We reserve the right to cancel, reschedule, or make changes in the trip itinerary as a result of weather or safety considerations or as otherwise deemed necessary or advisable. If your trip is cancelled or rescheduled due to weather, snow, or mountain conditions, or circumstances beyond our control, you will receive a full credit for a future trip. All trip credits may be applied to any trip in the SKI BUMS future. There is no expiration date.

SKI BUMS is not responsible for the cost of any additional expenses that you may incur as a result of trip rescheduling or cancellation (airline ticketing fees, etc.).

To use a credit for a future deposit or payment, please
contact us directly.
Buy travel insurance. We cannot stress this enough.

A travel insurer can provide a refund even when SKI BUMS cannot. In the circumstance that you need to cancel your trip because of work or health reasons, you should purchase travel insurance within 30 days of your initial trip deposit.

Even if you purchase travel insurance after this date, some coverage is much better than no coverage at all. Our cancellation policy is strict, and after cancellation fees kick in, a travel insurer may be your only chance for a full refund.

There are many travel insurers, and policies are very affordable. We especially recommend
travelinsured.com, and suggest you add the sports package to cover skiing & snowboarding activity.
You may pay with any major credit card, cash or check.

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If you would ever like to use PayPal to send a manual payment (from a smartphone, for example), our account address is: payments (at) ski-bums.org.


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The Hotel Telluride is an upscale property with everything you'd want in a rustic, charming home-away-from-home. When we stayed here in 2012, it easily won us over with its helpful, friendly staff, plush and comfortable rooms, delicious hot breakfast buffet, great Wifi and fantastic outdoor hot tubs. It's no wonder it's got so many fans! Read the reviews >

The hotel is located right in the historic town of Telluride (see "Get your bearings," below), which makes it easy to walk around town to enjoy its quirky cafes, fun-loving bars, delicious restaurants and unique shops. It's about a five minute walk to the lifts; the hotel also offers a complimentary shuttle service if you'd rather rest your feet at the end of the day.
Your trip includes a 3-out-of-4 day lift ticket for Telluride Ski Resort.

Note: If you or your travel partner do not ski or snowboard, we can remove the lift tickets from our package; contact us to make arrangements. (See "non-skiers," below.)
Daily breakfasts and two dinners are included our trip price, and they're a big part of our social element in Telluride. The Hotel Telluride features a tasty hot breakfast buffet -- an easy way to coordinate your mornings with the other BUMS. On Thursday and Saturday, we'll have pre-paid dinners at two of the best restaurants in town: 221 South Oak and Rev. We can easily accommodate guests with special dietary needs. Wednesday and Friday's dinners are up to you -- feel free to make plans with new friends, or take a night to chill out at the hotel.

As always, we'll name a meeting spot for lunch and après-ski each day. If the weather's nice, you can guarantee we'll be dining outside to enjoy the Gorrano Ranch's sun-drenched deck!
We are happy to arrange roommates for you. Typically, half of our participants ask us to match them up with a roommate. We'll ask a few easy questions and accommodate your preferences.

If you prefer your own room, you may sign up for the trip in a single occupancy category.
Please note: there are a very limited number of single occupancy slots available.
About a third of our participants rent skis or snowboards -- in part to avoid traveling with extra bags. Rentals are not included in our trip price; you should budget about $125 for a 3-day rental. We recommend Telluride Sports, located just beside the lifts. For a discount, contact them a few weeks before our arrival, tell them you're staying at the Hotel Telluride so you get the right pickup location, and tell them SKI BUMS sent you.
SKI BUMS designs our season for all levels of skiers and snowboarders, but we make specific recommendations for each trip. On ALL SKI BUMS trips, we begin by dividing into skill level groups so you can identify those who enjoy the same terrain that you do. See how our groups work >

Beginners: Out of all our 2014 Western trips, this is the one we recommend most highly for beginners. There are gorgeous green circle slopes here, and the whole atmosphere of Telluride is wonderfully friendly towards those who are learning to ski and ride. The ski school is excellent. If you've got questions or could use some extra assistance while signing up, please contact us.

Intermediate: Really fun mountain. That's what you'll think. A big broad 36% of the terrain here is marked with a blue square, and even if you venture into steeper territory, it's hard to really get into trouble here. From every chair lift, there's always an easier way down; the distribution of runs makes it easy to mix it up with those who ski and ride more aggressively than you do. The views here are truly breathtaking, and even intermediates can ski and ride at the highest altitudes. We expect that about half of our trip participants for this trip will be intermediate skiers and riders.

Advanced: Telluride's black diamond runs aren't messing around. With a clear nod toward the advanced skiers and riders who want to feel those quads burning, Telluride keeps some of its steepest terrain perennially ungroomed, which makes for fantastic powder days and very challenging bump runs. The massive expanse of Revelation Bowl invites the intrepid skiers and riders who enjoy choosing their own lines. This is a fantastic resort for high-level skiers and riders, and when you're ready to chill out, the wide open groomers are a great way to relax.

Expert: Telluride doesn't mark any of its terrain with a double black diamond, but neither does Alta -- these are the purists who believe that a single black diamond really does mean "most difficult." Don't let it fool you. The Gold Hill Chutes hit 45° pitches, and a hike up Palmyra Peak will give you access to some of North America's highest, most extreme runs. As USA Today says, "The trail map gods at Telluride make a distinction between merely "expert" black diamonds and "extreme" terrain, and they mean it." On most of our trips, we have four or five BUMS who are ready to tackle the toughest parts of the mountain, and we expect the same for this year's adventure in Telluride.

SKI BUMS is coordinating a combined trip for those who would like to follow-up this trip with our adventure in Vail. You can add the Vail trip at a later date, provided space is available.

Aside from this combined trip,
SKI BUMS cannot assist with trip extensions, and we cannot provide roommates for those who are booking additional nights on their own. We do encourage you to coordinate with other trip participants, and our Facebook page is the most enjoyable way to do so.

If you routinely experience altitude sickness when traveling to higher altitudes, we recommend arriving in Telluride a day or two early to give your body time to adjust.
Contact us with questions.
Air transportation is not included. Read these recommendations closely before buying airfare. We do NOT recommend flying directly into / out of Telluride Airport.

Montrose (MTJ) is the airport we recommend for this trip, NOT Telluride (TEX). Here's why: during the winter months, delays and cancellations into Telluride airport are very common. If a snow storm arrives during our stay, you could end up completely missing the trip or facing a 7+ hour drive from Denver. Although Montrose is a 2 hour drive from Telluride, it's hands down the smartest choice.

If you are combining this trip with our trip to VAIL (March 8 - 13), see below for specific recommendations.

PLANNING YOUR AIR TRAVEL

You'll want to be smart about buying your airfare, keeping our itinerary and potential winter weather delays in mind. Many winter flights haven't been scheduled yet; we recommend waiting until late October to purchase your flight. View the flight schedule to / from Montrose >

RECOMMENDATIONS | ARRIVAL: to make sure you don't miss our meet & greet, please plan to arrive in Montrose by 2 PM. It's about a 2-hour transfer time from Montrose to Telluride, and ideally, you'll want to give yourself some time to explore Telluride, eat dinner, pick up rentals, etc. before our 8 PM gathering. | DEPARTURE: Sunday is a travel day; book your flight at whatever time seems best for you, but keep this in mind: ground transfers usually pick up at our hotel about 4 hours before your flight time. In Telluride, an early departure makes for a very early alarm clock.

You may find that airfares are more affordable if you return on Monday;
connect with the other BUMS on Facebook if you'd like to coordinate travel with others. See "Trip Extensions," below.
+ Wed Mar 4: Travel day; aim to land in Montrose by 3 PM. 8 PM meet & greet at our hotel.

+ Mar 5 to 7: Ski and ride Telluride (three days)

+ Sun Mar 8: Travel day; depart for home (or transfer to
Vail aboard a complimentary shuttle)
It's about a 2 hour drive from Montrose to Telluride, depending on the weather. About 3 weeks before the trip, contact Mountain Limo to arrange your ground transfer and tell them SKI BUMS sent you. You should budget about $90 for a round-trip transfer.
Telluride Ski Resort is unquestionably one of North America's greatest; Condé Nast Traveler calls it the best ski resort in the USA: "the most beautiful mountain town in Colorado with views reminiscent of the Alps. (We) love its no-line lifts, the steep terrain, and the overall laid-back vibe. Absolutely the world's greatest ski area when it comes to variety of difficulty." The BUMS heartily agree. This will be our third trip here, and we can't wait to return.

The breadth of the terrain truly is remarkable here; from the most basic beginners to the most adrenaline-junkie experts, everyone can have
a great time on these mountains. There are over two thousand skiable acres, offering up massive powder bowls, tree-lined roller coasters, wide open groomers and Plinko-game glades. And, because it sits at such a high altitude, the snow preservation stays excellent well into the spring. (See "weather history," below)

This is one of the trips that we especially recommend for those who don't ski or ride. There are oodles and oodles of fun things to do here, and the mountain atmosphere makes the whole town an enjoyable getaway. If you or your partner do not ski or ride, simply contact us for a $260 discount, and we'll remove the lift tickets from your package.
Who's coming on the trip? Find out by joining our special Telluride Facebook Group.

Whether you're simply curious about signing up or you're already on board, everyone's welcome to join our Facebook group. Feel free to invite friends, too -- it's a cool way to begin learning names of the skiers and boarders who you'll meet in the mountains!

Request to join the Telluride Facebook group >

Of course, weather is impossible to predict, but SKI BUMS plans our trips with an eye on weather history. Historically, Telluride's snowiest period is in March, and the snow storms generally continue well into April. Telluride's altitude is one of Colorado's highest -- with a top elevation of 13,150' -- which helps the snow stay soft and frozen well into the spring. The first week of March is a perfect time to visit Telluride.
Our trip leaders design an itinerary that gives you the best way to explore the terrain and get to know your fellow BUMS. It's published in a printed handout and updated on a devoted Twitter feed, with up-to-the-minute announcements you can receive on your cell phone.

The on-mountain adventure begins bright and early on Thursday. We divide into skill level groups that help you identify the other skiers and snowboarders who enjoy the same terrain that you do, and then we divide and conquer the mountain!
Learn about our skill level groups. >

Each day, the itinerary will name a meet up time and place each morning to get things started. We gather as a big group for lunch, and toast to the end of each day with après-ski... before hitting the hotel's outdoor hot tubs!

In general, you'll spend most of the day in a smallish group of four or five skiers or boarders. You and your group will set your own pace, and it's common to mix it up with a few different groups throughout the week. This is your vacation, so you're always free to break away and do your own thing.

For two of our evenings, we'll dine together at some of the areas best restaurants, including
221 South Oak, one of our favorite restaurants in any ski town. Friday night is free for you to enjoy as you like -- you may want to head out on the town with your new friends, or take a night to chill out with room service in our hotel. The BUMS who take our trips to Telluride are here to ski and board, first and foremost -- and after a hard-charging day on the mountain, you'll sink into our plush hotel beds for a very good night's sleep!

Saturday night is our night to stay out and celebrate; we'll celebrate with a delicious dinner at
Rev, then head out to one our favorite bars in downtown Telluride to toast the end of a fantastic vacation!

Learn more about how SKI BUMS trips work >


Our rooms in Telluride are guaranteed after 4 PM on Wednesday, March 4th. If you arrive earlier, the hotel can store your bags until your room is ready.

After checking in, you'll want to explore Telluride, get some grub, get acquainted and pick up any rental ski / snowboard equipment. There's convenient ski and snowboard storage inside the hotel.
Our trip officially begins with a meet & greet welcome reception at the Hotel Telluride at 8 PM. You don't want to miss this; our trip leaders will hold a brief welcome and info session, and you'll receive your lift tickets, SKI BUMS member tags and the official trip itinerary.
Cars aren't necessary while we're in Telluride. Nearly everything is within an enjoyable walking distance, and the hotel offers a complimentary shuttle for rides to and from the gondola. Walking through the charming town of Telluride is one of the coolest parts of a trip here.

Private taxis are plentiful if you'd ever like a ride, and the area offers a public bus service as well. See "ground transportation" below for information about getting here from the airport.

Colorado is a huge state. It's got more than two dozen ski resorts. But there are a few things about Telluride that make it stand out.

For starters, the
scenery. Ski Magazine ranks it the most scenic ski resort in North America. The peaks of the San Juan mountains climb more than 12,000 feet into the air, stretching out in every direction. As you weave between bountiful fir trees and jot around craggy cliffs, you get that undeniable feeling of awe that comes from the most picturesque national parks. The peak of Mt. Wilson inspires famous logos.

But aside from is spectacular terrain, this
historic mining town is one of West's coolest, most progressive year-round mountain destinations, with its own world-famous wine, jazz and film festivals. Spend a few days here and you'll feel like a local -- and you might never want to leave.

Space on this trip is limited, and it is now SOLD OUT.

Add your name to the Wait List for Telluride >
Wednesday, March 4 to Sunday, March 8, 2022
3 -- Thursday, Friday and Saturday
Village -- 5 minute walk to lifts (or free hotel shuttle)
Recommended for all skill levels
Combine this with our trip to Vail (Mar 8 - 13)
This trip has a minimum of 20 participants and a maximum of 50 participants. If we fail to meet our minimum number of registered participants by 100 days before the trip, the trip may be cancelled. In that event, those who have signed up for the trip will receive a full refund. Update, November 2014: we have met our minimum.

+ Three day lift ticket for Telluride
+ Daily breakfasts
+ Two delicious pre-paid dinners
+ Four night stay at the Hotel Telluride
+ Welcome reception & party
+ Optional: ground transfer to
Vail (for combined trip)
+ SKI BUMS professional trip leaders
+ Air transportation
+ Ground transportation
+ Ski and snowboard equipment rental
+ Lunches, drinks at our dinners
+ Travel insurance
(very highly recommended)
Here a few quick steps to help you prepare for our trip!

GET OUT THERE | This trip is at the peak of peak season; it might be tough to make it through three days of skiing and riding if you haven't been out on the slopes yet. Be sure to get in some days earlier in the winter.

PLAN FOR HIGH ALTITUDE
| Telluride is one of the highest ski resorts in the world; the elevation of the town (8,750' / 2667m) is higher than the peaks of many ski resorts. Start hydrating a few days before traveling and plan to rest and hydrate even more upon arrival. You may want to consider a regimen of ibuprofen or diamox before travel.

Learn more about Acute Mountain Sickness >

PLAN TO DRESS FOR THE ELEMENTS
| It's crucial that you're properly dressed for the conditions. All Telluride participants must wear helmets. For additional tips on how to dress for high-altitude conditions, visit our guide.

NEED NEW GEAR? | SKI BUMS members get excellent discounts at Backcountry.com. 30%-50% off!

WATCH THE WEATHER | Remember that the weather at upper altitudes is very different from what's happening down in town; be sure to follow an on-mountain forecast like this one to see what's happening up at the ski resort.
There are essentially two villages at Telluride -- one at lower altitude and one at higher altitude.

The town of
Telluride, at 8,750' altitude,  is the primary residential and commercial area. Columbia Avenue -- also known as Main Street -- is its main thoroughfare. It was settled as a mining town, which was its main industry until the ski resort opened in 1972.

The town of
Mountain Village, at 9,545' altitude, is the primary lodging and base area for Telluride Ski Resort. Although there are trails that lead directly from the slopes down to Telluride, most skiers and boarders finish their day at the Mountain Village base area, then ride the free gondola that connects the two villages.
We've designed this trip with the option to combine it with our trip to Vail, Colorado -- which begins on the day this trip ends. Although Vail and Telluride are not exactly close to one another, they are two of the very best ski resorts in the USA, and they make for a wonderfully impressive duo.

We are providing a complimentary ground transfer for those who sign up for both trips.

If you're taking both trips, we recommend booking your flights with
United Airlines; it'll give you the most flight times and schedule flexibility. It's probably best to pick up the phone and give them a call; we recommend a multi-city itinerary that follows the following pattern:

+
Weds, Mar 4: Fly into Montrose (MTJ)
+
Sun, Mar 8: Take a ground transfer for a 4.5 hour drive from Telluride to Vail. We'll help coordinate this complimentary transfer for all who take the combined trip.
+
Fri, Mar 13: Fly out of Vail Eagle (EGE) to your destination

See our
Vail flight information section for more recommendations; if you can avoid the drive from Vail to Denver, you'll be glad you avoided the notoriously horrible traffic along the I-70 corridor.

$1299 USD per person, for double occupancy room

-- or --

$1699 USD per person, for a single occupancy
You have two options. You may pay in full, or you may pay $500 deposit at signup, with:

$799 balance due 7 days after signup


Make a balance payment >

Those who are also signing up for Vail may pay for both trips at one time, or pay in separate transactions. Each trip is priced separately, and you may choose different occupancy types for each.

Late payments are subject to a 5% late-payment fee. It is up to you to submit your payments on time. You may always pay early.
$1299 per person
Through September 1, you may cancel your spot at any time and receive a full refund. After September 1, the following cancellation fees apply:

For cancellations received from September 1 - 30, $200 fee. For cancellations received from October 1 - December 31, $500 fee. After January 1st, 2014: no refund.

In order to obtain our bulk group discounts, we must agree to a very strict cancellation policy. It's the nature of group travel. Think of your SKI BUMS booking as you would an airline reservation; even we find someone to take your place,
the cancellation fees still apply.

If you buy travel insurance, you can still receive a refund for a cancelled SKI BUMS trip.

View the full SKI BUMS cancellation policy or submit your cancellation >
Space is limited, and this trip is now SOLD OUT.

Anyone registered SKI BUMS may join our wait list. There's no obligation, but only those who are currently registered members will receive an offer.

Sign up or renew your membership >

If a space becomes available, we notify you on a first-come, first-served basis. You'll be given a window of time to accept or decline the offer. If you choose to accept the spot, payment is required at the time of signup.

Please do not contact us to ask us your likelihood of receiving a wait list offer; we can't predict when cancellations will come in.