If you thought the steeps were the only thing gnarly at Telluride right now, take a look at the lift lines—or rather, the lack thereof. We are entering week two of the Telluride Professional Ski Patrol Association (TPSPA) strike, and things are getting ugly.
After shutting down completely when the strike dropped on December 27, 2025, Telluride Ski and Golf (Telski) decided to pull a "grand reopening" on January 5. The catch? They’ve opened less than 2% of the mountain. We’re talking Lift 1, the Children’s learning center, and the Meadows magic carpets.
The "Temporary" Solution
Here is where it gets sketchy. The resort is operating this sliver of terrain using "temporary patrollers."
Let’s be real for a second. Telluride scores a 72.9/100 on ShredIndex largely because of its aggressive, high-consequence terrain. The San Juan Mountains have arguably the most volatile, complex snowpack in the Lower 48. We're talking persistent weak layers, depth hoar, and avalanche paths that don't care about your corporate timeline.
You don't just fly in a crew of temps and expect them to understand the historical slide paths of Palmyra Peak or the intricacies of Gold Hill. That knowledge is earned over years of throwing bombs and skiing choss. Trying to run this mountain without its veteran crew isn't just an insult to the profession; it's a safety gamble I wouldn't take.
The Standoff
The union isn't asking for the moon. They want a wage that actually allows them to live in the town they protect. They proposed a bump in starting pay from $21 to $28 an hour, with a median rate hike to $34.
Telski's response? According to the union, the latest offer was a shell game. The TPSPA stated the resort "did not bring more money to the table, they just moved it around." That’s corporate speak for "take a pay cut elsewhere if you want a raise here."
As the Telluride Professional Ski Patrol Association posted regarding the stagnant negotiations:
https://www.instagram.com/p/C1r2-12L6-h/
Why This Matters
This isn't just about one resort. It's about the viability of patrolling as a career. These are the people who scrape you off the snow when you blow an ACL or dig you out when a tree well eats you. If they can't afford rent, you don't have a safety net. Period.
The community knows this. The TPSPA GoFundMe has already smashed past $149,000. Even big mountain icons like Caroline Gleich are weighing in.
The Bottom Line
Right now, Telluride is a ghost town for serious skiing. Local businesses are taking a hit, with lodging bookings down. If you are looking to find accommodation for a future trip, maybe check the strike status first.
Until Telski pays up and brings the real pros back to the mountain, you’re better off earning your turns in the backcountry—assuming you have the education to stay alive without a patrol team watching your back.
Support the patrol. Respect the mountain.
Source: Powder Magazine
