Please Support the Telluride Ski Patrol
Patrollers always show up in your time of need. Now, we are asking you to show up in ours.
Why This Matters for the Whole Community
A thriving Ski Patrol is not a luxury — it’s a safety requirement.
Patrollers are the reason:
- The mountain opens safely each morning
- Avalanches are controlled
- Injuries receive immediate medical response
- Guests feel secure
- Local businesses thrive during the ski season
- Visitors’ vacations are safe, smooth, and unforgettable
When patrollers can’t afford to live in the community they serve, the entire region’s safety and economic stability are put at risk.
This fundraiser isn’t just about supporting patrollers - it’s about protecting the mountain, the town, and the people who love this place.
We are not here to tear anyone down.
We are here to lift up the workers who keep us safe.
We are asking for your help
Despite months of working to try and secure a contract, despite working in good faith without a contract, despite showing up every day to ensure the mountain opens safely and on time, patrollers still do not have a fair and livable agreement. We have been proactive, professional, and ready to negotiate.
Why We’re Raising Funds
If the Ski Patrol is unable to come to an agreement with Telski, we need to ensure we can cover our patroller's most basic needs — **rent, groceries, fuel, child care, medical costs, and utilities** — while we stand up for fair, safe, and sustainable working conditions.
Not reaching an equitable contract is the last thing we want — but in Telluride the cost of living is 59% higher than the Colorado average.
The reality of living in Telluride:
According to MIT, a single adult in San Miguel County needs ~$26 an hour just to cover basic living costs. When adjusted for the seasonal nature of work in this community (fewer available hours) that number is higher, $37.67 an hour.
The overall cost of living is ~59% above the Colorado average and ~75% above the national average.
In this environment, missing even one paycheck is destabilizing - missing multiple is catastrophic.
Your contribution helps ensure that we don’t have to choose between standing up for fair treatment and losing our housing, food security, or ability to stay in this community.
What Your Donations Support
100% of contributions will go toward directly supporting Telluride Ski Patrollers while advocating for an equitable contract. This includes:
- Rent & housing support
- Groceries & household essentials
- Utilities
- Transportation & fuel
- Childcare
- Emergency medical costs
- Other essential living expenses
In the event the Telluride Ski Patrol ratifies a contract, any remaining funds will go to supporting causes that aid livability for our region’s workforce.
How You Can Help
✔️ Donate what you can.
Every dollar matters — truly.
✔️ Share this fundraiser.
Tell friends, locals, visitors, and business owners why our Telluride Ski Patrol matters.
✔️ Support Patrollers with your voice.
Your solidarity strengthens our ability to secure a fair contract.
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Together, We Can Support the People Who Keep Us Safe
Please donate today to help ensure that we can stand up for fairness without putting our lives or financial stability at risk.
Thank you for standing with the Telluride Ski Patrol.
Thank you for standing up for the community, for fairness, and for continued safety.