My wife and I joined some Telluride friends and scaled Mount Sneffels last week.  Sneffels is a 14,000+ foot peak that sits in the range between Telluride and Ridgway.  I will confess, we drove the lion's share of the climb, but the ascent to the summit from the parking lot is steep and challenging.  After a massive boulder field gains you a broad ridge at 13,500, you must make a left turn and climb up a narrow, slippery couloir to reach the summit.  The views are unrivaled from the very small summit.  Check out the photo - where the 4 of us stood left very little room for anyone else.  Sneffles would be considered one of the more easier 14'ers to climb, but that does not take away from the experience.  I highly recommend the hike to anyone who is not afraid of heights and is already acclimated to the elevation.

 

The 15th annual Telluride Blues & Brews Festival did not disappoint!  Not only were the crowds blessed with picture perfect weather for the entire 3 days, but the lineup from top to bottom was one of the best on record.  A few small, fluffy clouds rolled through on Sunday afternoon, but other than that it was nothing but blue skies and sunshine.  The show on Friday began raucously, with Mama’s Cookin and Back Door Slam setting the tone.  Speaking of Back Door Slam, keep an eye and an ear out for these three.  None of the members of this hard rocking 3-piece band appear to be older than a college freshman, but the sounds they produce and the energy they created in the crowd mark them as seasoned performers.  Raised on the Isle of Man, this band is ready for the world stage.  Joan Osborne and John Hiatt were the final two performers on Friday, giving the audience a pair of charismatic and professional performances.
 
Saturday saw the Grand Beer Tasting, once again under deep blue skies.  I don’t know what to say…if you like beer you might have a good time at this festival.  All of the brews are handcrafted and all of the brewers love to visit Telluride – a perfect combination.  John Butler was amazing, G Love had the crowd in the palm of his hand, and Government Mule demonstrated why they are one of the most popular bands on the road today.  Warren Haynes took the crowd on a journey that included arena-style jams, improvisational interludes that included guitars, organs, drums and saxophones, as well as a prolonged visit from Susan Tedeschi that many in the crowd agreed was the highlight of the weekend.
 
Sunday began slowly enough with the gospel inspired sounds of The Blind Boys of Alabama.  Solid blues performances from Chris Thomas King and The Derek Trucks Band highlighted the afternoon, while the legendary Etta James closed out the weekend with a show that could only be described as magical.
 
If you have never been to Telluride for the Blues & Brews Festival you need to get your priorities straight.  In the festival capital of the world that is Telluride, this one reigns supreme.  Cheers!

The Telluride Blues & Brews Festival is this weekend, marking not only the end of the 2008 summer season but also signifying one of the best parties the town sees all year long.  The whole weekend guarantees to be a foot stompin’ good time, but Saturday will be a tough day to beat.  Not only does the Grand Tasting occur at noon that day – featuring over 50 microbreweries from Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and beyond – but the musical lineup is the strongest of the festival.  The John Butler Trio plays that afternoon, G Love & Special Sauce come on that evening, and headliners Government Mule featuring Warren Haynes close out the night.  Those three alone are worth the price of admission.  Visit the following link for more information about the festival and the line-up.  See you there! Tellurideblues.com