Skiing at Telluride - Telluride is a hard place for me to ski because it is also one of my favorite party towns, so it seems I'm always red eyed and sleepy when I get into that gondola in the morning. A cup of green tea down there at that place by the Boot Doctors (best boot shop in America- taos + telluride) and it's straight up to the top for a smorgasbord of classic Colorado skiing. Although the snow is usually meager for some reason in the valley just below it, Telluride consistently holds a good base and I found last year in the best conditions I ever have ever seen. From cliff band to heavy exposure big trouble chutes until I decide to go fast. Then it's on to runs that seem to have been manicured by a calculator for some nice smooth, safe fifty mile per hour turns right down to the terrain park, which has its own zip code. If that's not enough (which it wasn't for me of course), you can put on your avalanche safety gear and bail off back to the VERY dangerous and HIGHLY exposed recently legalized Bear Creek drainage. This thing is big mountain skiing at its height. Nearly every slot in it is a blind rollover scenario, and eighty percent of them roll over into thousand foot + cliff bands, with a few little pathways to paradise in between. I've said too much. Joey Smallwood (January 2006)

Skiing at Telluride - Make sure to bring your checkbook… skiing at Telluride is expensive. Driving in is practically impossible during the winter, when the weather can go from sunny to snowy in about twenty seconds. That being said… you’ll never again visit a place like Telluride. The village itself is a fantastic evening out after a long day of boarding. Some of the hamburgers I’ve had at various places in the village are some of the best I’ve ever had. Make sure to use the gondola, which takes you everywhere… from lodging… to the lifts… to the village. The Intermediate runs below lift five are always good for an easy run or two. Prospect Bowl isn’t as great as everyone claimed it would be, but it’s fun to ride the lift up and check out the views of the Telluride winter wonderland regardless. During a good snow period, monster moguls await, as does a challenging backcountry. Watch out for the locals, who tend to get a little bit bitter about the tourists that intrude upon their paradise every winter. If you’re looking for welcoming locals, head to Breck. Jaime Case (Febuary 2006)