So I am here in Telluride right now, looking out the window onto a misty morning. Simply beautiful, but only 1 inch of snow last night, expecting up to 18 inches today. I feel I have adjusted to the altitude well (9.000 ft or so) but am a bit dehydrated. Taking it easy today. (And the 'mist' is increasing, its snowing!) I must tell you of the plane ride into Telluride. My sister told me that once you get to Telluride you will never want to leave - now I know why! We arrived at Denver as scheduled and made are way to the new terminal to get on our next flight. Much to the horror of my mother, we were getting on a twin-propeller plane that could barely fit 20 people (3 across the back, 1 seat on either side of the 'aisle'. There were are total of 12 of us on board, and not only could you look out either side of the plane, but also out the cockpick window! No door or curtain in the way! The little plane sure was powerful as we gunned down the runway, pinned to the back of our seats. The next 10 - 15 minutes were probably the worst of my airflying life. Normally, turbulance on a 'regular' plane jostles you left and right...turbulance on this little plane was throwing us across the cabin and up into the air. The plane was fishtailing, the front moving one way, the rear moving the other. They really needed shoulder harnesses rather then lap belts. The guy sitting in front of me was not doing so well (nor was I) and he had flown on plenty of small planes before. It was quite the ride. Things smoothed out nicely once we peaked the first mountain, leaving all the turbulence behind. We got to peak at Vail through the clouds as we passed over. Our descent begun about 45 minutes into the flight and it was quite steep. We eventually dropped out of the clouds, between two mountains! A very very narrow value! It was quite the shock to then look out the window and see the single strip of runway on the edge of the cliff...running off the runway would mean plunging 200ft+..! We banked sharply, looking like the wing would tip the trees below, and suddenly we had landed, the plane quite literally dropping onto the runway before it even straightened out of the sharp banking turn. The landing was smooth, and the plane turned on a dime to taxi to the 'terminal'....I must say it was the scariest flight of my life!
Glad you are ok Muss, that's quite the story... welcome to God's country. Take pics indeeeeeeeed, would love to see Telluride this time of year oh, extending a warm welcome from Colorado... good place to be. Jem
It is an unusual name for a town, but it was a mining town during one of Colorado's "rushes". The favorite "story about its derivision" is that it is a shortened version of the saying "To Hell You Ride", as a destination when you picked that area to stake your claim.
Hope you are having a good time! Small planes are horrible...I was delayed in Detroit once for 4 hours because of a bad thunderstorm and when we finally took off (4 of us in the plane...a lot like the one you described) we had horrible turbulence until we flew up over the front. It's pretty awesome watching a thunderstorm from above!
Yes, I am hoping the ride back is much more pleasant. All the pilots do that to land on the strip, apparently. They're spending $51 Million to extend and improve the runway/airpot (through 20130) and have recently lengthened it to allow 30-passenger planes the ability to land and take off. Took a half-dozen or so pictures today from the balcony of where we are staying, the snow is still coming down so visibility is perhaps 200 - 300 yds at best. Again, possibly 18 inches due today. Hoping to get out on the slopes tomorrow (not sure how shoulder/knee will hold up) and my sister is already out there today.
Went Snow-Shoing yesterday in the heavy snowfall. You will be able to see how heavy in a week once I get all the pictures uploaded etc. Not much of a view of the mountains yesterday, but today looking out the front window, there is an amazing view of the mountains, cloudless sky, sun up and shining. Not sure if we got the 1ft of snow expected last night, and not sure if i am going to get out on the slopes today (i think my sister already went) but should be a good day.
Great place to be-you bloody lucky--you ;-)) A couple of friends of mine vacation there every year. Several years ago, Don broke a leg while skiing.
First day of skiing today. Great conditions - somewhere around 25degrees and sunny so not cold at all. You could count the number of people who had been on the slopes by the number of tracks. No waiting in the chair lift lines. The Snowboarding World Cup and Olympic Qualifying are taking place here this week too, so i ate lunch between the Swedish and Candian teams. The Canadian chick was pretty hot too The Nationals are crazy fast - you only hear the whoosh of air as they going flying past you on the slopes. Watched the Slalom Qualifying for a bit too - two in a row wiped out around the same spot (one got back up and finished, the other went through the gate and stood next to use for several minutes before heading downslope). I don't know how they keep in control at the speeds they are going - the turns they make, their bellies nearly touch the snow! Some beautiful vies from up on top of the mountain too. I think we were up around 13000 feet at the max level. Skied in one of the bowls - not a sign of civilization anywhere since it blocked the view of the village. I'll try and take my camera up next time, but its a big camera (not a pocket-sized one) and I really wouldn't want to break it. Maybe my sister can carry it (she skis several times a year, was on the tele-skis today) but it is definetely the best skiing i've ever experienced - between the conditions and the slopes and the views.
