Telluride, Colorado began its existence as a mining town in 1875 or thereabouts, nearly 50 years after gold was found due to its inaccessibility. The first road into town wasn't built until 1881. While there are three ways into town and two out, only one is for standard vehicles; one of the two 4WD roads is only passable one way due to steepness.

The second oldest hydro powerplant in the USA is at the head of the box canyon above Bridal Veil Falls. The family who lives there and owns it must use an aerial tramway to get home! Due to time constraints we didn't get up there.

The most prominent feature of the town is the gondola lift; it is free and only closed for maintenance a few months of the year. We got there shortly before shutdown. The developer's dream town of Mountain Village lies over the ski slope and they pay for keeping the gondola running, otherwise tourists would never visit the shops and restaurants there.

Here is a bonus attraction: a video taken as we bounce over the trolleys on a pylon! Taking a video through a dirty window, into the sun on a bouncing gondola doesn't make it very professional looking. I lost my balance as the gondola shook!