Topic: Plum 98

Lots of people move to Telluride to ski — but only a handful of people move here to ski and fly. Jack Carey was lured here in the early 70s not just for the ski terrain, but because the hang gliding from the ski area is world-renowned: it is the highest altitude launch in North America, and pilots can soar hang gliders and paragliders thousands of feet above the 12,000-foot Gold Hill launch.

Carey almost immediately became an unofficial ambassador for Telluride. He started competing on the pro mogul and extreme ski tours, and traveled to the Andes, the Chugach, the Alps and the Canadian Rockies spreading the word about the new resort here, and its world-class bumps and steeps. Today, three decades later, he is directing three extreme skiing events in British Columbia and representing Telluride on the ski scene.

"Skiing? I don't poop around," says the amiable ski bum. "I choose hard lines."

Carey also helped put the flying here on the map. He was the first hang glider to soar above 20,000 feet and to set the flight duration record at 8 hours and 20 minutes. (From 26,000 feet it is possible to see the curvature of the earth, and these days some pilots bring supplemental oxygen with them.) He took Chuck Yeager on a tandem flight, competed in the U.S. Nationals and did live radio broadcasts from the air, called "Captain Jack Will Get You High Tonight." The attendance at the annual hang gliding fly-ins went from about 30 pilots to 300.

Carey was a factory test pilot for the early hang gliders, and was lucky enough to get one of the first reserve parachutes — he was the first to have to bail out and throw his reserve. He also survived a serious accident on his motorcycle, when he hit a deer in Wyoming at high speed.

He says that he is comfortable with what he calls "high risk sports," whether it be skiing a steep chute, flying above the 14,000-foot peaks or racing around on his motorcycle.

"I've always lived an exciting life," laughs Carey. "I've always got into it full speed ahead."

With his signature long, flowing, white beard, lanky frame and "Captain" nickname, Carey was able to garner a lot of attention for the Town of Telluride. He was featured in magazines, news articles and videos. Carey said he enjoyed his role as a grassroots promoter for the region.

"I love my notoriety. I love my rough edges," said Carey. "I am a doer."

What is Plum 98? It¹s a collection of 98 individuals (a nice, round number) who have etched a mark in the Telluride community with positive energy and vision. Be it in the realm of art, recreation or politics, we at Plum want to recognize these local stars for their encouragement and inspiration. To read about more interesting locals, check out the rest of our Plum 98ers.

Paul Major's contibutions to the community are just that — major. Since coming to Telluride in 2000 to start the philanthropic Telluride Foundation, he has drawn significant funds to the region to help buoy local nonprofits, $2.1 million last year alone.

Of that figure, some 80 percent represents new funding, drawn from resources that did not exist prior to the work of Telluride Foundation. Major said it was good timing.

"What we were able to do is attract new donor and more untapped resources," said Major. "It sounds like a cliche, but it was the right thing at the right time and the right place. Not just for me, but for Telluride."

Telluride Foundation supports everything from immigrant services, to land and watershed conservation, and holds seminars teaching people about grantwriting and running non-profits. Major is proud of the help that his organization can give.

"In a prosperous community lke Telluride, there's still a lot of emerging and unmet needs," says Major. "But we have the ability and luxury of being proactive."

Major was formerly in Park City, involved with the U.S. Ski Team. He lives in Telluride with his wife, Lois, the town's municipal attorney, and their three children, Victor, Naomi and Malcolm.

What is Plum 98? It¹s a collection of 98 individuals (a nice, round number) who have etched a mark in the Telluride community with positive energy and vision. Be it in the realm of art, recreation or politics, we at Plum want to recognize these local stars for their encouragement and inspiration. To read about more interesting locals, check out the rest of Plum 98ers.

Kris Holstrom is good at growing. From the organic, high-altitude Tomten Farm she started twenty years ago, to the relationships she has built in the community to encourage sustainable, environmental practices, she has made significant contributions to the Telluride region.

Holstrom planted a lot of seeds — not just at Tomten, but all over Telluride. She has served on the county planning commission for many years, advocating for the environment as the region developed. She started the composting movement that has become successful at the sumer festivals, and reduced the Bluegrass Festival waste by half. She was the natural choice for the new position of Sustainability Coordinator, helping to integrate all of the ecological innovations in the Towns of Telluride and Mountain Village and in San Miguel County. And most recently, she took the reins of the Telluride Farmers Market, ensuring that it carried on into its fifth summer of providing organic, bio-regional food and products to the community.

Holstrom still makes time to operate the Tomten farm, providing educational work opportunities to more than 100 interns over the years.

"I couldn't do the farm without the interns, and I couldn't do the job of Sustainability Coordinator without the community," says Holstrom.

What is Plum 98? It¹s a collection of 98 individuals (a nice, round number) who have etched a mark in the Telluride community with positive energy and vision. Be it in the realm of art, recreation or politics, we at Plum want to recognize these local stars for their encouragement and inspiration. To read about more interesting locals, check out the rest of our Plum 98ers.

If anyone can speak of the old days of Telluride, Johnnie Stevens can. He is a true native of Telluride, the son of one of its former miners, and an integral individual in the formation of Telluride’s current precious metal, the Telluride Ski Resort.

And Stevens too is likely the most dedicated to its growth from the ski area’s inception when just five lifts and one day lodge supported Telluride’s skiing passion, to today’s 1,700 skiable acres and 16 lifts.

“There are not many that started a ski resort and stayed with it—we stayed with it,” Stevens said of himself, Senior Mahoney and others who began the Telluride Ski Area. “We were just ski guys, ski guys and miners, who were passionate about skiing.”

He’s worked in every realm of the ski area from cutting trails in the beginning, to the esteemed position of Chief Operating Officer when he retired three years ago. Stevens was nominated into the Colorado Ski Hall of Fame in 2004 for his contributions to the ski industry.

“Telluride will always be a special place,” he said. “It’s been a good ride, a lot of fun. And it ain’t over yet."

What is Plum 98? It¹s a collection of 98 individuals (a nice, round number) who have etched a mark in the Telluride community with positive energy and vision. Be it in the realm of art, recreation or politics, we at Plum want to recognize these local stars for their encouragement and inspiration. To meet more interesting locals, see the rest of our Plum 98ers.