Telluride

I just returned from the annual Telluride ski trip, only this trip was anything but typical. I did want to post something today so that those that may read this know I am ok with the recent media of a bus crash. We knew going into it that there was going to be some serious weather, but I really did not grasp the extent of it. It literally snowed about the whole time there. The sun came out for a few minutes at lunch the first day, and that was about it. Telluride is still one of my favorite places – picturesque town, beautiful view, great ski runs. There are not any chains restaurants in the area and you will never find a Starbucks. Still – the road getting there can be alittle scary. We first went as a large group to the Brown Dog to eat once we got in Thursday – I think there were 30 or so friends of friends on the trip. For the rest of the trip though, we went off into smaller groups. I mostly skied with the girls again. Skiing this trip was like nothing I have ever done. Telluride got two feet of snow between Saturday and Sunday. The first day skiing was good, but I took it easy. Saturday I started to feel the powder effect. While fun, it takes more energy than I knew! By Sunday the powder was deep, and with being hit by snow all day took its toll. I was so exhausted by the end of the day!

The way home though was not ideal, and turned into tragedy for one bus. We left at 3 again, but with Lizard Head pass closed due to avalanches apparently the decision was made to take another route through Utah that added on several hours of drive time. I was so nervous the whole trip, worried about the ice, snow, or the bus driver falling asleep. Outside of Monticello our bus got stuck and started to slide. Another bus came up behind us to help put on chains, but they promptly broke. We were on a slight hill, which was likely making it hard for the bus to get traction. While we were waiting a car came over the hill in the other direction and hit the bus behind us. It missed us, apparently could not stop because of the ice. The car spun out but the driver was ok. Eventually, help came to us and put down salt on the road. Luckily, our bus kept going safely and we got in this morning at 4:30am. It snowed or rained all the way back. I did not know then that another bus had overturned, only finding out this morning. My heart goes out to those that were injured and killed on that bus. The conditions were horrible for driving.