Cozy Nook Explorers
Cozy Nook Explorers
29. Telluride, Colorado
Hit the slopes with Jackie and Jon in their exploration of Telluride, Colorado. They will argue summer vs. winter, discover the origins of Butch Cassidy, and make an absolute mess of the chronological order of history.
Jackie Reilly: Host
Jon Schaller: Host
Charles: Producer
Instagram: @cozynookexplorers
Email: cozynookexplorers@gmail.com
Community Shoutout:
Angel Baskets
Mentioned In This Episode:
Telluride Tourism Website
Telluride Film Festival
The Free Box
** 1 Disneyland = 500 acres **
JACKIE: I’m Jackie
JON: And I’m Jon
JACKIE: And we are the cozy nook explorers!
JON: Welcome to our show where we explore the world from our cozy nook from a guest room in Southern CALIFORNIA using the power of the internet. And when we make a mistake that we know about we add a coin to the adventure jar!
Jackie: Yes, we’ve got the adventure jar here and it’s Wednesday which means it’s time for another exploration!
Jon: And this Wednesday we will be hitting the slopes of Telluride, Colorado.
Jackie: Or as Jon was saying earlier this week “Tell-er-ride”
Jon: Do you have you make fun of me for that slip up?
Jackie: Slip- up you said it like 9 times until I finally corrected you. Although I must admit I have a hard time saying it too.
Jon: I did because I read the name long before I heard it.
Jackie: Did you think the city was founded by a bank teller that wanted to go for a ride?
Jon: Hehehe Wow a banking themed ride sounds like the worst ride at Disneyland, “the teller ride” watch them try to open savings accounts.
Jackie: The Gringotts ride does well at Harry Potter World, but that bank has dragons. But, moving on- Telluride Colorado is where we will be going today! Virtually, of course because of the pandemic.
Jon: Virtually because of the pandemic.
Jackie: And because that is the nature of this show.
Jon: That is the nature of this show.
Jackie: Are you just repeating what I am saying?
Jon: Am I just repeating what you are saying?
Jackie: Moving on and don’t say Moving On, ok?
Jon: Ok (laugh)
Jackie: Jon what is keeping you cozy?
Jon: What is keeping me cozy?
Jackie: Nope you forfeit your turn
Jon: Ah man lost a turn
Jackie: Do not pass go do not collect 200 dollars
Jon: So what is keeping you cozy this week?
Jackie: The thing that is keeping me cozy this week is my Night Mask.
Jon: Night mask
Jackie: Yes my night mask. I have one that’s pretty intense. It goes over the ears and velcros in the back.
When did you start using a nightmask?
- A few years ago because I found that lights were sometimes waking me up and I wanted to see if it helped. It totally did and I haven’t looked back since.
Would you wear your night mask when you are traveling?
- I have many times and I will again! Earplugs too, but that’s a conversation for another day.
Jackie: So now Jon you can go, what is keeping you cozy?
Jon: What is keeping me cozy?
Jackie: Oh you are back to that nonsense well fine you don’t get a turn.
Jon: Oh man
Jackie: Fine go just go
Jon: The thing that is keeping me cozy this week is day dreaming.
Jackie: Daydreaming.
Jon: When I have a quiet moment to myself I start daydreaming because it beats reality.
- Do you have a favorite daydream?
- Do you think there are any commonalities between daydreams and night dreams?
Let’s Get into it
Jon: In the winter of 2014, a Hollywood director had a little bit of a problem. He was set to film a major motion picture in Telluride Colorado. His 9th major motion picture where he would be both Writer and Director. His problem: the plot of this film required snow. Quite a bit of snow. Like literally a blizzard. Like Crazy blizzard like a once in a century blizzard. This was a town and an area known for it’s snow. Known for skiing known for having incredible beautiful winters. Not this time this time it looked like a scene from White Christmas.
Jackie: I’m assuming you mean the beginning of White Christmas where there is no snow?
Jon: Yes
Jackie: Because you just mentioned a movie about snow to illustrate that there was no snow.
Jon: I am well aware
Jackie: Are you?
Jon: Ok it was a bad example the point is there was no snow.
Jackie: Hehehe Ok.
Jon: The director decided that he would hire the services on a shaman. A shaman who performed a sky burning ceremony in the middle of towns park. And a few short days later it happened…..there was snow.
Jackie: There was too much snow.
Jon: It was the biggest snowstorm in memory. And the director was able to finish his film and that director was Quentin Tarentino.
Jackie: And the film was the Hateful 8 and very uncozy film.
Jon: It is pretty extreme but the snow is beautiful.
Jackie: I read that Samuel L Jackson actually participated in the sky burning ceremony.
Jon: I did not, but that is pretty cool.
Jackie: Do you think the Shaman needed Samuel L Jackson’s help specifically to manifest the snow or do you think anyone would have worked?
Jon: Anyone would have worked because it was just a coincidence. Welcome to Telluride Colorado population 2,484.
Jackie: That was in 2018
Jon: I stand corrected 2,484 give or take.
Jackie: Nice recovery
Jon: The town is 1420.8 acres or roughly 3 disneylands
Jackie: With no stop lights
Jon: This place is a winter wonderland if you are going to go in any season I would highly recommend going in the winter for the skiing, the lodges, the sledding.
Jackie: I am sorry you are only recommending this place in the winter?
Jon: Well if they have to choose a season-
Jackie: In the summertime you can go Biking, hiking, camping, fishing, horseback riding...
Jon: I get it.
Jackie: rafting, offroading, rock climbing, golfing,
Jon: You have made your point
Jackie: disc golfing,
Jon: What is disc golfing?
Jackie: It’s like golf but with frisbees
Jon: That sounds amazing
Jackie: SEE!!! pinnicking, paragliding, walking tours
Jon: I think that is enough
Jackie: and via ferrata.
Jon: You would do via ferrata?
Jackie: Not in a million years but for those of you who would like that sort of thing it is there for them.
Jon: So for our listeners Via Ferrata means…
Jackie: The way of ferrata
Jon: Hehehe It means the iron road.
Jackie: I like the way of ferrata better.
Jon: There is no way you would like it at all.
Jackie: This is true because it is on the side of a cliff.
Jon: It is a trail...that moves along the side of a cliff. Where you have a guide and climbing equipment and you are strapped into a safety rope the entire time but rather than going mosty vertically you move mostly horizontally and you have a ledge the entire time.
Jackie: A tiny ledge! There is basically no ledge at all. But, the views are spectacular and I am happy to watch them from youtube.
Jon: I would do it. I am not the best rock climber in the world but I would absolutely do this because...
Jackie: You would? And you’re not the best rock climber. I’ve known you for almost a decade and you’ve NEVER rock climbs. (In disbelief)
Jon: Yes. I mean I would be scared out of my mind. But the safety harnesses would let me feel like a mountain climber without being a mountain climber.
Jackie: That’s more like it. Well if I ever want to have a nice view I will just ride the gondola.
Jon: The Gondola!
Jackie: For those who have so far been unimpressed with public transportation in cities, I would challenge you to look at Telluride.
Jon: I have seen so many views from so many types of public transportation. This wins
Jackie: You get to ride in a fully enclosed gondola so it protects you from the cold.
Jon: Which is a plus.
Jackie: It is a necessity!!!
Jon: Ok it is a necessity.
Jackie: And it runs from 7am till midnight. And it takes you to the nearby town of mountain village.
Jon: And the best part is that it is free
Jackie: No the best part is that it is enclosed
Jon: Well I think we can agree on the view
Jackie: We can, and not only do you get to see the natural beauty you get to see the town of Telluride from above and that it is inside of a box canyon.
Jon: The town is located in said Box canyon and not a chain store insight.
Jackie: No chain stores for this town
Jon: And as I understand it they like it that way.
Jackie: I think it adds far more than it takes away.
Jon: I especially like the Nugget building.
Jackie: I like that it is called the Nugget building. I like anything called “nugget”- it’s a good dog name too.
Jon: And props to the people who raised the money to restore the building.
Jackie: That’s one of the things that struck me so profoundly about this place was the sense of community.
Jon: They got a place called Free Box.
Jackie: Oh yay! I love the free box! Let’s take a quick break and talk about that when we get back.
Jon: See you soon.
Ad 1
Ad 1Daydreaming
Vo:Does reality got you down?
Guy: Yeah
Vo: Are things difficult at work? Uhhuh
Vo: Does your spouse complain about you breathing too hard?
Guy:What yes but how did you know?
Vo: Well have we got a product for you!!!
Guy: Really
Vo: It’s called daydreaming.
Guy:Daydreaming what is that?
Vo:It’s when you use your imagination when you are supposed to be working on your real life.You simply have something important in front of you like your taxes and instead of doing anything about you tap your fingers and imagine yourself robbing banks in the American Old West. Being hunted by federal marshals just you and your partner Walter who is the most loyal hombre a desperado like you is likely to have. They even put your picture on wanted posters everywhere 10,000 dollars for you dead or alive. You joke with Walter that one day he will be famous enough to get his face on a wanted poster. You can see that Walter is annoyed by this but you keep doing it because you like joshing him. Then one day he pulls a gun on you. Quit playing around Walter that’s dangerous you say. Then he says he is tired of living your shadow and that he is gonna collect that reward money. Walter you snake in the grass how could you betray me like that as you jump and tackle him to the ground. You wrestle back and forth and back and forth trying to get the gun when you hear the federal marshall’s outside. Saying to come out with your hands up or they are coming in.
Spouse: Honey have you done the taxes yet?
Guy: Not yet I was
Spouse:You were daydreaming again
Guy: No I was
Spouse: I can’t believe you would do that after all of the irresponsible things you have -(improvised anger)
Vo: And the Marshalls storm into the building and a hail of gunfire erupts. You immediately find cover hoping to escape and get your revenge on the dreaded Walter
Let’s get Into it 2
Jackie: Ok, so the free box- It is a place where someone can just leave something like a book, or a sweater or a toy so that someone else could use it.
Jon: And the best part is that it is free.
Jackie: At least no money changes hands. It’s basically a donation drop off and pickup. I love this.
Jon: They had something like it in Berkeley California in the 1970’s and some good people of the town of Telluride felt that they should have one as well.
Jackie: So if you ever find yourself on the corner of Pine street and Colorado Avenue check it out. I know I will and speaking of the 1970’s that’s when the town reinvented itself.
Jon: I think we should start a bit earlier than that.
Jackie: But I think the 70’s was the keystone era of this town. It is when the most changes happened in the shortest amount of time.
Jon: I think there was a good deal of change then but I feel we should talk about what happened before to show what sort of changes occured.
Jackie: So, should we go back to the U-tah Indians
Jon: The mean the Utes.
Jackie: No, I read that the state of Utah was named after them- which naming areas after the indigineous people of America happened way more than you would probably realize and usually after they were removed from that area by westerners. So- not great.
Jon: That is also true but today they are called Utes.
Jackie: Really?
Jon: Sort of.
Jackie: Please explain.
Jon: So they were called Utah by outsiders then they were called Utes by outsides but they called themselves nuche which means the people.
Jackie: The Utes- I should call them the utes?
Jon: I think so.
Jackie: Ok. Let’s go with that and apologies if we are wrong. The Utes had their summer living location in Telluride. See, another smart group of people who wanted to spend time in Telluride during the summer.
Jon: So every person that I have seen on youtube that went to Telluride went through Montrose Airport which is a bit of drive so be prepared to rent a car. But if you can, try to see the Ute Indian museum. It is just outside of Montrose and it is one of the very few museums in America dedicated to a particular tribe.
Jackie: Oh that is the museum with the big statue of the Momma bear snuggling with the baby bear.
Jon: I don’t know if they are snuggling but yes.
Jackie: They are snuggling. you mentioned the airport in montrose because even though most people arrive through Montrose airport, telluride has an airport of its own.
Jon: Telluride regional airport.
Jackie: It is the highest airport.
Jon: Well in North America
Jackie: 9000 feet above sea level
Jon: 9078 feet.
Jackie: The point is that it is very high.
Jon: I wish I knew more about aviation because I don’t know if that makes it easier or harder to take off and land at that altitude.
Jackie: It has got to be harder right? Or maybe not because you’re closer to the sky. Science!
Jon: So to get back to the history
Jackie: Hehe that was a bit of a tangent. Science!
Jon: Yes so to go back
Jackie: Ohh lets talk about the galloping goose.
Jon: Oh I wanted to go back further than that
Jackie: Let’s do the galloping goose!!!
Jon: It is a fun name for bus
Jackie: Correction it is a bio-diesel bus to be precise
Jon: It runs on vegetable oil to be more precise
Jackie: It runs on biodegradable vegetable oil to be the most precise
Jon: I think we can be more precise
Jackie: No!!!
Jon: Ok so in 1931 they took a buick and turned it into a bus
Jackie: And called it the galloping goose!
Jon: They built a fleet of them
Jackie: And they improved every time they built a new one. they would customize them for improvements and they used them to transport people and mail. I love when they make automobiles out of other automobiles.
Jon: So to get back to history.
Jackie: Apparently there is no way we will do this chronologically
Jon: At least not with us
Jackie: Let’s talk about Butch Cassidy.
Jon: Screw it we are already out of order anyway so Butch Cassidy was a bank robber
Jackie: He didn’t start as a bank robber he didn’t start off as Butch Cassidy. He started off as Robert Leroy Parker.
Jon: Ohh tell them how he got his name.
Jackie: I am getting to that…. Sheese . Robert Leroy Parker was a runaway and more than remarkably poor. He did any job that he could and while working a dairy farm he met a cattle thief named Mike Cassidy. Mike Cassidy did his best to mentor Robert. Surprisingly, even with Mike Cassidy’s roguish influence Robert tried to make an honest living when he decided to become a butcher's apprentice. Being a Butcher is what got him the nickname “butch”. When he robbed his first bank, he left his old last name behind him to emulate the father figure who taught him how to steal. He would forever be known as Butch Cassidy. And that first bank that he robbed was in Telluride Colorado.
Jon: He stole 24,580 dollars on that first job
Jackie: That is like half a million dollars today because he robbed the bank in 1889!
Jon: That is more like $695,918.58 today.
Jackie: You had to look that up.
Jon: I did.
Jackie: But since we were talking about movies
Jon: Wait… what movies?
Jackie: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid?
Jon: Hehehe yeah, you’re killing me.
Jackie: “The fall will probably kill ya”
Jon: I thought you have said you have not seen that movie
Jackie: I haven’t but I have heard the quote. Charles says it all the time.
Jon: Well, That is a good movie and that was shot in Telluride along with the original True Grit.
Jackie: So speaking of movies Telluride has film festival
Jon: Telluride has a film festival that is called an “Oscar Launchpad” by the Hollywood Reporter.
Jackie: The Telluride Film Festival is a film festival held annually during Labor Day weekend.
Jon: My Dinner With Andre, Stranger than Paradise, Blue Velvet, The Civil War by Ken Burns, The Crying Game, Mulholland Drive , Brokeback Mountain.
Jackie: All of those movies premiered in Telluride.
Jon: So many movies, I saw that they can show 50 different programs in 10 venues over the course of the festival.
Jackie: Once the pandemic is over maybe we can make the trip!
Jon: So to get back to history
Jackie: Oh yeah we abandoned that a long time ago.
Jon: Speaking of a long time ago. The town was founded in 1878 and was originally called Columbia.
Jackie: This led to a good deal of confusion because there was a columbia in California and delivering the mail was problematic.
Jon: The official story is that the town changed its name to telluride because of the tellurium in the Mountain. Tellurium is a mineral that indicates that there is gold.
Jackie: I heard a different story
Jon: Yes there is a story that says it is named “Telluride” because it was so difficult to get there it is a shortened version of To Hell You Ride.
Jackie: In fact that is still the town's nickname
Jon: Yep the town nickname is To-hell-you-ride let that sink in.
Jackie: I don’t know- I personally think the town looks like a little drop of paradise.
Jon: Even back in the day it was something else. It was the first town to have AC powered public lighting.
Jackie: The power plant was built to help with all of the mining operations in the area.
Jon: It was a party town too by the 1900’s there were 37 drinking establishments. 37 in a town that hasn’t had a larger population than 5000 people.
Jackie: Well when the Bluegrass festival is in town I believe the population is much larger.
Jon: Touche
Jackie: But your point is well made about the party nature of the town. I saw that during prohibition, since the town was so out of the way you could still drink there. You could even drink at the county courthouse.
Jon: But after the mining practises dried up the town suffered economically until the 1970’s when they remade it into a ski community.
Jackie: Also in the 1970’s they tried to ban cars and just use horse drawn carriages. Glad that didn’t stick.
Jon: Anything else?
Jackie: It has the highest concentration of 13 to 14 thousand foot peaks in Colorado. Anything else?
Jon: The Marx Brothers, Sarah Bernhardt, and Houdini all performed at the Sheridan Opera house in Telluride.
Anything else?
Jackie: Alpine Vino!
Jon: Oh yes- thank you! The restaurant Alpine Vino is the highest restaurant in America at 11,996 feet. Anything else?
Jackie: The town motto used to be Telluride: the town without a bellyache.
Jon: And with that we will be going to our community shoutout after a quick word from our sponsor.
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Community Shoutout
Jon: Every episode we like to research and highlight something special in the community that we are exploring.
Jackie: Today’s community shoutout is the Angel Baskets
Jon: Angel Baskets works with Toys for Tickets allowing parking tickets to be paid with new toys that are given to Angel Baskets for distribution.
Jackie: What a great idea! They have this Holiday Program that distributes food certificates, clothing, necessities, gifts, toys and gift certificates to more than 100 families, 350 people, half of them children. So everyone can have a happier holiday.
Jon: Gifts are wrapped and boxes assembled and delivered by volunteers just before the holidays.
Jackie: Their hope is to brighten the holidays for families who could benefit from holiday cheer. If you would like to donate and learn more please visit their website.
Jon: We will put a link in the show notes so you can help with their Food Banks, Holiday, School Supply and Senior Care.
Jackie: Yes well will. Angel Baskets- such a cozy name! Ok, well, that’s our show. Thank you so much to our brilliant producer Charles.
Jon: Thank you so much Charles. And thank you so much for listening to the show!
Jackie: Yes, thank you so much to our listeners! We hope you enjoyed today’s episode!
Jon: If you’ve been enjoying this podcast please take the time to subscribe, rate us, and write a review on apple podcasts. It helps the show, so we’d really appreciate it!
Jackie: Also, make sure to tell your friends! If there is anyone you know who you think would enjoy this podcast please make sure to share!
Jon: You can also follow us on Instagram @cozynookexplorers or send us an email at cozynookexplorers@gmail.com.
Jackie: We love getting to hear from you and we are always looking for travel suggestions!
Jon: We will be back Wednesday with our next exploration.
Jackie: Yes, on Wednesdays we explore!
Jon: Stay cozy, and we’ll see you soon.