I've been to Telluride, Colorado twice now. I now understand what John Denver was all worked up about! (Pure luck about the last name huh?) As my experienced neighbor, who hails from Colorado, says everytime I mention it; "Telluride? Heck, we used to call it 'To hell you ride'!" I never knew how right he could be! Both times I have trekked to Telluride, (7 hours from Denver by car) I encountered nasty delays puncuated by multiple plane rides both commercial and of the puddle jumper variety, rented cars, hitched rides, and this time finally arriving by gondola! The goal is to experience the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. I'm not a huge Bluegrass music fan per se, but, great music will win you over regardless of the genre. It's very hard to capture Colorado's beauty in words but I'll try....Telluride is largely known as one of the best ski communities our country has to offer. It is also possibly one of the most jaw droppingly scenic places I have ever been. Almost completely surrounded by mountains, the town itself lies below the ski runs on the valley floor. Known as a "box canyon" you get the idea once you reach the music festival grounds. The majestic slopes surround and envelop the entire town. This time I rode the gondola from Mountain Village, aptly named, and was at a loss for words as we started down the impossibly steep slope toward the town of Telluride itself. The quaint 19th century bulidings neatly lined up below like tiny toys, it felt as though we were floating like a feather into this bucolic valley. Once at the valley floor we followed the sounds of Bluegrass music twittering away from the festival grounds.
The Festival itself runs for four days every June usually around the summer solstice, another reason to celebrate. The organizers, who run a very tidy ship, limit the ticket sales to 10,000 'festiverians ' as we are called. This leaves plenty of reasonable space for every ticket holder, although the jockeying for tarp space is an exact science according to most! Sitting in the warm sun, drink in hand, banjo, fiddle and mandolin music chirping away, I can't help gaping at the mountains and cascading waterfalls all around us and have a warm feeling rush over me of how special this place truly is! Eastward up and into the canyon above is Bridal Veil Falls. Quite visible from the valley floor.
I can't really say enough about the festival itself; Four full days of fantastic music, amazing weather (both good and bad) great food and the most charming and relaxed people you'll ever meet. The group we hang out with include one of my best friends Brian from Chicago and his sister Eileen, a Telluride resident and our hostess. The group is rounded out by Eileen's numerous good spirited friends. Our group sets up "camp" early in the day usually enlisting a "volunteer" to line up at the unholy hour of 5:30 a.m. to compete for the aforementioned tarp space. Once base camp is established the sunshade erected and "provisions procured, we spend the entire day soaking in the sights, sounds and sunshine. During my first trip to Telluride, Brian related how the group took a hike up to the falls and how magnificent it was.
Sitting in a camp chair on Sunday morning, brilliant sunshine beating down on the last day of the Festival, I felt compelled to take that hike to Bridal Veil Falls! Bolstered by two strong cups of coffee and the gorgeous weather, I set out. I headed out of the festival grounds Eastward down Colorado street toward the trail. One lesson you learn when at elevation (Telluride sits at 8,750 ft.) is to be wary of the oxygen level or lack thereof. There is considerably less. The lesson is to pace yourself! I felt this during the last trip here on just a short hike up the "Marmot" ski run. This hike was to be an unforgiving undulating 5 mile jaunt. So I grabbed what I figured to be an adequate amount of water, 24oz. which proved to be too little, and started my ascent. I did make it back okay but was quite parched as I returned.
The hike starts out paralleling the San Miguel river hurtling downhill, primarily made up from the Winter snow melt. I quickly traversed a few residential lots on the river and passed through the shared grounds of a still active silver mine. Once past the mining operation, the trail take a more serious tilt to higher climbs. On some stretches the inclines near 30 degrees! After the first of which my heart was ready to pound through my chest. I'm not in top flight physical condition but my 7 mile runs at home hardly incapacitate me for the rest of the day! I was very impressed by the incline here! Having made a few water/catch my breath stops and traversing some meltwater rivulets, I was now leaving the twangy sounds of the Festival behind and could now see and hear the roar of the falls and the downward rushing creek it formed. I could also see the 2 1/2 story house nestled atop Bridal Veil. Yes, somebody built a home up here atop the falls! How they got all the materials in place is enough to think about let alone living there! What a scene!
Saying 'Hi' to a few other hikers and occasionally making way for a passing jeep, I pushed my way toward the falls. from here the trail reverts to a series of 'switchbacks' as most elevated trails do hugging the canyon walls and resulting in amazing views of the valley below. After about 90 minutes of solid hiking I was at the base of Bridal Veil. the water fall itself which must be 100 feet high results in a fantastic "Veil" of floating icy mist which felt so good to stand in after such an arduous trek! I took a good long look back down into the valley below and marveled at the lush beauty of it. It looked and felt as though I could take wing and just glide back down to the Festival. No gondola here though. Hard to properly describe the amazing scenery! That's why I highly recommend making your way here if you are able. Truly stunning to see! Having enjoyed quite the experience, and short rest, I took a couple more minutes to soak it all in as well as the last of my water, I then started my way back down. After 90 minutes of careful twists and turns I made it back to our base camp with quite the tale to tell to the group over a frosty Fat Tire ale.....after a huge bottle of water first! See ya on the pathways, Dave.
