Bridal Veil Falls (Telluride)

Coordinates: 37°55′09″N 107°46′12″W / 37.91917°N 107.77000°W / 37.91917; -107.77000
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Bridal Veil Falls
Bridal Veil Falls (Telluride) is located in Colorado
Bridal Veil Falls (Telluride)
Map
LocationTelluride, Colorado
Coordinates37°55′09″N 107°46′12″W / 37.91917°N 107.77000°W / 37.91917; -107.77000
Elevation10,279 ft (3,133 m)
Total height365 ft (111 m)
WatercourseSan Miguel River
Bridal Veil Falls, taken from the base.

Bridal Veil Falls is a 365-foot (111 m)

hydroelectric power plant at its top. In winter the frozen shape of the falls forms an imposing challenge to intrepid ice climbers
.

Description

Bridal Veil Falls are a two-pronged waterfall.[1] The area around Bridal Veil Falls is subject to avalanche and controlled shelling to create controlled slides is an event popular with spectators and photographers. Reaching the top of the falls in winter can be a precarious venture, even for the experienced family that lives there.[2]

A hiking trail continues on past the falls to mountain meadows and mountain lakes above 10,000 feet (3,000 m).

Bridal Veil Creek arises near Lewis Lake, flows north and over the falls, then joins other creeks to form the San Miguel River (Colorado) which flows west through Telluride.

History

Ice climbing

In 1978,

Jeff Lowe and Mike Wiess became the first ice climbers to summit the falls, their effort having been broadcast on ABC's Wide World of Sports.[3]

The falls were opened briefly in the 1990s to ice climbers, but the area is private property so climbing has been legally prohibited since.[3] Referred to as a "mega classic" and "the most difficult waterfall ice climb in North America", some climbers have trespassed to take a crack at the imposing and dangerous climb, but a land purchase proposal and an insurance deal[when?] may change the situation.[3] Climbers were excited by the proposal in 2008 that would reopen the falls to climbers.[3]

Electric power generation

The AC electric generator at Bridal Veil Falls is one of the oldest still operating in the US

A

Westinghouse Electric AC generator, one of the oldest AC generators still in operation.[4][5] In 1979, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[6]

See also

  • Waterfalls of Colorado

References

  1. ^ "Bridal Veil Falls in Telluride, Colorado". AmazingColorado.com. Retrieved on 17 November 2008.
  2. ^ Healy, Pat (January 15, 2008). "Hunkered down at Bridal Veil". Telluride Daily Planet. Retrieved 2008-11-17. [dead link]
  3. ^ a b c d Capps, Reilly (September 29, 2008). "Bridal Veil ice climbing — open at last?". Telluride Daily Planet. Archived from the original on October 4, 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-17.
  4. ^ Whelan, M. "The History of Electrification: Ames and Smuggler-Union Power Plants at Telluride". Edison Tech Center.
  5. OCLC 704555445
    .
  6. ^ Williams, Roger Neville (December 7, 1977). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form: Smuggler-Union Hydroelectric Power Plant". National Park Service. Retrieved May 1, 2012.

External links