Telluride: 5 reasons to Bi-Pass Snowbowl and Sunrise

The Town of Telluride

It's 100 degrees at noon in Scottsdale...and rising to 109 by 6pm.  I'm choosing to think more pleasant (and cooler thoughts) today.  Telluride!!!  Door to Door Snowbowl is 165 Miles away(never been),  Sunrise is 213 miles away (been once...never again), Telluride is 478 miles away(winning).  Why, you may ask, would I be suggesting you drive 7 hours instead of 2 or 4?? Because, "when you have had a taste of excellence, you cannot go back to mediocrity." -Maximillian Degenerez. Telluride = Excellence.  Here are 5 reasons why the drive is worth it:


Bon Vivant:

Bon Vivant at Telluride

Open Air dining mid mountain.  Open only on "bluebird" days this (accessible only by ski or board) is THE namesake and inspiration for THIS blog.  Epic views, solid wine list and fantastic food.  Boar Sausage Cassoulete , Short Rib Mac and Cheese...I mean DAMN!!  When it is open, THIS is where we eat mid day PERIOD.


Alpino Vino:

Alpino Vino

Where else can you have a Four Cheese Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup, at 12,000 feet, for the low low price of $27!?  Yup..worth every penny!  They do a killer tasting menu dinner here on the weekends where they bring you up on a snow coach! 

Snow Cat Dinner at Alpino Vino

Gorono's Ranch:

Gorron's Ranch

Here's the play: hit the mountain at 10, lunch at 1, Gorrono's at 3...until they throw you the hell out!  This mid mountain hot spot (literally) enjoys late afternoon sun like no other place on earth.  Grab a Ranger IPA and a chili dog and Apreś Ski in the sun.  If I  had to pick one place to flex, post gnar shredding, for the rest of my life it would be HERE!  NO QUESTION!

There Bar:

There Bar

Where? THERE!  Ramen Bowl's, Steamed Pork Buns, Crispy Bussel Sprouts??  Yup! It's-About-to-Go-Down!. Run by a bunch of Ex-NYC food snobs this place is fantastic!  

The Mountain:

G Hiking into Black Iron Bowl

My wife has been skiing 4 years.  No ski area, anywhere has provided her opportunity to grow the way Telluride has.  The range, pitch and variety of terrain will challenge the best skier and mold the beginner like none other.  If you want long cruisers  telluride has it. If you want steeps and trees telluride has it.  It will entrain you.  It will teach you.  I defy you not to love it.

Sun Breaking thorough the Clouds on Chair 9

The food, apreś ski options and the skiing make the drive to Telluride well worth it.  We love Vail, Aspen and Park City but Telluride has our hearts.  I have a TON more to write about Telluride as we visit a lot.  If you haven't been, make it happen this winter!  Hell, summers there are nothing to sneeze at either.

Thanks for reading!

Doc Jay