Serving you, homeowners in the Telluride Valley, with insights highlighting the abundant happenings and hidden surprises of this wonderfully remote mountain community which we call our year-round home
Snow Report
A string of snowstorms has given us conditions which are mimicking those of last winter. Remember last winter? The 341.5-inch snowpack winter of 2007-2008 which developed after a sluggish and dry Thanksgiving start? This could mean all of the following; another epic ski season, big snow storms making way for even greater storytelling and huge snow piles in your driveways (and larger than anticipated snow removal bills).
As of December 11th the resort was reporting a modest 38 inch base. Since mid- December however total snow accumulation is now at 166 inches. In December alone the resort had a record breaking 113 inches. Currently the base snowpack is a healthy 60-inch at the base lodge area. This is 300 percent more than the 33-year average of just 38 inches. Consistently cold temps have helped keep the snow quality at a premium.
We had a beautiful white Christmas holiday season with record skier visits. The Telluride Ski Resort is one of the few resorts in North America to make actual capital improvements in 2008 and from a skiers perspective it shows! With the support of new snow making facilities and machinery, by Christmas week 90% of the ski area was opened. The new terrain on Revelation Bowl opened mid-December and proved to be a combination of intermediate terrain as well as offering several expert level aspects.
On The Ski Mountain Improvements:
There are many physical changes at the resort all adding to a better skiing experience. The Telluride Ski and Golf Club members’ luxurious base clubhouse has been once again revamped and now offers soups and drinks as well as cookies & crayons for the kiddos. The revamped snowmaking system was very welcome in the early weeks in the season. Thanks to new winch cats the corduroy grooming continues to improve so be sure to take advantage of those early morning lonesome cruisers when you can. We have been skiing on the weekends and have visited the new resort owned Hop Garden Restaurant which now operates out of the Chair #4 base location which The Skier’s Union previously occupied. Not only is the beer stupendous but so are the charbroiled burgers and Caesar salads. You have to wait longer than you might expect but it was a nice setting and a good time to reminisce about the new ski season. Skiers can now add lunch 
money to their season passes punch card style – call the ski resort at (970)728-6900, ask for season pass office. This is especially helpful with the kids and their lunch money. The punch card concept works at all the resort eateries; Gorrono, Guiseppies, Big Billies, Hop Garden, Crazy Elk Pizza. *Make sure you try it out once before trusting that they actually credited your season pass! We also found the kid friendly Diggity Haus which offers delicious steamed hot dogs, pork sandwiches and more; a darned warm place to wait for our favorite high altitude dog.
For intermediate plus skiers there is a new dining experience on the resort. Alpino Vino is a posh new wine bar located at the top of the ski resort a few turns down the slope from the Gold Hill Express Chairlift.They are serving a full range of wines from Italy alongside genuine Italian fare such as Panini, tiramisu, and antipasto plates. Access: from the intermediate Chair lift #5, heads towards lift #14 (Gold Hill Express).Get off #14 take a left and you will notice a small stone house on your left nestled into the tree tops. To depart the Alpino Vino you will travel along the beginner to intermediate terrain which brings you back to the mountain top section of See Forever, a double blue run.
The NEXT GENERATON: The resort has spread out the park-riding options for free ride skiers and boarders. There is a full-blown ride park and intermediate air garden directly below the Chair #4 at the base. Alternately, for huge air one can dabble on the mammoth sized rollers located on Lower See Forever. While the half-pipe is no longer on the Humbolt ski trail there is a new beginner ride park located at the top of Chair #5.
Revelation Bowl. It is gorgeous. We went out on a Kastle Keepers Expedition” and skied it ourselves so that we could tell you first hand. It is going to be “FAT” as the youth say! 
This bowl shaped terrain will offer wonderful powder skiing on powder days and intermediate bump skiing otherwise. Expert or extreme type skiing it is not, though. The immediate surrounding gives everyone breathtaking eagle-eye views of the cliffs above Bear Creek Valley, the San Joaquin Ridge and excellent views into the expansive JackAss Basin. For a combination of beauty and terrain in North America we cannot think of a more fetching one. We were present for the massive chairlift opening ceremony. Skiers and snowboarders had one thing in common that afternoon; everyone likened the terrain to the back bowls at Vail or even the bowl skiing at Snowmass. So don’t let the X double black signage hold your inner explorer back. There is an observation deck built at the bottom of the bowl for gawkers. Just a little intimidating!
The ski resort has been offering women’s specific ski weeks since 1981. Women ski instructors and female skiers of similar skill levels are paired up for week’s worth of instruction, video analysis and of course some pampering after a hard day on the hill. A sample day might include: top instructors in an intimate group setting, comp gear, video, Nastar training, après ski events and dinner, shopping discounts. Dates are: Jan. 21-23, Feb 8-12, and Mar. 1-5. Contact the ski resort ski lesson desk at 970-728-6800 or 1-800-778-8581.
SHIPPING TO TELLURIDE:
Shipping to Kastle Keepers, LLC
Certain catalog companies have altered their shipping protocols thus we offer you a reminder and a guide on how to best ship your skis and other valuables to our attention
*IMPORTANT NOTE:
Federal Express drivers have alerted us that there has been a rash of thefts of boxes which were delivered straight to vacant homes. Not any of our homes mind you! To ensure the proper handling of your media equipment, computers, luggage, jewelry and wine shipments we recommend that the safest option is to ship to our physical address and we will personally deliver parcels to the inside of your house. Let us know if a valuable is on its way so that we may anticipate signing for it. Contact us at the office at 970-728-6240 to give us a heads up. Because of the shifts in the shipping industry above we are anticipating that consumers will be using the more affordable U.S.P.S. or the Post Office to a greater capacity.
January 2009 Calendar:
Friday, January 16, 2009 - Monday, January 19, 2009
SnowFest Mountain Village hosts a weekend that includes music, snow sculpting, a torchlight parade, snowmobile jumping events, avalanche dog demonstrations and more.
970.728.7620
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Telluride Film Festival Presents Appetizers, chocolate and a lively discussion will follow a free screening of Agnes Varda's award-winning French documentary The Gleaners and I. Wilkinson Public Library, 6 p.m. 970.326.3137
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Sunday at the Palm Join NPR film critic Howie Movshovitz for Francois Truffanut's first feature film, The 400 Blows (1959), about a young runaway who must survive on the streets of Paris. Palm Theatre, 4 p.m. 970.626.3137
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Telluride Film Festival Presents Telluride Film Festival Presents the critically acclaimed epic adventure Australia with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman at the Nugget Theater, 8:30 p.m.
970.626.3137
Friday, January 23, 2009
Guest DJ Day Tune into FM 89.3, 91.7 105.5 or www.koto.org to hear locals vie for the coveted Silver Tongue Award and raise money for KOTO community Radio. Call 970.728.4333 to pledge to keep Telluride's radio commercial free.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Priest Lake Pursuit Telluride Nordic Association hosts a 15-km pursuit ski race (7.5 km classic/7.5 km skate) at Priest Lake for skiers of all ages. Prizes awarded in every division. Call to confirm date and time. 970.728.1144
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Rock and Roll Academy Ladies Night Out The Academy presents its first two freshly minted all-ladies adult bands. These gals will let their hair down and encourage all to get down for this cacophonous evening of music and dancing. Sheridan Opera House, 7 p.m. 970.708.1140
Friday, January 30, 2009
KOTO Lip Sync Contest Often irreverent, never to be missed, this annual KOTO radio fundraiser always bring down the (Sheridan Opera) house. 970.728.8100
Friday, January 30, 2009
Winter JazzTelluride Society for Jazz brings singer, songwriter, pianist, composer and two-time Grammy nominee Karrin Allyson to the Palm Theatre, 8 p.m. 970.728.7009Kastle Keeping: ongoing work at the homes we watch over
We had a exceptionally busy Christmas and holiday season here at Kastle Keepers, LLC with many families and rental contracts in residence. All of our professional service workers were industrious over the 3-week long surge in business. They impressively provided our families and individuals with fast, reliable and courteous services day into night. We cannot thank them enough! We are confident that our thorough preparations, supply of provisions and the time and effort we spent coordinating services assists every homeowner in a meaningful and efficient manner.
The cleaner’s schedules had been dispatched and set up weeks and weeks ahead of time as per our service request forms. Thus we were able to assist with getting time freed up for all members of the family to get out of the cabin and onto the hill!
Ski rentals were written into the logs at the ski shops ahead of the rush of tourists. Personal ski instructor private lessons were handpicked and assigned – thanks to Trevor.
We are not sure. The caterers either love or hate Kastle Keepers, LLC. Hard to tell, we send them all sorts of great clientele with fabulous ideas. Yet when December rolls around we have a list so long for them for these requests it would make your head spin. We are thankful for their combined and individual talents. The more clients like and utilize local chefs and whatnot the better their service and culinary offerings will progress.
OUT AND ABOUT IN DOWNTOWN T’RIDE:
Every year there is more to do and see and enjoy here in our little hamlet town.
The New Sheridan Restaurant and Bar reopened with wonderful accolades heralding the redesigned interior and new menu. A new nitrogen wine bar system has given them the opportunity to offer a wider selection of impressive wines by the glass. New items on the menu include Tartare of Ahi Tuna, Butternut Squash soup, Braised Short Ribs “Pot Au Feu”. The $7 million dollar renovation also reopened a mezzanine seating alcove overlooking the Opera House stage which had been secretly boarded up for generations. The historic Sheridan Opera House staff tells us that there is always something worth checking out during their winter schedule. Donovan Frankenreiter performs on March 10, 2009. The non-profit Opera House can be booked for private celebrations, meetings or you can consider booking a section of seating for favorite entertainer. Beforehand a party could book the bar for a private birthday party and so on. There are several meeting areas as well as a swanky bar area with a glass ceiling overlooking Main Street and the ski resort. The art galleries host an art walk every first Thursday of the month. In the Mountain Village you will notice that another little eatery has opened up in the breezeway of the Franz Klammer Lodge. La Tapateria will have wait and walk service for burritos, tacos and the like. Other food cart vendors are popping up in the Plaza. Now you can graze on a ham and Swiss crepe, mosey on over to the popcorn vendor then finish off with a fresh baked warm cookie. Meanwhile the kids can jump till their hearts delight on the bungee trampoline.
Since we are well into the winter season we can give you some feedback about roof snowpack levels, driveway and general snow removal costs at the home sites. We watch over homes throughout the region thus snowpack levels vary tremendously. Whether or not your home site has an orientation towards sun exposure, what type of roof materials exist make a huge impact on your winter snow removal costs. Please take the time to familiarize yourself with the attached article covering snow removal concerns in the mountain towns of Colorado.
In December alone Telluride received over 113-inches of snow. Lee always approaches our clientele with a plan of action for tackling snow removal needs on a case by case basis. As is the case for each and all of your home maintenance concerns, services are presented in an a la carte fashion where you alone decide what course of action and snow management protocol you desire to set into motion. Taking preparations ahead of time and having a plan is essential to avoid damage to the home, the roof or most importantly ruining your mountain homeownership experience. Experience has shown us over the years that a plan is essential. For example if you choose to cut back or eliminate driveway plowing you may be setting up for some anticipated failures. You may have the studded snow tires and the wonderful SUV as we do at KK, LLC but too often is the case where someone “visiting” does not have the right vehicle to get in and out of your driveway. Perhaps your guest’s car rental or the caterer’s car is not as well equipped. Please let Lee or Trevor know if you have any concerns about snow level and removal.
State of Affairs in the Box Canyon and beyond:
The sluggish economy has affected services and budgets in both of our mountain communities and we suspect you may take notice of these changes. Since August real estate sales have drastically fallen off at least fifty percent. Real estate transfer taxes fund all sorts of public work departments in both municipalities. The TOT has enacted an early “recession” plan” in response to the decrease in revenue flow. This pinch back will be noticed in the areas of snow removal, pending affordable housing growth, infrastructure improvements to the highway spur and upgrades to dilapidated water pipes among other areas. Optional budget line items are being cut. In the TMV Town Council Meeting minutes, department heads are being asked to evaluate cutting employees back in the upcoming months and how they can generate more revenue and less expense. Cutting back on Dial-A-Ride services was questioned. Capital improvements are being put on hold (i.e.: cable system, water management). http://www.telluride-co.gov/docs/fraserstate_of_the_town_01_07_09.pdf
Of the 275 realtors in the region the consensus is that sales are sluggish but prices are stable. Sales are down over 50% in all sectors of vacant and improved property since the national financial markets downturn in August. Other destination ski resorts like Aspen are struggling much the same. Have we reached bottom yet? Are sellers willing to greatly or even noticeably discount their investments that have yielded at 12-13% return over the last 10 years? Does Telluride’s unique location, lifestyle, it’s “a limited resource” aspect and raw natural beauty provide sellers with enough to stay the course and ride out the drought? It would seem so. Year after year for over ten years the regional real estate market has seen record setting numbers in volume and dollar price. Thus far into the recession the discounts are a rarity instead of ‘expected’ and owners are not moving off their pre-downturn pricing. Many of our clientele have indicated that early spring into summer will be the bottom of at least the national down turned economy and that if there is going to be a time for bottom feeding that is when we will see it. There have been few sales or contracts in November and December with one notable exception: a Greyhead house listed for 11 million under contract! There are deals to be had but they are the exception not the rule as least for now. There is little doubt that the region continues to be a sound investment as charted by a third party consultant, Judi Kiernan, of Telluride Consulting. The dollar volume of sales compounded annual growth rate chart depicting 1985 thru 2007 records a 13% annual appreciation. Visit our website www.telluriderealestateguide.com and click for current information on market activity.
Best to you and yours in 2009.
Lee, Sheilagh, Freddie and Trevor
The next Peek a Boo Streak!
