Photos by Brett Schrenkengost
MOUNTAIN LIFE
SUMMER FUN New canopy tour and bike park mean lots of on-mountain activity BY MARTINIQUE DAVIS
H
istorically, the disappearance of snow on the slopes at the Telluride Ski Resort coincided with a vanishing of most activity on the mountain, but the opening of the Telluride Bike Park in 2019 and the unveiling of the Canopy Adventure tour this summer together herald a new and exciting era for summer season activity on the Telluride Ski Resort. Canopy Adventure will take participants through a course of five ziplines, two aerial bridges and two rappels, spanning various terrain in the Village Express area. Reaching a maximum height of 140 feet above the forest floor, with zipline spans as long as 1,800 feet, the fully-guided, approximately three-hour tour will provide a fully interactive experience, with instruction in ziplining and rappelling appropriate for most people of average physical ability, according to Telluride Ski Resort Mountain Operations Director Scott Pittenger. “The Canopy Adventures is an excellent family activity,” Pittenger says. “There’s a little bit of
something for everybody. It’s safe but thrilling at the same time. It’s an adrenaline rush in a controlled environment, while also allowing you to take in the beauty of the Telluride area. All the zip lines and towers are in spots where you are seeing an entirely different part of the ski resort that you wouldn’t see if you were hiking or skiing. You get up high and see some amazing vistas.” The suspended bridges, aerial towers and heavy-duty wire ziplines that comprise Canopy Adventure were planned, engineered and installed by one of the industry’s leading canopy tour developers, Bonsai Design of Grand Junction. The course was created to give participants a fully immersive outdoor experience that also highlights the views Telluride is known for, Pittenger explains. The addition of the canopy tour adds to the buzz generated by the opening of the bike park the summer before last, which “blew our expectations out of the water,” says Pittenger. Mountain bike enthusiasts revel in the over 30 miles of interconnected, lift-accessed trails, which weave a network of freeride, technical and cross-country routes for almost every level of rider. Pittenger says the resort plans to incrementally expand the existing 13-trail bike park, with an emphasis on creating more “flow” trails appropriate for the green- or blue-lev-
el rider. The existing routes tie into established U.S. Forest Service trails as part of the greater Telluride trails network. “Our focus has been to create a network of trails, as opposed to just a bike park,” Pittenger notes. He adds that providing more on-mountain activities enriches the visitor experience, but it also supports the local business community. ‘IT’S AN “It really spills over into more vibranADRENALINE cy for restaurants, RUSH IN A retail and the farmers’ CONTROLLED market,” Pittenger ENVIRONMENT, says. “I think the WHILE ALSO Mountain Village ALLOWING YOU vibe has turned into TO TAKE IN THE something that complements Telluride, BEAUTY OF THE TELLURIDE where people can come up to MounAREA.’ tain Village and S cott Pitte n ge r experience something different and unique with all the restaurants and the activities on the mountain. Mountain Village has a lot going on, which is great.” For more information or to book a tour, visit tellurideskiresort.com. telluride.com | 855.421.4360
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