Telluride Backcountry Skiing with AMGA Guides in the San Juans

Telluride•challenging

Difficulty

challenging

Duration

6–8 hours

Fitness Level

Strong aerobic base recommended; able to skin 2,000–3,500 vertical feet at altitude and ski variable snow confidently.

Overview

Slide beyond the lifts into the steep, volcanic folds of the San Juans with an AMGA-certified guide. Powder glades, alpine bowls, and real-time snowpack decisions create a day that’s equal parts education and exhilaration.

Telluride Backcountry Skiing with AMGA Guides in the San Juans

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Date

Thu, Oct 30

Travelers

Dawn slides across the San Juan Mountains and the snow answers, whispering under skins as the slope tilts toward the sky. In the hush above Telluride, spruce hold their breath and the wind tests the ridgeline, shouldering past cornices and curling spindrift like smoke. An AMGA-certified guide checks the snowpack—layers talk in clean shears and grainy breaks—before pointing to a shaded bowl that waits like a promise. The day begins with simple rhythm: glide, plant, breathe. The mountain sets the pace and you follow.

Adventure Photos

Telluride Backcountry Skiing with AMGA Guides in the San Juans photo 1

Adventure Tips

Start early for colder snow

Begin at first light to take advantage of firm skin tracks and safer, colder surfaces on solar aspects.

Hydrate at altitude

At 8,700–12,500 feet, dehydration sneaks up fast—aim for 2–3 liters plus electrolytes.

Be beacon-ready

Know how to turn on, check, and wear your transceiver; practice a quick signal search before you tour.

Dial your transitions

Keep gloves on, skins organized, and layers managed to save time and stay warm at windy ridgelines.

Local Insights

Wildlife

American marten weaving through spruce
Wintering elk moving at dawn or dusk near valley floors

History

Telluride’s mining era built many of today’s access routes, and the nearby 1891 Ames Hydroelectric Plant delivered the world’s first long-distance AC power.

Conservation

Winter is a hard season for wildlife—give elk and deer wide space and avoid lingering near known winter range. Travel lightly, pack out everything, and stick to established parking to prevent road damage.