November 17, 2005 – Legendary Alaskan explorer Colonel Norman D. Vaughan will celebrate his centennial birthday in December – along with a first-ever taste of champagne – at a restaurant atop the dramatic San Juan Mountains of Telluride, Colo.

In cooperation with The Hotel Telluride, Colonel Vaughan – chief dog sled driver for Admiral Richard Byrd’s first South Pole Expedition in 1928 – chose Allred’s Restaurant at the Telluride Ski Resort for his Dec. 17 celebration. Allred’s sits at an altitude of 10,551 feet, peaking slightly higher than Mount Vaughan, the 10,302-foot Antarctic mountain named after him by Admiral Byrd.

The adventurer, one of America’s oldest living explorers, hoped to scale his beloved Mt. Vaughan on his 100th birthday, a feat he accomplished in 1994, just three days shy of his 89th birthday. Said Vaughan, “The 1994 climb was the climax of our dream. We had to risk failure to get there. We dared to fail.”

This year, however, a shortage of funds stood between him and the fully-fueled ski-equipped plane needed to fulfill his dream. Instead, he will rejoice with friends and family on the Telluride mountaintop.

The Hotel Telluride will host visitors for the celebration, offering special rates to partygoers and hosting the gala reception on Dec. 17, open to the public.

With 58 rooms, a restaurant and day spa facilities, the 4-star Hotel Telluride (www.thehoteltelluride.com) is the newest resort built in historic Telluride, just steps away from the nightlife and restaurants of the town’s historic downtown. Winner of numerous industry awards since opening in 2001, it provides sweeping views of the majestic San Juan Mountains. Most recently, it was named to Conde Nast Traveler’s prestigious 2005 Gold List.

Vaughan is the last surviving member of Admiral Byrd’s expedition, which drove dogs across 1,500 miles of frozen terrain in interior Antarctica, discovering new territories never before viewed by mankind. National Geographic lauded that expedition in a documentary, “Height of Courage: The Norman Vaughan Story.” Looking forward, Vaughan and his wife, Carolyn Muegge-Vaughan, are planning a trip to the North Pole in April, 2006. Vaughan hopes to travel the last few miles of that trip by dog sled.

Despite congestive heart disease and some trouble walking, Vaughan’s spirits are undeterred. Still as mentally sharp as ever, he often recites his favorite catch phrase, “Dream big and dare to fail.”

For reservations information and to purchase tickets to the dinner contact Wendy Luisi, The Hotel Telluride, 866 468 3501; wluisi@thehoteltelluride.com. Hotel accommodations start at $129 per luxury hotel room during the Norman Vaughan Birthday Weekend. For more information on Col. Vaughan, see www.normanvaughan.com.

The Hotel Telluride is part of Premier Resorts, the Park City, Utah-based resort property management company located in seven states in the continental U.S., Mexico, and the islands of Hawaii (www.premier-resorts.com).