, we drove out to Devil's Garden at the north end of the park and took a several hour hike, mostly in snow, out to Double O Arch.

It was a great outing, only about 2 1/2 hours away by car, on a beautiful sunny winter day. We missed another day of powder skiing at home, but had a wonderful hike, a lot of photographs, and more great memories. To top it all off, as we came up toward Norwood on the way home, Lone Cone emerged out of the wind-blown clouds, shining in the late afternoon sun.

Powder day in Telluride

Telluride, after the storm

Friday, January 22, was a long-awaited powder day in Telluride. After a few runs on open terrain, I decided to check out "Captain Jack's". Renamed and with some more extensive glading, all in honor of our departed friend, Jack Carey, it has been a temptation for me when I've gone past it going down See Forever, but mostly there hasn't been enough snow cover, so I've passed it up. Until Friday...

Among those sampling the goodies were long-time local, Damon Demas, and our young Chilean friend, Andres Correa. Check out our short video. Enjoy.

Telluride Nordic Association: Flat & Fun Sunday, January 24

The Telluride Nordic Association: Fun Tour and Ski Race on the Valley Floor, Sunday, January 24.

The 15km “Flat and Fast Race” starts at noon, Sunday. A team race also starts at noon: two skiers are invited to pair up and each ski one 7.5km loop. The “Flat and Fun Tour” begins immediately after those two races. The course is 7.5km.

The Fun Tour is a new addition to Telluride Nordic Challenge Race Series. The event is for skiers who want to enjoy a relaxed day skiing and socializing with other free-heelers without the pressure of a race. As TNA’s Nordic Director Midnite Scholtes explains:

 “I’ve had a lot of people over the years tell me they want to come out and race, but are intimidated by the idea of racing. Lots of communities have Fun Tours in which people can ski at their own pace and not worry too much about a race result. We hope the Tour will appeal to all of the region’s Nordic lovers, and become social, community event. At the same time, Flat and Fast is a great way for skiers to challenge themselves and compete. I know we’ll have racers in Telluride from out of town, so the competition should be strong.”

Fashion Friday outdoors: Telluride's Jagged Edge features windstopper jacket

When the January freeze is over and done, Telluriders tend to store our down jackets and grab for our soft shells.

" Softshell jackets combine the hard-wearing aspects of a Gore-Tex jacket with the mobility, breathability and feel of a much softer fabric," explains Erik Dalton of Jagged Edge. "Though they won’t replace your rain jacket come summertime, these softshell jackets are perfectly suited for our cold and dry conditions in the mountains of Colorado, and for the ups-and-downs of backcountry skiing, hiking, and ski mountaineering."

Erik's pick: Cloudveil's Rayzar, a jacket that offers protection from the fiercest storms and coldest chair rides, while keeping the wearer cool when it comes time to move.

Telluride Inside... and Out Adventure: Ski the Himalayas

[click "Play" to listen to Ben Clark's conversation with Susan]

This is day-in-the-life-stuff for Telluriders.

Backcountry turns? Sure. Ice climbing? Ditto. Bouldering and climbing in the desert? But of course. Long runs in the high country? What do you think. But Telluride local Ben Clark is not just any Telluride jock.

Clark is a successful filmmaker/enterpreneur and alpinist blessed – cursed? – with an unusually high level of the enzyme monamine oxidase (MAO) and the hormone testosterone, both of which are associated with thrill seeking. In other words, the guy is biochemically suited to the extreme endeavors such as his annual pioneering expeditions in the Himalaya. (And for flying without a net in the world of business.)

Telluride Valley Floor: Sunday

The valley floor in Telluride: it's not just for prairie dogs anymore. The Telluride Nordic Association now grooms and maintains an elaborate trail system on the valley floor, including seasonal river crossings at various points to access the western end of the valley near Lawson Hill.

Telluride Adaptive Sports Program celebrates new location

Telluride Adaptive Sports Program (TASP) has moved into its new space in the Capella complex in the Mountain Village. To celebrate its new location, TASP will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, December 29. The facility will be open to the public from 3:30-5:30 pm, with appetizers and beverages.

After years of tight quarters, TASP is enjoying some breathing room. There are separate spaces for clients, instructors and staff, with cubbies for the clients and lockers and cubbies for the instructors. In addition, the location right on the Meadows Run means that riders can access the snow right out the door. No more hefting equipment 100 yards out to Lift 4, or hiking students up the hill to reach the Meadows.  

Mountainfilm in Telluride hosts fundraiser with sneak peek film 12/26

[click "Play" to hear David Holbrooke talk with Susan about the fundraiser and movie]

Ten years ago, in 1999, Mountainfilm in Telluride regular, world-class climber/author Conrad Anker found the frozen body of mountaineer George Mallory on Mount Everest. In the years that followed the discovery, Anker obsessed about Mallory much in the way Mallory had obsessed about becoming the first person ever to conquer Everest's summit. Mallory and his partner, Andrew Irvine, were last seen in 1924 only 800 feet from the top. Had the duo successfully tackled the Second Step and reached their goal? Just how much was Mallory torn between ambition and his love for his wife Ruth? What was it like to climb a mountain as forbidding as Everest using the scant gear available in the 1920s? "The Wildest Dream" endeavors to answer these questions with archival video footage of Mallory and Irvine on the mountain, love letters between Mallory and Ruth, and a bold attempt to reenact the summit bid by  Anker and Leo Houlding. Liam Neeson narrates. Also with Ralph Fiennes and Natasha Richardson.

Rounding out your stocking with gifts from Telluride's Jagged Edge

Erik Dalton of Telluride's Jagged Edge is as busy as one of Santa's elves these days. Tonight, December 23, Jagged Edge is sponsoring a screening of Warren Miller's "Dynasty," the 60th action adventure film in the series and a look at the past, present and future of the twin sports of skiing and snowboarding. The event takes place at the Sheridan Opera House, 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. At the same time, Erik is channeling his inner Ho Ho Ho to bring you last minute ideas from Jagged Edge to round out your Christmas stocking. The following are his eleventh-hour picks.

Nikwax cleaning and waterproofing products are great for prolonging the life of your favorite jacket or pair of ski pants. Normal detergents tend to strip many outdoor fabrics of their waterproof treatments, clogging pores and hindering breathability. Nikwax washes effectively clean fabrics without leaving residue behind. Washes can be enhanced by using a waterproofing treatment specific to the make of the garment. Whether we are talking about your favorite wool ski sweater, your best pair of ski bibs, or even that old tent fly, Nikwax has a product for under $15 to make old favorites new again.