 |
Telluride Realty's Monthly e-Newsletter
August 2009
On Tap: August
Wow, it’s turned into an incredible summer. We were all a little nervous back in June that it might rain until it started snowing again, but as soon as July arrived, the sun returned from wherever it was vacationing, ready to get back to work. In the weeks since, there have been enough storms to keep the dust away and everything green, but more than enough sun to soak up. Temperatures have been high, flowers are in full bloom and it’s simply beautiful all over the Telluride area. While August tends to be a little quieter activity-wise than its other warm-weather counterparts, there are still plenty of awesome events going on, the highlight of which is the Telluride Festival of the Arts, celebrating both culinary and visual arts. Bravo’s Top Chef 2009 winner Hosea Rosenberg is the honorary culinary expert at this year’s event. Rosenberg, who originally hails from Taos, New Mexico, has lived in Boulder for many years and is head chef at the renowned Jax Fish House. In addition to taking first place in the popular TV competition, he has won numerous other awards and accolades. Rosenberg will be part of the Celebrity Chef Dinner on Friday, August 14. Also moonlighting the festival (or sunset-lighting, rather) is Grammy-nominated and multi-platinum sensation, Joan Osborne, who will play a free concert in Mountain Village’s Sunset Plaza, also on Friday, August 14. The festival also features numerous other events, as well as an ongoing, weekend-long art exhibit in Heritage Plaza.
Also happening in August is the Telluride Chamber Music Festival (6-15), KOTO Duck Race (8), the Mudd Butts Mystery Theatre Troup (14-16), Mountainfilm’s Outdoor Series (20-21), and the Telluride Mushroom Festival (27-30).
| July 31-2 | Telluride Tech Fest A celebration of the past, present and future of technology |
| 1 | TCTV Concert Local radio station brings New Orleans boogie band Papa Grows Funk to the Sunset Stage in Mountain Village |
| 5 | Sunset Concert Series Free concert in Mountain Village, featuring Trombone Shortly |
| 6 | Launch Ah Haa School art exhibit opening |
| 6-15 | Telluride Chamber Music Festival Annual celebration of chamber music since 1973 |
| 8 | KOTO Duck Race Get your rubber ducky primed for the annual duck race down the mighty San Miguel |
| 9 | Gregg Brown in Concert Folk rocker whose songs have been performed by such names as Willie Nelson, Carlos Santana, Shawn Colvin and Mary Chapin Carpenter |
| 12 | Sunset Concert Series Free concert in Mountain Village, featuring the Dirty Dozen Brass Band |
| 14 | Joan Osborne Live Part of the Telluride Festival of the Arts, Grammy-nominated and multi-platinum artist, Joan Osborne, graces the stage in Mountain Village for a free performance |
| 14-16 | Telluride Festival of the Arts A delight for food, music and art lovers; held in Mountain Village |
| 14-16 | Mudd Butts Mystery Theatre Troupe Telluride Academy children’s theater troupe creates a not-to-be-missed performance |
| 19 | Annual Mountain Village Adventure Rock Bouldering Competition Series Competition held on the Bouldering Rock in Mountain Village’s Conference Center |
| 19 | Sunset Concert Series Free Concert in Mountain Village, featuring the Avett Brothers |
| 20-21 | Mountainfilm’s Outdoor Series Free films in the great outdoors (weather permitting) at Mountain Village’s Sunset Plaza, featuring festival selections and premieres of new films |
| 22 | Telluride Vaudeville TCTV fundraiser at the Sheridan Opera House, featuring variety acts by kids and adults |
| 23-30 | Squidshow Telluride’s newest theater company presents an original, locally-written play |
| 26 | Sunset Concert Series Free Concert in Mountain Village, featuring Delta Spirit |
| 27-30 | Telluride Mushroom Festival Fungophiles unite for a weekend of lectures, culinary delights and more |
Community News: A Sad Farewell to the Captain
A Telluride legend and friendly face around town will sadly be seen no more as John “Captain Jack” Albert Carey was killed in a tragic accident on July 17. Carey, 64, and his wife, Monica, were riding their bicycles near the top of Lizard Head Pass, when he was struck by a vehicle. According to reports, Carey was traveling along the shoulder of the road and had pulled ahead of his wife. In order to close the gap, he would periodically double back by making a U-turn and circling around behind her, the last of which proved fatal. Carey apparently pulled out in front of a Ford Ranger; the driver, who is not believed to have been doing anything illegal, slammed on his brakes, but was unable to avoid hitting Carey. It is believed that he died instantly.
Originally from New Hampshire and with the accent to prove it, Carey moved to Telluride in 1975 to hanglide and ski (setting records for the former in both altitude and duration). He resided in Ophir and spent the past 30-plus years making the most of living in this spectacular place. He had a warm smile, jolly demeanor and an unforgettable look with his trademark, Santa-Claus-esque, beard. Captain Jack was adored by many. He played hard, but after fully recovering from a severe motorcycle accident several years ago, had decided to start taking it easier. And he was…he was just out for a bicycle ride on a beautiful day with his lovely wife.
Carey is survived by Monica Carey and his daughter, Jill Curtis, a former Telluride resident who now lives in Salt Lake City. He will be greatly missed by any and all who knew him.Winter Recreation News: More Extreme for the Extremists
Advanced and expert skiers will have more to hoot and holler about this season as the Telluride Ski Resort recently announce a plan to open even more terrain…continuing its three-year expansion trend. As with last year, and the one before that, this year’s newest “rad spot” is located in Prospect Bowl, on the Gold Hill face. Conditions permitting, skiers and boarders will now be able to reap the powdery benefits of virtually the entire Gold Hill ridge via the renowned Gold Hill Chutes. Hike accessible from the top of the Revelation Lift, there are 10 chutes in total: 6-10 opened during the 2007-2008 season, Gold Hill 1 opened last year, and 2-5 were the missing pieces in the puzzle…until now. The steep, treeless, rocky, cliffy, wide open and technical terrain will be up for the taking.
Since CEO Dave Riley took over a few years ago, the ski area has been on quite the expansion streak, which in addition to the Gold Hill face, has included hike-to terrain on 13,000-foot Palmyra Peak and Revelation Bowl. Pat Ahern, head of ski patrol says he isn’t sure how often Gold Hill Chutes 2-5 will be open due to avalanche danger and exposure. “There’s some years when it’s impossible,” he said. “The stakes are a lot higher there.” Ski patrol will be able to better control the zone since the addition of two howitzers, which allow the terrain to be bombed from a distance. An access road near the summit of the Revelation Lift is also presently under construction so that ski patrol can access the top of Gold Hill on a snowmobile. “If it’s safe and we have enough people to handle it, then we’ll go for it,” Ahern said. “People have to realize there are some years when it won’t open.”
Ski Resort News: Telski Displays Recession Sensitivity
What better time to start thinking about skiing than during the heat of the summer. That’s exactly how the Telluride Ski Resort feels and in its own efforts to offset the recession, most lift ticket prices will remain the same, if not lower, for the 2009-2010 season. The biggest of the deflating costs is the season’s pass, which will be $200 cheaper, provided four adults purchase passes together. Called the 4Pass, if four people buy together before October 30, cost for each is $998—cost of an Early Bird pass back in 2007. Those who opt to fly solo and not buy with buddies will pay $1198, the same price as last season. Day lift tickets will also stick to the same figures as last year ($92 for most of the season; $95 for holidays), as will kid’s passes ($125), junior passes ($175), and merchant passes ($795). “We’re taking a look at the economy, and we want to be friendly to our customer base,” said Matt Skinner, Telski’s director of marketing. “A price increase wasn’t a consideration.” Another added program this season is Telski allowing pass purchasers to finance the cost of a regular adult season’s pass ($1198) over the course of the season. “The more help we can give, the better,” said Maryhelyn Kirwan, Telski’s communications director.
Tickets go on sale August 3 at www.tellurideskiresort.com.
Summer Recreation News: Future Looks Bright for Mountain Bikers
Last month, the Mountain Village Town Council unanimously approved the Town of Mountain Village’s proposal to construct a Mountain Bike Park on ski area trails. The new bike park will encompass just over 77 acres and will include three new bike trails, with the Full Tilt downhill course to be rebuilt and connected to existing trail segments in the area. The end result will be a network of intermediate and expert downhill mountain bike trails, accessible for riders for free from the top of the Gondola. “This is something we all really hoped would happen,” said Adam Black, president of the San Miguel Bike Alliance.
The Bike Park’s trails will be located between the Gondola and the northeast side of Lift 4, encompassing nearly four miles of downhill mountain bike trails that crisscross ski area runs (Misty Maiden, See Forever, Butterfly, and Competition Hill).
The approval comes more than a year after concerns about management of such trails on the ski area brought several bike activities, including the Full Tilt Mountain Bike Race, to a halt. In the three years it was around, the Full Tilt, part of the Mountain States Cup series, brought up to 1000 people to town each summer. The new Bike Park will not only bring the Full Tilt back, but allows Telluride and Mountain Village to continue building upon its growing reputation as a summer mountain bike destination. “We need to diversify our offerings to tourists to be more competitive with other areas who provide the same amenities,” said SMBA member Daniel Murray. “We need this—we need to be creative and on the edge of what people are looking for.”