This fall, the Telluride Mountain Club (TMC) put together a survey to get an idea from community members about their vision for the future of Telluride’s regional trails system. The data that we have collected through this survey will help us draft a plan for the future of our trails and how to achieve the results we have received. 370 surveys were filled out in September and October of 2015, and here are the takeaways and results.
Survey Results, Overall Takeaways
- Mountain Bikers want trails to be improved and more to be established
- New trails should be built as multi-use trails
- New trails should be built as medium challenge terrain trails
- Hikers would like to see the High Country trails improved and to have better signage
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Telluride Mountain Club has joined forces with Patagonia Telluride and Jagged Edge Mountain Gear to host the 2016 Winter Fundraising Film Night on Thursday, February 4th at the Sheridan Opera House.
We will be hosting three short films in addition to the main event, Jumbo Wild. Dale Atkins, snow safety professional, will also be on hand to talk briefly about uncertainty in the backcountry and his event the following day at Patagonia Telluride. It’s going to be a great night, we hope you can join us! (more…)
The Telluride Mountain Club has created a survey for locals and visitors of Telluride to help create a regional trails vision. The survey is intended to compile ideas and thoughts from Telluride local and regional residents regarding the current state of the non-motorized public trails system, trail work and improvements, and possible new trails.
Fill out the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/tmctrailsurvey
Questions will collect data on how often people are using the current trail system and in what capacity. Specific trail use is considered as well as the overall current state of the trails system, and if improvements should be made. Participants are then asked about their feelings regarding new trails.
“The survey is intended to reach as many individuals as possible in order to get a comprehensive overview of the current trails system and if we should consider improvement and new trails in the future,” said Joe Shults of the TMC Trails Group. “We need data from the community and visitors to see what lies ahead.”
Fill out the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/tmctrailsurvey
Join the Telluride Mountain Club, Between the Covers Bookstore and Jagged Edge Mountain Gear for the second installment of this summer’s Mountain Lit Author Series!
Thursday, July 23
7:30PM
Jagged Edge Mountain Gear (more…)
Save the Date!
Mark your calendars for Thursday, July 30th! The Telluride Mountain Club will be hosting our 1st Annual Pig Roast in Town Park! This is our annual membership drive, so if you joined us last summer come and renew the good times. If you became a member this past winer, this one’s free! Come and enjoy live music, pork, beer and pie. *PLEASE BRING CASH FOR MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL*
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Telluride Mountain Club (TMC) has joined forces with Between the Covers Bookstore (BTC) and Jagged Edge Mountain Gear to collaborate on a new project: The Mountain Lit Author Series. We are thrilled to partner with the two local and independent retailers on the Mountain Lit series, it’s always an inspiration to hear stories of travel, climbing and lessons learned in the mountains. We are excited to be part of an innovative approach to storytelling in a community that embraces adventure. The event itself promotes a casual gathering—in camp chairs provided by Jagged Edge—as if around a campfire, swapping tales amongst old and new friends. Authors will read from their books (some will provide a slideshow), followed by a Q&A, and then a booksigning. Daiva Chesonis, co-owner of BTC, points out that the format and feel will be similar to the Ski Lit Author Series from 2013 which hosted Porter Fox, David Rothman, and an evening of local female writers. Because TMC is a non-profit that both BTC and Jagged Edge believe in, new TMC hats and t-shirts will be available via Jagged Edge and a donation jar will be on hand for that spare change jingling around in your pockets. The series is BYOB.
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Pete Inglis, the Telluride Mountain Club, And the Gold Hill Backcountry Access Gates
Words by Steve Johnson
Back in the 1980s, while employed as a ski patroller for the Telluride Ski & Golf Club, Pete Inglis realized the need for public education concerning avalanche hazard within and around the Telluride ski area and the San Juan Mountains as a whole. So Pete formed the Telluride Mountain Club around 1986, which had an initial focus on local avalanche education classes. Pete was appointed as the Telluride Mountain Club’s first president and began running avalanche education seminars for local skiers.
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Hope Lake
Many Tellurites will tell you, they came for the winter, stayed for the summer. And with the many hiking, biking trails and climbing areas to devour, who can blame them? To continue our exploration of the area’s hiking trails, we bring you our July hike of the month: Hope Lake.
Hope Lake is a great hike, ending at one of the region’s most beautiful alpine lakes. An added bonus? Views of high-country wildflowers, Trout Lake and of the Lizard Head Wilderness that can be seen along the trail keep your mind off of the climb and into focusing on the beauty of your surroundings.
TIP: It’s rainbow season in Telluride (hey, it sounds better than monsoon season, right?). Make sure you get an early start on this hike to avoid getting stuck above tree line during an afternoon thunder storm. Walk portions of the perimeter to see different views of the lake. Feeling extra frisky, take a swim!
How to get there: From Telluride, travel 3 miles west on State Hwy 145. Turn left at the first highway intersection, continuing south on State Hwy 145 for approx. 8.5 miles. Turn left onto County Road 63A (signed on highway as “Trout Lake”). Proceed on CR 63L for approx. 1.5 miles, then left onto Forest Road #627. Proceed up this rough, rocky road 2.5 miles to the Hope Lake Trailhead. See map below. Look for cars parked at the trailhead. If the trailhead switchback is full, just below the trailhead is an extra pullout for parking.
DISTANCE: 5 miles round-trip.
Trail Etiquette Reminder: Don’t cut switchbacks. This trail sees quite a bit of love throughout the summer. Make sure you stay on the trail and don’t forget to be friendly to your fellow hikers. Learn more about trail etiquette here.
Eider Creek to Deep Creek
Many Tellurites will tell you, they came for the winter, stayed for the summer. And with the many hiking, biking trails and climbing areas to devour, who can blame them?
The San Juans are the youngest mountain range in the Lower 48. As a result the mountains around Telluride are STEEP!!! One must be prepared for a good ol’ fashioned ass whuppin when taking to the trail around here. Of course you could skirt the issue and take a jaunt down the valley floor, or perhaps a walk out to the mine?? Nah…embrace the angle, go up! No trail better represents Telluride’s steepness better than Eider Creek.
DIRECTIONS: Starting at the Mill Creek road (across and just west from the Shell Station 1 mile out of town). Take the Mill Creek road up to the first switchback and take a left next to the gate. Giant aspens, wild grasses and flowers accompany the creek on this south-facing trail. You shouldn’t find too much snow left in June, as this one gets plenty of sun. About a mile and a half up you’ll find a sign and option to go right. This is the Eider Loop and will take you right down to where you started and is a good option to keep it short. However, if your in it for the long haul keep going up! Eventually the Eider Creek Trail connects with the Deep Creek trail. If you make a right, you can hike all the way back to Telluride (by meeting up with the Waterline/Mill Creek Trail). If you take a left, you can hike Deep Creek to the west trailhead near the Telluride airport. The aspen trees make this a great outing. South facing, warm, big trees and a view of the ski area are all quite memorable.
MORE INFORMATION: Note that this trail is also popular among runners and mountain bikers. Remember to share the trail, be friendly and follow proper trail etiquette protocols.
DISTANCE: Depends on the route. See various options via our trail map here.
Have fun!
U.S. Forest Service to reopen Gold Hill Backcountry Gates access into Bear Creek
After five years, many meetings, much wrangling, ongoing litigation and continued pressure from the Telluride Mountain Club and other user groups, the U.S. Forest Service is re-opening the Telluride Ski Area’s Gold Hill Backcountry Access Gates on Friday, March 14, 2014. (more…)
