Serving you, homeowners in the Telluride valley, with inspiring, relevant local information highlighting the abundant happenings and hidden surprises of this wonderfully remote mountain community that we call our year-round home.
"We Take the Anxiety Out Of Coming Home"
(970) 728-6240 Office (970)797-1397 Fax Email: teluride@rmi.net
P.O. Box 22, Telluride, CO 81435 (970) 729-0526 cell- 24/7 response
For some it is a gift, others it is a curse#$%*!..... too much snow?
If you want to do something really cool come and check out Telluride this week! According to the local papers we have received more snow to date then we did all of last ski season. As a matter of fact many locals cannot remember this much snow in the last 15-years. Depending on your neighborhood rumor has it the total snow depth ranges form 13 to 17 feet! Jump a flight and come out for a long weekend, the skiing has never been better! 85+ inches at the base of the mountain-more at the top!Telluride: Wait till you see the side streets of Telluride. http://telluride.plumtv.com/videos/snow_report_dec_18_2007
Due to the above normal snowfall coupled with the lack of adequate snow removal equipment and staff to handle it the snow is piled higher than anyone can remember. This region has 58% above normal snowpack this year to date. The Town of Telluride’s snow works department is completely overwhelmed, over budgeted and frankly cannot find any place to put the accumulating snow! Side streets and alleys are way at the back of the list for maintenance as they struggle to keep main thoroughfares open. In fact the place at the west of town where the Town of Telluride stores snow is at least 2 to 3 stories high!
GET THIS! If you haven’t had a chance to pay a visit to Telluride in awhile- now is actually a great time to drop in.
IN THE KNOW> Simply getting around town just got about 3X more difficult! Parking is a night mare, driving on secondary streets is at-your-own-risk, once ordinary parking spaces are now encumbered by mounds and mounds of snow placed there by the town crews in emergency efforts to clear the streets. Parked cars are under mounds and mounds of snow and probably will stay that way for while. Why would anyone want to leave now?
Business is as usual here- it just takes a bit longer to get things done and to make it to the movie on time! Word of the moment: EMBRACE it!
Miss Telluride? Yet you can’t jump a flight at the last minute? You can tap into the local Plum TV channel via your own east coast internet connection. Log onto www.telluride.plumtv.com to get all the latest action on Telluride via a live cam!
We just want everyone to understand what’s happening here in the Southern Rockies. The town is muffled by snow and there is not much the town government or county can do about it but slowly dig out. All facets of life have been affected by the sudden heavy snowfalls. The recent snows paralyzed parts of the region as highway maintenance crews stumbled under the around-the-clock pressure to remove the 80+ inches that have accumulated over the last two weeks of January.
ACCESS >for regional workers, including several of our cleaning crews, was shut down during parts of the last two weeks of January- either because they could not leave their own neighborhoods or the highways were shut down temporarily for any one of hazards. Avalanche danger, whiteout road conditions or dangerous roads and accidents were common place with Lizard head Pass and Dallas Divide. Area teachers could not get to Telluride for the first time in 10+ years.
ABOVE NORMAL SNOW DEPTH> The snow load on some roofs is 4 + feet. Please expect to see an increase in your snow management costs (*Lee blast emailed all the homeowners about this situation in early February). The snow removal crews are ardently working to provide service beginning with basic access and striving to clear driveways and walkways secondly then clear roof where need be as time allows. The forecast for the first week of February however depict more heavy snows. This month will be a busy month for the snow crews to get driveways properly plowed, push the snow off to the sides out-of-the-way and begin tackling the sprawling rooftops. In fact Kastle Keepers, LLC has brought in two (2) additional out-of-town professional snow crews to get on the roofs before the warmer spring days start to appear and leaks occur!
Because the density in the Telluride Mountain Village is less congested and the lots are large and spread out parking and movement to and fro has not been affected to the same extent as downtown Telluride. No one will be able to escape icy sidewalks, falling rooftop icicles and the like however. Watch where you park your car and walk! Caution, awareness and adequate footwear and attire are advised. The new gadgets that some locals are sporting as they make their way to the ski lifts via icy sidewalks are the Cat Tracks and Ice Grippers brand slip on shoe sole ice grippers. See below.
The Ophir area has seen repeated natural avalanche slides over the past three weeks- blockading families in the box canyon there till the debris is removed (a few days). High winds, up to 120mph, added to the deadly buildup of increased avalanche danger.
SKIING> Meanwhile for those of us who were snowed in, the skiing has been over-the-top. Ski terrain is “opened up” as the ski patrollers finish their control work.
Slip on soles for icy conditions:
Anti-slip Seirus Cat Tracks- a slip-on walking sole. Locate these at local shops, back at home or at REI Sporting Goods/Footwear Accessories/Ice Grippers/Yak Tracks, etc… About $29. *After you have successfully negotiated the treacherous sidewalks you can easily stow away these lightweight soles underneath the snow cuff of your pant leg, in front of your ski boot.
ONGOING
Next time you are in the Telluride Mountain Village plaza ordering a brown sugar and cinnamon crepe from Bertrand’s crepe cart pass by the Telski ticket office and check out a local artist’s canvas. This oil artist captures the sporting lift of our mountain town fairly well with a wide range of prices for his pieces. www.waynemckenzieart.com
Aemono Catering has opened a Town site located near the base of Chair lift #7, at the old Rosebud video location across the street from SIAM restaurant and nearby Pacific Street Liquors. Monthly and weekly menus can be reviewed if you contact Sophia at 970-728-2085 and request to be put on their blast email list. Just supply her with your email and she will add it to the list. Sandwiches, daily salads, meat and veggie entrees and desserts are readily available at this fine eatery reducing you time in the kitchen and enhancing ski time. La Cocina de Luz has partnered up with a Ridgway/Montrose restaurateur and is also offering Nepalese foods on their catering lines as well as authentic Mexican cuisine. A local pianist by the name of Michael approached us and rattled off some fine references of his piano playing services. For around $300 he can entertain your next après ski gathering right at your home. Call Sheilagh at 970-729-0707 if you would like us to contact him.
Atmosphere Day Spa is located at the base of the gondola at the Chair #8 area and offers beautiful soft surroundings, private treatment rooms and a well trained staff for facials, waxes, pedicures and many other spa services 7-days a week. Ask for Cam and tell them Kastle Keepers sent you.
Sheilagh’s ski tips
After shredding the slopes and accumulating vertical you have probably built up an appetite and no one wants to wait in a line. Gorrono Ranch is the only centrally located, mid-mountain eatery but they are suffering from a bad case of mismanagement this year. Here are some alternatives to the recently overburdened mid-mountain Gorrono Ranch; Guiseppies, located at the top-of-Chair #9, Chair 8 Restaurant (Town of Telluride, ski-in-ski-out), Allred’s (members only at lunchtime), or on the Mountain Village side; 9545, the Crepe Cart, the Diggity Dog Shack (near the Telluride Gallery of Fine Art-TMV), Skiers Union, Crazy Elk (formerly That Pizza Place), Poachers Pub. Otherwise ski longer and drop by Gorrono after the peak hours, around 2PM to grab a quick bite (they begin closing around 3PM). Please be sure to have a cold one and enjoy the Beach at the Gorrono Saloon, say hello to Rowena and Wynton for us. Remove your wet ski boots, pull up a log, don’t sit too close to the pot belly wood burning stove and try the Dirty Girl Scout hot chocolate drink- yummy!
February 2008 Calendar:
Monday, February 18, 2008
Your Telluride Story…Text is Optional
In association with the Telluride Historical Museum, the Ah Haa School for the Arts presents an opening reception for an exhibition that showcases the personal stories of various local artists’ connections to Telluride. Ah Haa School, 5 to 7 p.m.
970.728.3886
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Surf's Up! TGR Film
Shack Therapy, a 16 mm and HiDef film that documents surfing and the lifestyles of the world's top surfers, shows at the Sheridan Opera House, 7 p.m. 970.728.6363
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Teton Gravity Research Surf Film
Watch the world's top surfers rip it up in Shack Therapy. Sheridan Opera House, 7 p.m. 970.728.6363
Thursday, February 21, 2008 - Sunday, February 24, 2008
FIS Jim Drew Memorial Races
Over 200 ski racers (ages 15-25) from around the world compete on Milk Run for the FIS qualifiers for U.S. Nationals. 970.728.6163
Friday, February 22, 2008
Telluride Mardi Gras Celebration
A (late) Fat Tuesday party to benefit the San Juan Horseback Riding Program for people with disabilities. The carnival includes free masks and boas, a funky jazz band, Cajun dinner, full bar, silent auction, gambling, and more at the Sheridan Opera House, 970.728.6363
Saturday, February 23, 2008 - Sunday, February 24, 2008
Choral Society: “All That Jazz”
Telluride Choral Society Jazz Ensemble presents two evenings of vocal arrangements ala Manhattan Transfer. Telluride Conference Center on Saturday, 6 p.m. and The Elks Club on Sunday, 7:30 p.m. 970.728.3411Saturday, February 23, 2008 - Saturday, March 01, 2008
Gay Ski Week
Show your pride in Telluride. Ski on the mountain, mingle at après-ski parties, dance to fabulous DJs and create a lifetime of memories in an outrageous mountain setting. 970.728.7620
Saturday, February 23, 2008 - Sunday, March 02, 2008
Telluride AIDS Benefit
A weeklong event that works to fight HIV/AIDS and promote HIV/AIDS education. Events include art auctions, fashion shows with live auctions, AIDS testing, silent auctions, trunk shows and more. 970.728.0869
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
John "JoJo" Herman
A solo performance by Widespread Panic's pianist, who plays a blend of southern ragtime and New Orleans-flavored jazz and blues. Sheridan Opera House, 9 p.m. 970.728.6363
Thursday, February 28, 2008
TAB Fashion Show Sneak Preview & Auction
A chance to see fashions from the upcoming Gala in a more relaxed atmosphere. See February 23 for more information about TAB. Telluride Conference Center, 8 p.m. 970.728.0869
Friday, February 29, 2008
TAB Opening Night Reception & Silent Art Auctions
Art from AIDS patients and their families, along with local and regional artists, is offered at a silent auction and reception at the Sheridan Opera House. Bidding starts at noon and festivities continue throughout the evening. See February 23 for more in
970.728.0869
Real Estate News:
Wall Street versus Main Street
Over the past two decades, the US economy has fallen into five, or more, economic slumps. It is enlightening to factually explore just how the Telluride real estate marketplace has responded to the woes of Wall Street and the DOW.
October 1987- September 1989
Event # 1: "Black Monday" (Savings and Loan Scandal, Insider Trading Scandals, Iran Contra Hearings…)
Telluride: From 1987 - 1989, the dollar volume of regional sales increased 132% and the average price for regional homes increased 21%.
October 1990-March 1991
Event # 2: “Saddam Hussein Bear Market” (First Gulf War…)
Telluride: From 1990 – 1991, the dollar volume of regional sales increased only 1%, but the average price for regional homes increased 35%.
November 1998-January 1999
Event # 3: “Mini Crash” (Asian Economic Crises, Russian Default…)
Telluride: From 1998 – 1999, the dollar volume of regional sales increased 58% and the average price for regional homes increased 11%.
January 2000-December 2003
Event # 4: “Recession and More” (Y2K Scare, Accounting Scandals, World Trade Center Attacks, Dot Com Collapse, Second Iraqi Invasion…
Telluride: From 2000 – 2003, the dollar volume of regional sales increased 21% and the average price for regional homes increased 28%.
March 2004 – January 2006
Event # 5: "Oil Crises" (All Time High Oil Prices, Hurricane Katrina, Rising Interest Rates…)
Telluride: From 2004 – 2006, the dollar volume of regional sales increased 11% and the average price for regional homes increased 39%.
If you are wary of investments controlled by the Wall Street Casino and Washington / Global politics, place a piece of Telluride real estate in your portfolio. A very limited supply of quality properties protects against downward trends in value. Just as importantly, Telluride real estate is an investment in your family’s lifestyle, as well as your personal bottom line!
"There's a reason why you can’t steal property in Telluride."
Article compiled by Judy Kiernan – Telluride Consulting and TD Smith of TREC and submitted to the Telluride Watch.
News:
REVELATION BOWL DREAMING
The terrain off the back of Gold Hill, nearly 800 vertical feet with views of Bear Creek may one day, maybe next winter, open to the public with a fixed-grip chair lift to serve the bowl. The resort is doing survey work to figure out the details of where the lift would go, what it would look like, and how it could be built. The U.S.Forest Service has approved the lift into the bowl but construction approvals are necessary before lift towers are erected.
In the spring the ski resort plans to examine its budget, study capital expenditures necessary for resort operations, and evaluate the past ski season. Dave Riley the CEO of Telski called the project "my absolute number 1 priority for terrain and lifts."
TELLURIDE MEDICAL CENTER UPDATE
The Town of Telluride has signed a letter of intent to sell the land known as the RV Lot located at the South end of Mahoney Drive to the Telluride Medical Center but no agreement has been reached on the selling price.
The Telluride Hospital District Board President Bill Grun was quoted in the Telluride Watch citing a number of reasons that the architectural design of the building must be slowed down:" Number one, there are encumbrances on the land we have to deal with...Number two; we don't have a price that is acceptable for the land. Number three, the school may be coming for a bond at the same time, and number four, the economy--it may not be the best year to go out and bond. We need to keep our options open if this project slips a little bit."
Plans for the design concept must move forward at a minimum cost to give taxpayers an idea of how much the bonding issue will be in November's election. Robert Lober, principal-in-charge of the chosen designers of the new center further stated "Preparation for the bond is to make sure you are requesting the appropriate amount of money. What we will do up front is spend time with the staff and board to refine the revisions for the project and programming information and then doing a bit of work on the concepts to flesh out what the building might actually look like."
With only a little over two (2) months left in the ski season, Kastle Keepers, LLC will be spending the next several weeks focusing on removing all the snow on the roofs of our homes and preparing them for the spring thaw. Even through the roofs are meant to handle the snow loads that have been placed on them, the big danger will be the formation of ice dams that cause internal leaking once it starts to warm up. 
If the roofs are not cleared then we will start seeing lots of leaks inside thus we have hired on more outside crews to get on the snow removal. It is pretty amazing to see how much snow is in fact on these homes. Homes that have never leaked or needed snow shoveling this season are actually starting to leak, even our own home!
The mid-February thru spring break weeks are a busy time for Telluride and Kastle Keepers, LLC. Some of the services in the area book up early this time of the season, especially the caterers- so call in your requests early. If you are contemplating a last minute visit, don’t forget to give us a call so we can make sure your home is ready with all this snow, 
We like to have time to succeed in getting your home 110% turn-key! For instance we lower the spa temperature to save you money while you are out-of-residence, place sheets over the furniture, and we spot clean/dust only “just prior” to an arrival. For each home we provide individualized trade touches that have been personalized for each homeowner’s arrivals/departures. Ask us! Leave us notes or shoot Lee an email! From all of us at the “Canopy of Services” have a great week and we look forward to seeing you hopefully in the near future!
See you this winter!
