TELLURIDE – Few things kindle the flame of skiers’ souls more deeply than the prospect of snow in the forecast. But Telluride Ski and Golf Company CEO Dave Riley has found another way to fan those fires: Once again, he’s promising more powder to the people, delivered in the form of more new terrain to open this winter. Gold Hill 1, whose expansive upper slopes funnel into a chute that sits to the skier’s left of Andy’s Gold, has officially been put on the 2008-09 Telluride Ski Area map.

Furthermore, the Telluride Ski Area may take another step forward this winter by exploring the possible expansion of its boundary into Bear Creek. Telski has filed a formal proposal with the U.S. Forest Service, asking for permitting that would allow the resort’s ski patrol to embark upon an extensive avalanche study program in Bear Creek this winter.

In a meeting with San Miguel County Commissioners last week, Riley explained why he is pursuing the possible boundary expansion, noting that the new Revelation Lift, opening this winter, will bring skiers close to the Bear Creek backcountry access point.

“I’m concerned that although we have a gate and a skier’s responsibility code, this is a world where anyone can sue anyone for anything at anytime,” he said. Since the new lift will deposit skiers at the base of the Hillary Step, in essence erasing much of the hike to the access point, Riley said he anticipates a big spike in traffic into the avalanche-prone slopes of the Bear Creek backcountry this winter. That could potentially lead to a more accidents and possibly lawsuits against the ski area.

In an earlier interview with the Watch, Riley explained that he’d rather see the resort take a proactive role in keeping Bear Creek safe.

“We don’t want to get painted into a corner,” he said, noting that if the resort expanded its boundary into areas of Bear Creek, its ski patrol could perform avalanche mitigation work and, ultimately, create a safer ski environment in dangerous Bear Creek.

Expanding the ski area into upper Bear Creek is a scenario that is many years down the road, Riley admits, and hinges on community support for such a project. However, the proposal the ski company sent to the U.S. Forest Service, asking for permitting to launch an avalanche study on the oft-skied, notoriously unstable slopes of Bear Creek, could represent a first step in that direction. Details of the program have not been released, since the ski company is still waiting for a response from the Forest Service.

Gold Hill 1 to Open This Season

But Telluride skiers won’t have to wait for exciting new terrain to explore. In addition to the Revelation Bowl, opened up by the new lift, there will be Gold Hill 1, a tempting chute just beyond the far left boundary of the Andy’s Gold run, which has always held an attractive but treacherous allure for Telluride skiers.

Its wide open upper slopes, which have tempted foolhardy out-of-bounds skiers in the past, funnel into an area of rocky cliffs – where the aforementioned out-of-bounds skiers have found themselves stranded. But this fall, Telluride Ski Area crews toting lots of high explosives were able to get into Gold Hill 1’s lower cliffs and create what Riley is calling a “goat trail,” which will allow safe passage through the cliff band when Gold Hill 1 opens this season.

In addition, the ski area’s launching of its Artillery Avalanche Control program, with its recently acquired Howitzers, will allow for enhanced avalanche control of the area.

In an interview earlier this week, Riley explained that he opted to open Gold Hill 1 because of the Howitzer program and the new goat trail, but also, more simply, “because it’s there.”

Access to Gold Hill 1, from near the top of the new Revelation Lift, further encouraged Riley to open it for this season.

“We’re getting two bowls for the price of one, which really helps justify our investment in the Revelation Lift,” he said.

When skiers unload at the top of the Revelation Lift, Gold Hill 1 will now offer nearly 1,800 vertical feet of skiing, to the bottom of the Gold Hill Lift.

“It’s a real exciting thing to be able to get off at the top of the new Revelation Lift and have Gold 1 as well as Revelation Bowl,” Riley said.

In other ski area news, the Revelation Lift received clearance to open from the Colorado Tramway Board last week. Recent cold temperatures have allowed the ski area’s snowmaking crews to get to work on snowmaking in the Meadows area.

“If we continue to get these cold temperatures and snow, a Thanksgiving opening is looking pretty certain,” Riley said.