The core dispute centers on hourly pay. The union has asked that the starting rate rise from $21 to $28, while patrollers with more than three decades of experience would see their wages climb from the present $30–$36 range to $39–$48.60. Union representatives argue the requested scale reflects both the high cost of living in resort towns and the technical demands of the job. Management has not made public its most recent financial offer.
Telluride’s patrollers perform a broad array of safety duties, including treatment of injured guests and the early-morning detonations needed to trigger controlled avalanches before skiers enter steep terrain. Colorado law requires qualified patrollers to be on the mountain whenever lifts operate, leaving resort executives with few immediate options other than suspension of activities during a strike.
The shutdown comes at a challenging moment for the resort. Unusually mild early-season temperatures have limited available terrain, allowing only 20 of 149 trails to open so far. The impending closure further complicates holiday-period planning for visitors and local businesses that rely on peak-season tourism. Horning warned that the economic impact of closing, even briefly, could ripple through the community during what is typically a high-revenue week.
Labor organizing among ski patrollers has expanded in recent years throughout the Intermountain West. A notable example occurred last winter when a nearly two-week strike at Utah’s Park City Mountain Resort resulted in longer lift lines and several closed runs. That dispute ended after the resort’s operator, Vail Resorts, agreed to a $2 per hour base-pay increase and additional raises for senior patrollers.
While compensation packages vary among resorts, national data show average hourly earnings for recreational protective-service workers, a category that includes ski patrollers, remain below many other public-safety roles. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, median wages for similar positions nationwide were $15.37 in 2024, underscoring the wage gap cited by Telluride’s union in its negotiations.
It remains uncertain how long Telluride Ski Resort will stay closed if the strike persists past the weekend. Both sides have said they are open to continuing dialogue, yet neither has indicated a specific date for returning to the bargaining table. Guests with reservations are being advised to monitor official resort communications for updates on operating status and refund policies.
Telluride, situated in southwest Colorado’s San Juan Mountains, attracts skiers from around the world with its steep pitches and historic mining-town ambiance. The resort’s winter season ordinarily runs from late November through early April, drawing an important share of the region’s tourism revenue and seasonal employment.
Local hotels, restaurants and gear-rental shops are preparing for potential revenue losses if ski operations remain suspended through the holiday period. Municipal officials have not yet projected the economic consequences but acknowledge that visitor numbers could drop sharply should the shutdown extend beyond a few days.
As Saturday approaches, the immediate future of Telluride’s winter operations hinges on an agreement that reconciles the union’s wage demands with management’s financial parameters. Until that compromise is reached or alternative staffing arrangements are secured, the lifts in one of Colorado’s marquee resorts will stay idle.
Crédito da imagem: Associated Press
