Sep 30

The Grand Finale: Telluride Trek Days 8 and 9

September 29, 2006
Day 8 (Our final night)

Telluride, CO Elevation: 8750 ft.

That’s our friend and guest, Michael Woloch. He’s sad because it’s the last night of the tour.

Many people, who have traveled with us before, are familiar with one of our signature tours, the Tour du Mont Blanc. The Mont Blanc tour begins in Chamonix, France, passes through Italy and Switzerland, and then returns to Chamonix. The final day follows a very classic trail called the Grand Balcon Sud. Hikers enjoy eye-popping views of enormous, snow-covered peaks to the south as they gradually descend toward Chamonix, and their farewell dinner in France.

In a way, Telluride offers its own version of the Grand Balcon Sud. The town sits at the end of a box canyon and is therefore surrounded by gorgeous peaks and waterfalls, including Bridal Veil Falls, the longest free-falling waterfall in the United States. Most trails begin immediately from town and our hikers today, enjoyed dry mountain paths with splendid views of the surrounding landscape. Everybody captured photos of snow-covered mountaintops, golden aspen groves and miniature Victorian homes. Of course, some people might wonder how a Colorado town like Telluride could ever match the atmosphere of a French town like Chamonix. Well, we did it by ending the tour with a farewell dinner, in a cozy little French restaurant, in a quiet part of town.

As the champagne began to flow and the laughter ensued, I couldn’t help but to feel a little sad. These trips go by quickly and tomorrow it’s over. For tonight though, we’ll try to squeeze every last drop out of a truly delightful vacation.

To learn more about our tours and adventures please drop us a line. You can visit the Ryder-Walker website or give us a call: 888.586.8365 or 970.728.6481. A bientôt!

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