Get TIO in your Inbox!

Outdoors

  

J. James McTigue

In school we learn about the four seasons, the ones everyone knows about. But in life we learn that the weather, or anything really, just isn’t that neat and tidy. There is a lot of in between. Different places have particular seasons unto themselves. The ‘other’ season may be the rainy season, harvest season, or hurricane season. In Telluride, it’s Off Season.

Off Season is the time when the lifts close and skiing on Telluride Mountain is officially over.  Residents have two basic choices—get out of town or embrace the quiet. Some eagerly head somewhere warm, excited to exchange their ski boots for flip-flops. Others stay in Telluride to embrace the quiet lull after a frantic ski season. Still others opt for choice c -- make it up as you go. Walking down Main Street on Tuesday, there was evidence of all of the above.

 

06 April, 2011 /

    

The Telluride Ski Resort closed this weekend reporting a 68-inch base and 215 inches for the season. But closing weekend isn’t about the snow—it’s about letting your freak flag fly – and this year was no exception. 

Pink Flamingo Sunny skies, and temps in the high 50’s Friday and Saturday, brought perfect spring skiing conditions to the mountain and hoards of people to Main Street for KOTOs pink flamingo street party. Strong, spring winds can bring a layer of red sand through Main Street this time of year. But, Mother Nature spared us, and instead graced the town with calm skies and breath-taking light for the annual street dance.

Those who took to the street Friday to enjoy the opening local band, The Great Funktier, and headliner, cross-dressing, Ralph Dinosaur and The Fabulous Volcanos added their own color to the evening. Pink tutus, plastic pink flamingo yard ornaments, pink bodysuits, pink hair—anything pink—adorned revelers. Dancing on Main Street, below the northern face of the ski area, was an obvious reminder of the celebration’s focus.

 

04 April, 2011 /

ed. note: Our friend, Ben Clark sends along this post and link to Ski the Himalayas video.

Ski the Himalayas is now in it's third season of online "making of" podcast episodes born out of Ski the Himalayas' first two feature length documentary films available this year on Dish Network and Comcast Xfinity VOD and Pay Per View. Look for Ski the Himalayas 2 on Dish and Comcast Xfinity on May 1st. We climbed a peak and survived an avalanche, those were just two instances along the way... 

Trimming through hours of footage captured across three different expeditions after having lived them, the depth of gratitude for the experiences we've had and continue to plan is astounding.  We are thankful and we are moving forward with two more Himalayan expeditions this year.  Two more films and two more seasons of making of episodes.  Who knows how many ski turns and ice tool swings that equates to, we hope it is a lot. This spring we will dispatch from the Ganesh Himal, stay tuned at www.skithehimalayas.com

27 March, 2011 /
[click "Play" to hear Susan's conversation with Tony Forrest]

 

 

Family Nordic Skiing Mountain Village is home base for the Telluride Ski Resort. The Town of Mountain Village maintains miles of Nordic and snowshoe trails and an ice skating rink. (Also a tennis court open year 'round, but that's another story.)

To drive the point about a winter wonderland home, this weekend, Mountain Village hosts a community bash. The event takes place Saturday, March 19, starting at 11 a.m. on the Wilson Loop Trail (at the entrance to town on Adams Ranch Road). What's in store is a variety of relay races, an obstacle course, games and more for the whole family to enjoy FREE. All ages and abilities welcome. Or just come as a spectator. 

17 March, 2011 /

  Navajo Camp, hosted regionally for the first time this summer, is the product of a new partnership between the Telluride Institute, Diné College, and the University of Colorado, Boulder. Scheduled for July 9th through July 16th, 2011, Diné College will be bringing around 25 middle...

17 March, 2011 /

Life Cycles, a new full-service bicycle shop in Telluride, celebrates its opening on Friday, March 11, 2011. Life Cycles is located at 236 West Colorado Avenue (down Oak Street, below Sunshine Pharmacy). The shop has been open for business for about one week. There will...

10 March, 2011 /

 A new store is opening in Telluride: Life Cycles, a full service bike shop is now open for business at 236 West Colorado Avenue, just below Sunshine Pharmacy on Oak Street. The flagship brand is Specialized, with...

08 March, 2011 /

Terry Tempest Williams heads list of activists, artists and adventurers 
 
 The annual Mountainfilm in Telluride festival is always about much more than just powerful films. What really sets the event apart is the depth and breadth of its line-up of special guest presenters. The 33rd annual event, May 27 – 30, 2011, is no exception to the rule. Festival Director David Holbrooke feels that once again, the quality of the guests, plus the rare opportunity for audiences to engage and interact, will make the long weekend especially exciting and unique.
 
“Our theme this year is awareness into action,” Holbrooke said. “So we were particularly looking for special guests who can both motivate our audiences – engage and energize them – but also give them practical, hands-on help in actually becoming involved in critical issues. We want people to have much better tools for making a difference when they leave this year’s festival.”
 
Holbrooke is looking forward to welcoming Terry Tempest Williams back to Telluride.

 

06 March, 2011 /
[click "Play" to hear Erik Dalton's conversation with Susan]

 

TLT-5-Carbon In this cyber age, man and machine are more closely aligned than at any time in history. According to Erik Dalton of Telluride's Jagged Edge, the ongoing trend in outdoor gear suggests a close and personal relationship with a Lotus Elise: fast and light.

Over the last few years, the push for lighter and faster gear that is still durable enough to use and abuse has been driven by consumers. Backcountry skiing, snowshoeing, trail running or winter camping, consumers have said they want to be able to go farther with less or lighter gear, allowing everyone to enjoy the journey rather than worry about the weight on their backs.

18 February, 2011 /