Those who have been around for more than half a dozen years surely remember seeing Nordic enthusiasts breaking a sweat on the Valley Floor. The flat, mellow and wide open parcel used to be a haven for cross-country skiers, but six years ago, as condemnation activities began getting heated, they were told, “no more.” This winter, however, ski days on the Valley Floor shall return as the Telluride Nordic Association has worked out an agreement with the town of Telluride and Telluride Open Space Commission.
“It’s a really good proposal,” said Commission member Linda Miller. “It’s pretty much exactly how it was before we got closed down.”
Under the approved plan, seven to 10 miles of tracks will be groomed daily by TNA, with two trailheads—one at Highway 145 and Boomerang Road, the other just off Mahoney Drive, near the RV lot. Connector trails will lead to Mountain Village via Boomerang Road, and link the Mahoney trailhead to other trail areas via the raised railroad grade.
Everyone is well aware that this agreement is only temporary as this spring the Colorado Supreme Court will decide whether Telluride may use the powers of eminent domain to take the Valley Floor from current owners, San Miguel Valley Corporation. Nordic skiers, as well as bikers, hikers, kayakers and paragliders have been able to use the property under a court-approved use agreement since May 2007, when Telluride came up with the necessary $50 million to purchase the land.
“It was always a really great, groomed track,” said Commission member Nancy Craft. “We’ve really missed it.”
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