Places > United States > Colorado > Uncompahgre National Forest Waterfall
Bridal Veil Falls (Telluride)
Photo Credit: Wikipedia user Terry Foote
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Bridal Veil Falls is a two pronged waterfall.[1] The trail past the falls continues on to mountain meadows and mountain lakes above 10,000 feet (3,000 m).
The house/power plant atop the falls was restored, operated and lived in (1991-2010) by Eric Jacobson. The power generated now provides about 25 percent of Telluride's demand for electricity. The plant was originally used to power the Smuggler-Union Mine and in winter requires an aerial tramway for access. It is the second-oldest operating AC generator in the United States, the first being the nearby Ames Hydroelectric Generating Plant by Ophir, Colorado. The Idarado Mining Company now owns and operates the power plant.
As the falls are private property, access is periodically prohibited to ice climbers. 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 may change the situation. Climbers were excited by the proposal in 2008 that would reopen the falls to climbers. Legendary climbers Jeff Lowe (climber) and Mike Wiess were known to have been the first to summit the falls in 1978, the effort having been broadcast on ABC’s Wide World of Sports. Access was again provided in 2009. In 2012, well-known climber Jack Roberts died after falling from Bridal Veil. It is not known if access will revoked following this incident.
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 call the plant home.
Description from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License
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