Taos

“You don’t have to be an expert to ski Taos, but there is no better place to become one,” is how the resort pitches its appeal—and the steep powder snow certainly favors advanced skiers. However, there are some nice novice slopes and the ski school, located at a base elevation of 9,207 feet (2,806 m), has been rated Number One several times by various ski magazines, so there is scope for beginners.

The highest point is Kachina Peak at 12,481 feet (3,804 m), abutting the Wheeler Wilderness Area, and the highest lift served is No.2 at 11,819 feet (3,602 m) below the West Basin Ridge, giving a vertical drop of 2,618 feet (798 m). If you add on the extra hike up to Kachina Peak that’s 3,274 feet (998 m). But the skiing is not about vertical feet to be skied, rather it’s all about demanding black trails and testing yourself, possibly on an extreme trail down from the elongated ridge summit. Indeed, the ski valley is dominated by a line of ridges from Kachina Peak along Highline Ridge onto West Basin Ridge and curving out into Wonder Bowl. The ski area encompasses 1,294 acres (524 ha) with 110 trails —24% beginner, 25% intermediate and 51% advanced/expert. The Out to Launch Terrain Park is a new addition, located on Maxie’s trail under lift No.7, offering two huge airs, a hip, a quarter pipe, and rails. The park is groomed nightly.

One thing you have to be aware of: snowfall is not reliable especially early season (the resort opens November 28th and closes the first Sunday in April). To say the snowfall varies here would be fair because while Taos can achieve an average annual snowfall of 305 inches (775 cm), a recent season’s snowfall was only 140 inches (355 cm), although that year was considered a total fluke. Having said that, artificial snowmaking facilities cover 100 percent of the beginner and intermediate trails. The weather does fluctuate with the coldest month always being January, while March temperatures nudge over 50 ˚F (-4˚C).