Take on Telluride's Backcountry Like a Modern-Day Cowboy

The crisp mountain air nipped at my face as I climbed aboard the snowmobile like a modern-day cowboy, adrenaline already coursing through my veins. This was no ordinary sledding excursion – we were about to embark on an epic adventure into Telluride's vast, untamed backcountry with the expert guides of Telluride Outfitters.

After a comprehensive safety briefing, our small group throttled up our snow machines and followed our guide along a groomed path leading out of the base. Within minutes, the towering peaks of the San Juan Mountains engulfed us, their snow-capped grandeur just visible against a thick blanket of fog. We continued deeper into the wilderness, the roar of our engines slicing through the stillness.

We soon veered off the trail, our guide taking us a steep, powdery slope that put our snowmobiling skills to the test. With each turn of the (heated) throttle, I could feel the machine's raw power surging beneath me as we climbed higher into the alpine terrain.

We pressed on, riding single-file along narrow, winding trails bordered by stately aspens and fir trees weighed down by freshly fallen snow. At each turn, my breath escaped in misty puffs, the only sound besides the growl of our machines.

Finally, we reached our destination – a breathtaking alpine bowl nicknamed The Meadows tucked deep within the peaks. Here, we unloaded our gear for an unforgettable backcountry lunch amid some of Colorado's most jaw-dropping scenery. As I lingered over my thermos of hot chocolate, I couldn't tear my eyes away from the panorama surrounding us.

But we weren't done yet. It was time for some free time and, as a group, we opened up the throttles and took big, winding figure-eight turns in the deep powder snow. Exhilarating, unbridled, unshackled wild west fun.

All too soon, it was time to begin our descent. We followed our guide back along the trails, racing down hills and carving turns through fields of untouched powder. My face was flushed from the whipping wind.

By the time we arrived back at Telluride Outfitters' base, I was exhilarated yet utterly at peace, as if I'd glimpsed right into the heart of the San Juan Mountains.