Easy access to plenty of runs open before better days ahead
While we wait for more snow, here’s some news on what’s open, conditions and what’s new at regional ski areas.
I made it up to Taos Ski Valley on Tuesday and had a great time skiing two runs and its many side variations, White Feather and Powderhorn. While it was bizarre to be riding up Chair 1 over Al’s Run that is as much dirt, grass and scrub pines as it is snow, once on top and onto the manmade stuff, it was wonderful to set an edge and carve turns with the wind whistling in my ears and the sun bathing the valley below.
It was good to work the ski muscles, check my gear and generally get prepped for better days ahead.
Ski Santa Fe continues limited operations on a 22-inch base of mostly manmade snow, with the Super Chief quad chair providing access to the intermediate run Midland and a handful of beginner slopes, including Santa Fe Trail, Davey Lane and Lower Broadway. About 16 percent of the mountain is open. All services, including Chipmunk Corner kid’s center, are functioning. Tickets are discounted: $62 for adults, $53 for students, $50 for seniors and $48 for kids up to age 12.
During the holiday season, when the parking lots are often full, riding the Blue Bus to the ski area is really appealing. The Mountain Trail bus will operate on a weekend schedule from Friday, Dec. 22 to Monday, Jan. 1, providing seven round trips per day. The round trip costs $5 and riders need to provide exact fare, but it entitles you to a token worth $5 that can be applied to a lift ticket purchase or ski lessons, food or the gift shop.
There are numerous pick up points in downtown Santa Fe, as well as park-andride options at the South Capitol station and on the north side of Fort Marcy (on Murales Road between Bishop Lodge Road and Old Taos Highway). The convenience of being dropped off at the base stairs at Ski Santa Fe is hard to beat. For further details about the North Central Regional Transit District schedule and routes, visit www.ridethebluebus.com.
Taos also has limited terrain open on an 18-inch base, with Lift 1 providing intermediate skiing on White Feather and Powderhorn. For beginners, Strawberry Hill, with its new progressively pitched and contoured slopes, is open, along with the Pioneer area. On Thursday, Taos celebrated the renovation of its Children’s Center and dedication of its new Gondolita, the free base-area people mover running from the kid’s center to the main plaza area. On Friday, anyone dressed as Santa or an elf gets to ski or board for free. On Christmas Eve, enjoy fireworks and a snow parade at dusk.
To vicariously get in some turns, check out the feature on the TSV website called “Claim Your Run.” Found at www.skitaos.com/explore/trail-maps, it allows people to post videos of their favorite runs at Taos. You can look at a map, scroll over a run and then see who first “claimed” the run with a video posting, the favorite posts for a run, the most recent post or all posts.
A quick look showed 18 videos for Juarez, 20 for Al’s, and two for Dog Leg and one for Psycho Path — how many veteran TSV skiers even know where these are? Never skied Werner Chute or North American? Here’s a preview. It’s a cool way to get to know the resort better, and check out some enviable conditions of previous years.
Taos also enjoys North Central Regional Transit District transportation. The Green Route runs from Taos to the ski area daily, with drop off at the warming hut at the edge of the parking lots. There is also an RTD bus — the 305 — from Santa Fe
to Taos.
Sipapu reports an 18-inch base, with four beginner and four intermediate runs open, plus a terrain park with six features. Angel Fire has a 12-inch base, with its Chile Express chair providing one run, Headin’ Home from the summit, and limited beginner trails open. Pajarito, open daily through New Year’s Day, has a 12-inch base, but only three beginner runs available at present. Red River reports a 24-inch base, with five lifts operating, 10 beginner and intermediate runs open, and a terrain park with nine features. On Saturday, catch some early evening fireworks and parade.
Sandia Peak will begin daily operations on Saturday through Jan. 2. The beginner area and its chairlift will be open, plus its base area facilities — including the Double Eagle Cafe, Sandia Peak Sports Shop, the rental shop and ski school. There is no access via the Sandia Peak Tram to the ski area at this time.
Purgatory has a 10-inch base but due to fine preparation of its slopes, it has skiing on 18 trails — including Westfork, El Diablo, Paradise, Lower Pandemonium, Cherub, Yellow Brick Road, Tinker’s Dam, Tinker’s Detour, Upper Demon, Angel’s Tread, Ski Way, and the Columbine area — with seven lifts running.
Purgatory offers night skiing in the Columbine area from to 4 to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and from 4 to 7 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays. It will function until Purgatory’s sister resort, Hesperus Ski Area, just outside Durango, has sufficient snow to open and can provide night skiing. Night skiing lift tickets are $25, or you can use your day ticket at no additional cost.
Crested Butte has a 14-inch base (out of 28 inches of snow this season so far), eight of 15 lifts running and 26 trails (out of 121) open. Uphill skiing is allowed before and after the lifts open — see its website for more details on self-propelled skiing. Wolf Creek has a foot, with 60 percent of its runs open.
Monarch has a 20-inch base, with 37 runs open and four lifts functioning. Telluride has a 20-30 inch base with 13 trails and seven lifts open, plus one terrain park. Open runs for intermediates include See Forever and Woozley’s Way off the Apex Lift, and Boomerang off the Village Express. Beginner slopes like The Meadows and Peaks Trail are also open, giving T-ride 100 acres and 2,800 vertical feet of skiing.