25th Anniversary 1984-2009

In 1984, Bill White launched his first commercial rafting trip on the San Miguel.  Telluride Outside was born a rafting and fly fishing company, with operations on the Gunnison and San Miguel rivers.  A true outdoorsman, Bill acquired more permits and proceeded to build Telluride's original home-grown guide service.  4-WD tours, mountain bike tours and snowmobile tours were added to rafting and fly fishing.  In the early 1990's Telluride Outside rented Jeeps and, for a short period, operated a full service snowmobile dealership. 

Longtime local Todd Herrick bought Telluride Outside in 1995.  Herrick, himself a diehard riverman, created a much needed basecamp for the company's multi-day float trips.  Gunnison River Farms became the hub of the company's  Gunnison guide service.  By the year 2000, the Herrick family was spending much of their summer in the orchards at Gunnison River Farms.  Late that year, he decided to sell the Telluride summer guide services to make more time for his family and farm.

Tom Craddock, a longtime manager, and head fly fishing guide Troy Youngfleish teamed up with former guide John Duncan (1991-1994), who was then working for Scott Fly Rods, to buy Telluride Outside from Herrick.  In May 2001, Duncan, Craddock and Youngfleish took over the company with renewed commitment to the original guide services: fly fishing, rafting, 4-WD tours and mountain bike tours.  Herrick kept the Gunnison guide service, as well as snowmobile tours.

Between 1984 and 2000, the company occupied four different locations including a  Colorado Avenue booking office, a space above Clark 's Market, the old San Miguel Country Store Texaco station and an out-of-town reservations office in the Lawson Hill business park.  In 2001, the new owners consolidated operations in Telluride Angler, Telluride Outside's  Main Street fly shop.  They reinvested in both guiding resources and the fly shop, acquiring over  5 miles of private water for the fishing guide service, adding important new winter retail products such as Cloudveil and opening a major online store. 

Over the last eight years, Tom, John and Troy have worked to make Telluride Outside a projection of their passions and ambitions, a guide service defined by its people, a resource for visitors and locals in common, a company with the soul of Telluride. 

Thanks for 25 great years.