To assist you in choosing the perfect one, this list of 3 ski towns in Colorado was compiled just for you.
TELLURIDE
Seated in a box canyon, Telluride certainly has come far from being a small, mining town to the wonderful spot that it is today. These days, Telluride is anything but a mining town, as evident by the accolade of it being named #1 Ski Resort in North America by the Condé Nast Readers’ Choice Awards. But what exactly makes Telluride, well, Telluride?
Before the 70s, mining used to be the only industry the town was profiting from. In fact, the town is named after the gold telluride minerals one can find all over Colorado, but not in Telluride itself. In 1972, Joseph T. Zoline installed the first ski lift and a whole new profitable industry was born. Telluride has ski trails that begin at 8,750 feet and if you want something a little higher, they also have trails up at 13,320 feet. Of course, you don’t exactly have to hike all the way up as there are lifts that can bring you up to 12,570 feet. These extremely elevated slopes are the ideal choice for any advanced skiing enthusiasts, especially since they are located on some of the steepest mountains in the state.
Of course, to make a town a favourite among many needs more than just slopes. You may want to simply take a stroll to see the mark mining has made on the town such as the historical buildings that may have witnessed a crime or two (in fact, Butch Cassidy’s first robbery was made in Telluride), or you might see a mining shack with equipment still inside. There’s also several good restaurants in the area and you might also want to take the gondola to the nearby town of Mountain Village. Take advantage of this gondola ride to look around and see the wonderful view you might not get anywhere else. Truly, Telluride deserves to be on anyone’s list of top ski towns.
VAIL
If there’s one town that’s really for skiing, it has to be Vail. Since its founding in the 60s, it seems like all plans lead to creating the gorgeous ski town that we know today as it was crated intentionally to be the base of Vail Ski Resort. This may also probably why it is the first town someone will mention if you ask them to name you ski towns in Colorado. And why not? After all, it is the biggest ski town in the state.
Before its founding, Vail was like any other town in Colorado—a mining town; however, the mineral resources soon ran out and the town’s grounds became grazing and sheep farming land. It wasn’t until three World War II veterans came back to the town they trained at during the war and decided to develop it into the mountain ski community they envisioned. When a uranium prospector joined the group in 1954, the plans then began to unfold. Construction started in 1962 and by 1966, the vision was complete. When Gerard Ford became president, spotlight was turned to Vail as he owned a residence in the town. Soon it became the ski town on every skier’s lips, something that has not changed until today. Beaver Creek combined with Vail, and now you have 343 trails and 7,121 acres available for your perusal. The best part about Vail is, there’s a trail for everybody. Whether you’re a child, a beginning adult or an expert you are sure to find what you need.
When you are not skiing, why not check out the town? What makes it stand out is unlike other Colorado towns, the architecture is reminiscent of an Austrian village. Gourmet food trucks pepper the town, ensuring your stomach will never be empty. And since it is winter, you just might want to take advantage of the weather and go on a sleigh ride or go ice skating with your family and friends.
ASPEN
If you want high end, then Aspen is the ideal town for you. Over the past few decades, it has become the hideaway for many known personalities and some have even made it their home, like singer John Denver, who even wrote a couple of songs about the town. If you want something in a ski town, Aspen probably has it.
Silver was what the miners had in mind when they first came to Aspen in 1879. The silver boom happened in 1891-92, when Aspen became the United States' leading silver mining district. Unfortunately, the same year that the town developed was the year that many turned away from the city due to then president Cleveland's repeal of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act. Nearly forty years later, the town was a mere shell of what it once was. Just like Telluride, a World War II veteran by the name of Walter Paepcke returned to the town with visions developing it into a resort. In 1946, the Aspen Skiing Corporation was founded and the town grew into the bustling, busy place it is at present.
The longest run in Aspen on Aspen Mountain is 5 kilometers, with eight lifts than can transport 10,755 people an hour. Beginner skiers better not try the trails on this mountain as it is recommended only for well experienced skiers, with at least 25% for experts.
Any winter sports enthusiast will delight in discovering the Winter X Games have been held in Aspen since its first year and will be done so until 2019. Sports included in the competition are skiing and snowboarding. For any art aficionado, the Aspen Art Museum is at your disposal. If you have any young tots, you may want to bring them to the hallam Lake-Aspen Center for Environmental Studies so as to educate them on how to care for the environment. As for food, there’s more than enough for you to choose from as the restaurants in Aspen number more than 80.
Skiing will always be best in Colorado, so this winter, get in that plane and head over to one of these towns for the best ski of your life.
*This is a guest post by Seb from http://aspiringbackpacker.com*
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