SkiCountry WINTER 201 8
GUIDE TO RIDING THE SOUTHWEST
Angel Fire Chama Durango Eagle Nest Pajarito Red River Sipapu Ski Apache South Fork Taos Taos Ski Valley Wolf Creek
SKI AS MUCH AS YOU WANT, WHEN YOU WANT, WHERE YOU WANT.
THE POWER TO CHOOSE FIVE MOUNTAINS. ONE PASS. UNLIMITED POSSIBILITIES. MORE THAN 3,000 ACRES OF TERRAIN • 29 LIFTS • OVER 200 TRAILS • 15 TERRAIN PARKS • COUNTLESS FAMILY MEMORIES
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575.377.6612
Angel Fire’s Top Shop
Ski Reservation Hotline:
Near the Resort Hotel
575.377.6559
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ANGEL FIRE RESORT is the NEW OWNER of WINTER SPORTS angelfireresort.com
e
866.383.7969
Welcome
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22
Purgatory, Sipapu, Pajarito
Historic Hotels
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23
Ski Apache, Enchanted Forest XC
Our Towns 10
25
Alpine Lodges
Do It Like A Kid
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From Dreams To Dust‌ Ghost Towns
Ski the Southwest
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28
Time to Dine
Taos Ski Valley, Angel Fire Resort 20
30
Calendar
Wolf Creek Ski Area, Red River Ski Area 21
Publisher/Editor Joe Haukebo Design/Production Digerati Design Contributing Writers John Biscello, Dr. Michele Potter Photography Geraint Smith Cover Photo Geraint Smith – Winter Elk
GERAINT SMITH
HighCountry and SkiCountry Visitor Guides are published by Hawk Media. All rights reserved. Material in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without written permission from the Publisher. Requests for permission should be directed to: Hawk Media PO Box 182, Angel Fire, NM 87710 575 595 0575 | 575 758 4047 info@hawk-media.com Visit us at hawk-media.com for more articles, photos & e-zines
Contents
Angel Fire
866.668.7787 AngelFireFun.com
Welcome ...
T
he first time I saw them it was early winter. A warm winter morning and I was sweating from moving heavy bales of hay. They stepped slowly, gingerly – three of them – out of a small grove of naked-branched aspens below the ridge east of the barn. They paused when they spotted me, smelled me; but they also smelled the alfalfa. They looked hungry. They were a bit anxious, a little nervous as they pawed and scraped at the ground with their hooves, waggling their heads. Elk frequently came down to where I threw hay over the corral fence for the horses. But usually it was cows, the bulls staying safe back off in the trees. And always they were skittish with people around. These three bulls seemed bolder right from the start; cautious, very aware, but still bolder. Each morning they were there. Beautiful animals, elk. Majestic. Easy on the eyes. Hypnotizing. The first week they kept their distance, but never spooked and ran off while I worked. Gradually, they grew more used to me, started moving in more quickly to the piles of hay. They bent their heads down to eat, looking up from time to time to study me as I watched them from the corral, then dropped their heads back down to eat. Two were five-by-fives, the other a six-by, shiny horns, the velvet long ago rubbed from their racks. I guess elk have been on my mind of late. I remember back to when I raised one, decades ago. He was a wild little guy, only a couple of days old when he got caught in a rancher’s fence, abandoned by his mother and the herd.
It’s illegal here to raise wild animals. But Game and Fish called me – we had lots of other animals on the ranch – and asked me to care for him until they could find another home or he grew strong enough to be released back into the wild. I fed him calf manna from a calf milk bottle, holding the bottle under my armpit as he guzzled greedily from the nipple, shaking my whole body: just born and already so strong, so powerful. Each day he grew stronger, drinking up to seven bottles a day. Sometimes he’d wander into town. I’d get a call and go fetch him, sticking my arm out the truck window as he ran under my hand back to the ranch. He became buddies with our Labrador, and he liked to sit on the cabin porch. I grew concerned he was becoming too tame, especially after I caught him and the dog in my bed one day after the dog nuzzled open the cabin door. He stayed with me a year, met the Governor at a wildlife rehab center, then lived out his days, with one crazy horn, at Ted Turner’s Vermejo Park Ranch, but gone now for many years. Maybe the three bulls sensed this somehow; each day they cared less and less about me, coming closer to feed. Sometimes they were already by the barn when I woke. Other days they came later. But always they came. They came when it was sunny, icicles dripping from the barn eaves; when it was blowing, ice pellets swirling, winter wind rattling the tin roofing; when it was polar cold, cobalt blue ice shards, puffs of their breath shooting out like smoke; even when SKICOUNTRY 2018
it was a whiteout and they looked like gray ghosts of themselves. Mid-winter slid toward us and the days darkened early. Always they ate and always they would wind their way back into the woods. Elk herds will travel miles at night, covering vast amounts of mountain terrain, and can do some serious damage to fence lines, knocking loose barbed wire, tearing out old cedar posts. Why these three bulls never brought their herd I never understood. Probably didn’t want to introduce me. Each day I would toss the hay closer to the fence until they got so close I could hit them with it. They’d rock their racks back and forth as if to say, “whatever,” the hay hanging from their heads like beards. One morning after the vet told me I had to put a horse down, I haltered her – an ancient mare stumbling painfully from old age – and pulled her gently with the lead rope for a slow walk into the woods, a bucket of warm oats in the other hand to feed her a last meal. When I returned hours later, all three bulls stood next to the corral, waiting for me, musky smell and big soft eyes so close. Tossing them fresh hay I wondered what would happen if I grabbed the biggest and boldest one by the horns. A sturdy railroad tie fence stood between us, and all three stood unfazed by me. So when the big guy put his head down to eat, I reached over and grabbed hold. He didn’t like it too much – he kind of freaked out, reared up on his hind legs – wrenching his rack back and forth, nearly jerking my arm out of its socket. If I hadn’t let go, he probably would have ripped my arm off and would have had a rough winter running around with my arm hanging there. We had built up a trust and I had broken it. He never came quite as close again. Welcome to the southern Rockies, where you never know what the day might bring, even if you’re a wild animal with horns on your head. — Joe Haukebo Publisher hawk-media.com
Adventure begins here cross country snowmobile snowboard sleigh ride snowshoe downhill ice fish shop tube dine sled
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HISTORIC HOTELS The Historic Taos Inn Experience Southwestern charm and history at The Historic Taos Inn in the heart of Taos, New Mexico. Acclaimed by National Geographic Traveler as “One of America’s Great Inns,” and listed on the National and NM Registers of Historic Places. 44 rooms and suites, most with Pueblo-style fireplaces. Award-winning Doc Martin’s Restaurant and The Adobe Bar on premises. Happy hour 4-6 Monday-Friday; free live music nightly.
125 Paseo del Pueblo Norte, Taos, NM taosinn.com 575.758.2233
Hotel La Fonda de Taos The oldest hotel in Taos is new again. In the heart of the historic district on Taos Plaza, La Fonda offers 21st Century amenities while preserving its rich Southwestern roots and ambience. Home to Noula’s Starbucks Coffee Shop and D.H. Lawrence’s “Forbidden Art Collection.” Nineteen rooms, 5 suites, and our Plaza Penthouse. Friendly, personal service. Walking distance to galleries, museums, shopping, entertainment, and fine dining.
108 South Plaza, Taos, NM lafondataos.com 800.833.2211 505.758.2211
The Historic STRATER HOTEL A stay at the historic Strater Hotel in Durango, Colorado, is like stepping back in time with its Victorian opulence. Easily explore Cliff Dwellings at Mesa Verde or ride the famous Durango train, all just minutes away. Saunter into the Diamond Belle Saloon, The Office Spiritorium, Mahogany Grille, or the Henry Strater Theatre featuring a new Murder Mystery Program beginning February, 2018.
699 Main Ave., Durango, Colorado strater.com 800.247.4431 970.247.4431
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SKICOUNTRY 2018
HERITAGE HOTELS & RESORTS
Pottery from left: Adam & Santana Martinez of San Ildefonso Pueblo; Margaret Tafoya of Santa Clara Pueblo; Maria Poveka Martinez of San Ildefonso Pueblo. Navajo Weaving by Martha Smith
EL MONTE SAGRADO 317 KIT CARSON ROAD, TAOS 855.846.8267 ElMONTESAGRADO.COM
PALACIO DE MARQUESA 405 CORDOBA RD., TAOS 855.846.8267 MARQUESATAOS.COM
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SKICOUNTRY 2018
Our Towns Angel Fire Chama Durango
S
ince time immemorial, the desert has been regarded as a sort of spiritual nexus: an incubator for visions and retreat, a hooded monk with sand in his shorts and pebbles pinching his bare feet, a stark canvas upon which prehistory has been etched and preserved. The desert serves up reflections that take place beyond the mirror. Now, when combining this with mountains and other elemental forces of nature, and setting it all in the frosty yet sun-gilded lap of Winter, what you wind up with is a dynamic stage-play in which you can undertake the roles that call you to action. Welcome to the winter pageant of Northern New Mexico and the Southern Rockies. The ancient bones of tradition, the songs of the dispossessed, a flinty flair for the odd and inimitable: Taos is a dusty carnival unto itself. In winter, “Yuletide in Taos” covers the various events which mark the holiday season. The Las Posadas re-enactments take place in different locations (December 16-24) with the historic San Francisco de Assis Church, a perennial favorite of photographers, as the center-point. The Christmas Eve procession at Taos Pueblo blends tradition, mystique, and solidarity, with locals and tourists alike gathering on hallowed grounds, illuminated by ceremonial bonfires. On Christmas Day, the Pueblo features the timehonored, drum-thundering Taos Pueblo Deer Dance or Matachinas Dance. Taos Ski Valley, a Nordic playscape for powder junkies, is open daily from December 8-April 5. The Kachina lift serves the highest elevation of any triple chair in North America (12,481 feet). Skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, tubing, and snowboarding are some of the ways to enjoy the mountain’s slopes, dips, bumps and grooves. New Year’s Eve brings a lighted majesty to the mountain with the annual torchlight parade and fireworks show. “Eye-candy for the soul” is how one young poet described the sunsets at Angel Fire, a town whose claim to name lies in those solar climaxes. Angel Fire is home to the Polar Coaster, the largest tubing park in the southern Rockies, and 76 skiing and snowboarding trails. And for three days at the end of January (26-28), things get super-sized for the Big ‘Ol Texas Weekend, which features concerts, Texas Hold’em, and the carnivorous chew-fest known as the Big Texan Steak Challenge. Continued on page 13
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Eagle Nest Red River South Fork Taos Taos Pueblo Taos Ski Valley
PHOTOS by GERAINT SMITH
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SKICOUNTRY 2018
Red River, the “Main Street in the Mountains,” centralizes its winter fun with a ski base located smack dab in the middle of town. Candlelight skiing becomes a sweetly nostalgic reality during the Christmas Luminaria Ski/Snowshoe Tour (December 25), when a three-kilometer loop is lined with farolitos (paper bags filled with sand and lighted candles). Complimentary chile con queso, green chile stew, posole, desserts, and hot drinks, spice and sweeten up the experience. Every February, New Orleans-style revelry reaches fevered heights during Mardi Gras in the Mountains (February 8-13), with singing, dancing, costume balls, Cajun and Creole fare, and lots more. It’s been a while since anyone seriously mined Baldy, and gambling here is a thing of the past, but there’s still gold in Eagle Nest – the lake sports some of the best trout fishing in the state. Kokanee salmon join recordbreaking rainbows, cutthroats and other fish in an effort to beguile locals and visitors alike. Eagle Nest Dam and the lake celebrates their 100th anniversary this year. Chama, ghost to miner’s gloried dreams and home to the historic Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, gives steam engine travel a holiday spin during its Christmas Train excursions in December. The 44th Annual Chama Chile Ski Classic and Winter Fiesta” takes place January 14-16, with Freestyle and Classic Style XC Ski Races, Snowshoe Races, Fat Tire Snow Bike Races, and more. If ghostly lore floats your boat, then drop in at the historic St. James Hotel in Cimarron. With some of its outlaw “interior decorators” leaving
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bullet holes in the walls as a stylistic statement, the rough-and-tumble past of the St. James Hotel is a sneak peek into the psyche of the Wild West. Numerous ghosts are said to call the St. James home. And just down the road is Philmont Scout Ranch, largest private backpacking facility in the world. Durango, a charmer with looks to match, wears its winter complexion well, with HGTV ranking it as one of the Top Ten Christmas Towns in America. If Dante had been a skier, then Purgatory might have been his top destination: Durango’s mountain resort which offers 35,000 acres of snow-slicked playscape. The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad plays moveable host to the cinemagical merriment of The Polar Express, replete with all the characters from the book and film, hot chocolate, and a special reading of the story (through January 2). High style and elegance meet fun-filled activities in this year’s Snowdown, a black-tie affair in honor of the event’s 40th anniversary. (January 31-February 4). Rio Grande County, regarded as the soul-stirring gateway to the San Juan Mountains, includes South Fork, Monte Vista and Del Norte. Wolf Creek, located just outside of South Fork, puffs up the dreams of skiers worldwide, as it receives the highest amount of snowfall in Colorado. South Fork’s “Winterfest” (December 9 and 10) features sleigh rides, bonfires, vendors, snowshoe races, snowman contests, and a visit from everyone’s favorite jelly-bellied imp, Santa Claus. Monte Vista, home of the National Wildlife Refuge, hosts
their annual “Crane Festival” (March 9-11), where thousands of cranes, ducks, geese, and other winged species occupy the sky-scape. Del Norte, formerly a rough-and-tumble supply town for miners, provides numerous opportunities for natureinspired adventure, including Lookout Mountain, Elephant Rocks, and Penitente Canyon, one of Colorado’s premier climbing areas.
GERAINT SMITH
John Biscello is the author of two novels, Broken Land, a Brooklyn Tale and Raking the Dust, as well as a collection of stories, Freeze Tag. His adaptations of classic fables will be published in Once Upon a Time: Classic Fables Reimagined, due out this January by Eclectic Press.
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SKICOUNTRY 2018
The Family Vacation of a Lifetime… Any Time of Year!
The Riverside Lounge & cabins
T
he Riverside sprawls comfortably over three acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, only 50 feet from the Copper Chairlift. Families love our wonderful playground, lawn games, BBQ area and hot tub. Amenities include telephones, kitchens, fireplaces, satellite TV, DVD players and free wireless internet at very reasonable rates. We now have laundry services, too. Ask about our off-season and Wednesday Free packages!
800.432.9999 575.754.2252 www.RedRiver -NM.com
Simply the best liquor store in NM
Competitive Prices Largest Selection • Friendly Staff Temperature-Controlled Wine Cellar
505.455.2219
kokomanfinewines.com 34 Cities of Gold Road, Pojoaque, NM 87506 12 miles N. of Santa Fe on Hwy 84-285 OVER 3,500 WINES • 900 BEERS • 24 MEZCALS 222 TEQUILAS • 105 SINGLE MALT SCOTCHES • 136 RUMS hawk-media.com
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DO IT LIKE A KID
W
ouldn’t it be great if we could all have as much fun as kids do when we go outside? They’re like otters — not thinking too hard, just messing around and having fun. That’s not to say that they have no fear. But saying that adults have forgotten how to play is as silly as saying that kids have no fear. One snowboard teacher says that some kids are “no fear” and others are “all fear.” I don’t know about that, but because kids have little history with grown up issues, they don’t freak out over sliding, and often prove that even falling is fun. I’ve been a ski instructor for 28 years, plenty of it with kids. While there’s no endorsement of any official teaching techniques here, I do have research from colleagues in pursuit of my main inquiry: What is so particularly fun (or funny) about skiing (or riding) with short people? First of all, kids adore lift rides. Like many addicted-to-mountains kids, my own skied at age two and I was as emotional about that moment as if it were a baptism. Like an innocent entering into a lifelong field of joy, each sang out, astonished, in a tiny voice, “Look, look, Mama, look!” perched on the edge of forever. It’s a long way down, though, and children often have the judgment of puppies. Take, for example, the day I tried (and failed) to teach one particular girl how to get off the lift safely, years ago in Germany. I explained that when we got to the top, we’d hop off the lift and slide down. But she hopped off right then and there, and was hanging on to my ankles in midair, as I hung on to her for dear life. We successfully managed 16
the incident with the help of a lifty. When my heart stopped racing, I asked her what she thought. “Oh, it was fine,” she reported, as if this, too, was part of the fun. Try that on an adult. An inventive Angel Fire instructor, a sort of Peter Pan character, saw that the moguls intimidated a group of kids. Taking off their skis (he carried them) the kids returned to “otter” status, using the tried and true “bellies and butts” technique. They weren’t afraid next time because they were familiar with the “terrain.” He earlier rolled an orange downhill (illustrating the definition of “fall line”), then they scampered after it on skis, having to make turns to stay behind it. They ate the orange (with chocolate) and the next time, that hill didn’t seem so intimidating. Silly adults. They fear skiing backwards, even though it’s physically simpler when you’re learning (it’s just that your eyes happen to be on the other side of your head). Skiing like kids keeps us adults unstuck in our thinking, and keeps us ready for anything. But one precocious kid took it to heart and to show off, flew backwards down the nearest steep cliff, scaring the bejesus out of me. Fearless and talented, freckle-faced seven-year old Zack also had a hero complex, so instead we searched for anyone needing help and rushed in for the rescue. Jade, a first grader, told me, “When I’m older I’d like to be a ski teacher: but first I’ll have to grow up and also I’ll also have to get married.” That caveat is lost on many instructors. The bigger girls, fourteen-years-olds, were curious about the “underwear tree” —
a ponderosa pine decked out with all sorts of racy lingerie. Something to do with Mardi Gras — ask your parents. What they mostly liked about skiing was giggling and singing on the lift. When the next day I brought them some huge cotton “Grandma panties,” they were beside themselves, wearing them over their ski pants and then flinging them off the lift to hang in the Underwear Tree. Big Fun. Maybe teachers are the ones who should be afraid. One informant told me about some infamous twins, both small boys; they were biters. They were so horrible it took one instructor apiece to handle them. The biggest instructor available, skiing backwards, dared the kid: “come and get me.” Which he did. Skiing right into him at approximately crotch level, he delivered a bite that drew blood. My own children were abandoned to the mountain at any early age; I was working. The seven-year old loved one particular black (advanced) run, which was right under a popular lift heading up the mountain. One day I overheard someone asking indignantly “what kind of mom would let their little kid ski alone like that?” Rhoda Blake, one of the original Taos Ski Valley owners, chuckled when I told her that, saying that that was exactly how her own kids were raised. At least they more-or-less “owned” the mountain. Who needs a mom when you can be raised by a mountain? Apparently it’s a lot like being raised by a wolf. It seemed to work for ancient Rome. Likewise, local school kids are usually turned loose by themselves for half a day after their lessons. They learn important skills, such as how to SKICOUNTRY 2018
leave a tip at the pizza joint, how to push each other down the hill, and how to get lost and unlost. Playing the bad boy, one eighth-grader joked, “It’s fun until somebody gets hurt…and then it’s really fun.” They also learn to do things like drop a mitten “accidentally” off the lift right over their favorite steep run, forcing the class to go that route.
things you didn’t want to know. When asked if his father skied, a seven-yearold from Dallas replied politely, “No, sir, he can’t because he’s a fat bastard.” One eight-year-old in a pink suit told me her daddy was a brain surgeon and his new wife was a cardiologist. And your mom? “Oh, she’s just an endocrinologist.” Another kid said, “My dad had to go all the way to Russia to
always wanted to learn.” One last story — a friend told me his father took them skiing whenever he could. It got them all through some very tough times, and as preacher’s kids, they had a few of those. After many years, he stopped one day at the bottom of the mountain, looking up. One by one, from the sons down to the tiniest grandchild, they came
ANGEL FIRE RESORT PHOTO – CHRIS McCLENNAN
Instructors can play that game, too, knowing just when to choose just the right dose of delicious fear (otherwise known as a challenge), like riding through the trees, finding a jump, or just diving into new terrain or new snow conditions. Ever seen a group of very small people come to a complete halt in deep powder? Nothing like having a bunch of wailing kids who need a tow truck. Kids can teach you all kinds of hawk-media.com
find a new wife.” But even the oldtimers still surprise us, taking on the attitude of kids pretty easily. I suggested to an “elderly” member of a big family clan that he take the “alternative” route and avoid the steep bumps we were headed for. Instead, he stayed right with me. He didn’t want his 85-year-old younger brother to show him up! My favorite was a lovely and fierce 90-year-old woman who showed up, saying, “I
down, hockey stopping and spraying him with snow. Maybe that was his baptism. The father seemed to have tears in his eyes. But you couldn’t know for certain as he wiped away the snow. Dr. Michele Potter has been a ski instructor and college teacher for more than 25 years, most of it in Taos. She also taught skiing in Germany, Colorado, and Oregon. 17
Calling all
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SKIING . SNOWBOARDING . TERRAIN PARK . GONDOLA RIDES . ZIPTOURS . DINING 1-800-545-9011 | Alto, NM | Located on the Mescalero Apache Reservation *Plus tax and $15 resort fee applied to reservation. Upgrades are subject to an additional fee. Room offers are subject to availability and blackout dates apply. Not available to groups. The food credit will be valid for the days of the packages only. Management reserves all rights. For reservations: 1-800-545-9011.
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WOLF CREEK SKI AREA
Durango •
PURGATORY AT DURANGO MOUNTAIN RESORT
• Pagosa Springs
CO LO R A D O NEW MEXICO
RED RIVER SKI AREA
Chama •
•
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• Taos
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But nowhere in the world do you get our magical mix of Southwestern sun and snow, culture and cuisine, wildlife and wilderness, art and history. The landscape is stunning – from
PAJARITO SKI AREA
high alpine terrain above treeline to the Rio
Los Alamos •
Our ski mountains rip – chutes, cliffs, bowls,
cruisers – and in terrain parks – rails, boxes, rainbows, banks. Treks into the backcountry
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ANGEL FIRE RESORT
SIPAPU SKI RESORT SANTA FE SKI BASIN
Outside our quaint mountain towns you’ll
discover fresh pockets of adventure and feel this winter completely, utterly alive.
• Eagle Nest
• Santa Fe
are beautiful and boss.
a a
ENCHANTED FOREST XC
Angel • Fire
You can ride almost anywhere in the world.
Grande Gorge, a huge rip in the earth.
Red River •
TAOS SKI VALLEY
Ski the Southwest
South Fork
And at day’s end, when your thighs are
screaming, slip into a hot tub or pound a big, honking green chile cheeseburger. Nothing like it anywhere.
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• Albuquerque
a
SANDIA SKI AREA
• Ruidoso
SKI APACHE MAP SHOWS APPROXIMATE LOCATIONS. DISTANCES NOT TO SCALE.
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ANGEL FIRE RESORT Ranked a Top 25 “Best Family
receiving an electrical
Ski Resort in North America,”
upgrade which will allow the
the Resort is launching C-4
chairlift ride to run smoother
this season, a new hike-to-
and with more efficiency.
access black diamond trail.
The mountain features over
Located in what was previ-
2000 vertical feet and 80
ously out-of-bounds territory
runs, with everything from
TAOS SKI VALLEY
north of the ski mountain, C-4
gentle, groomed slopes to
is a new nine-acre challenge
heart-pounding steep terrain.
Nestled among the pristine
tal and social responsibility
with a 1,000-foot vertical
Angel Fire is the best place in
peaks of northern New
organization. Cell and wi-fi
drop for the expert skier
New Mexico for night skiing.
Mexico, Taos Ski Valley is
service has been improved.
and a must-hit on a bluebird
The nearby Nordic Center
undergoing a $300 million
And this will be the first full
powder day. The Resort has
at the Country Club offers
renaissance and revitaliza-
winter of operation for The
installed a new snowmaking
cross country, snowshoeing
tion, making it one of North
Blake, the acclaimed new
system on the popular blue
and sledding. Don’t miss the
America’s premier vacation
80-room slopeside hotel
run, Jaspers. Along with
wacky World Championship
and adventure destinations.
which will give visitors a
Exhibition and Headin’ Home,
Shovel Races, February 2-3,
The 2017-2018 season
more refined lodging experi-
this improved groomed run
2018. The mountain is plan-
begins with major improve-
ence. With over 30 inches of
will offer skiers an alternate
ning to extend the season by
ments to TSV’s Strawberry
average snowfall, 300 days
way down the mountain in
a week, and will remain open
Hill beginner area. The
of sunshine and over 1,200
early season. The Chile Ex-
through March 25, 2018.
Children’s Center has been
skiable acres, TSV remains
press, a high-speed, detach-
Visit the website for stats,
refurbished with more
one of the most breathtaking
able quad chairlift, is
prices, and details.
modern amenities to make
ski resorts in the region. This
things easier for families.
March, TSV celebrates the
A new pulse gondola will
10th year of snowboarding
seamlessly transport visitors
on the mountain. See inter-
between the Children’s Cen-
active trail map online.
ter and the resort plaza. TSV
skitaos.org 800-776-1111
this year joined B-Corp, the industry’s new environmen20
angelfireresort.com 888-974-8694
SKICOUNTRY 2018
RED RIVER SKI AREA
WOLF CREEK SKI AREA Wolf Creek launched large
for grooming was added. The
capital improvements for
Powder Room, Wolf Creek’s
2018, including a new point-
newest amenity, will be of-
of-sale barcode system that
fered to season pass holders,
makes ticketing and lesson
who get private rooms with
reservations at lifts and all
lockers, boot and helmet
ticketing points much more
dryers, and other perks. As
efficient and convenient. Also
always, the most snow in
new is the Lynx Lift, a 290-
Colorado plus Wolf Creek’s
foot covered conveyor that
low-density skiing experience
takes visitors to the Interpre-
attract powder hounds and
tive Center, a new learning
new skiers and families alike.
and welcome area. Wolf
Famished skiers can feast
Creek will be going solar with
at Wolf Creek Lodge or the
the majority of its sustainable
Prospector Grill. See website
power offsets generated from
for specials, what’s happen-
the Penitente Solar Project
ing, and the snow report.
in the San Luis Valley. Snow
wolfcreekski.com 970-264-5649 1-800-SKI-WOLF
making and snow removal capacities have been increased, and a new Snowcat
hawk-media.com
There’s a gold mine of great
terrain parks, our mountain
runs in this old mining town
keeps skiers and boarders
turned “Ski Town of the
of all abilities entertained
Southwest.” At Red River Ski
and challenged. Bundle up,
& Summer Area, the attitude
grab your gear – or rent it
is laid back, the people are
here – and get ready for
friendly, and with an average
cool outdoor adventures.
of 18 feet of snow each year,
We’re right in the center of
85% of the mountain backed
town, a short walk from most
up with robust snowmaking
lodges. Professional coaches
and Snowcoach grooming
in our highly-respected ski
capabilities, plus plenty of
and snowboard school offer
sun, conditions are great.
youth, teen and adult classes
New in 2018: Thanks to hard-
for skiers and snowboarders
working snowmakers, the
at all levels. Check out the
terrain has been expanded
24-hour ticket kiosks. After
to offer 800 vertical feet of
riding, there’s tubing, evening
skiing and riding. Platinum
rail jams, weekly torchlight
Chair is open to Broadway
parades, and dinner and
Station (Midway) with access
drinks at the Lift House Bar
to four trails. With our mixed
and Grill. For future Deal
terrain, ski-through replica
Daze, stats and events:
of a mining camp, and
redriverskiarea.com 575-754-2233
PHOTOS COURTESY OF ALL SKI AREAS.
21
SIPAPU SKI RESORT Family-owned since 1952,
PURGATORY at DURANGO MOUNTAIN RESORT Purgatory at Durango
daily, maintained for cross
Mountain was named “North
country and snowshoeing.
America’s Best Ski Value” by
And après, discover historic
TripAdvisor three years in a
Durango, Colorado’s most
row. Colorado’s rugged San
charming ski town. Check
Juan Mountains are home to
our website for a slew of
some of the most consistent
special packages, snowcat
and abundant snow in the
adventure passes, and
Southwest. By day, explore
season passes for families
1,360 acres of terrain ranging
and groups. Power Cards
from steep tree trails to
and Power Packs give
wide-open cruisers. There’s
access to Purgatory,
dog sledding, snow tubing,
Hesperus Ski Area, Sipapu,
Nordic skiing, snowshoeing,
Pajarito, and Arizona
horse-drawn sleigh rides,
Snowbowl. For more details,
snowbiking, backcountry
stats, and events:
skiing, and snowmobiling. The
skipurg.com 800-525-0892
Nordic Center offers lessons and 20km of trails groomed
22
Pajarito Mountain in
Sipapu is one of the most
Los Alamos, NM, after exten-
family-friendly, old-school,
sive improvements, is known
affordable resorts in the
as one of the best places to
Rockies. Known for having
ski moguls and deep powder.
the longest ski season in NM,
40 trails, 6 lifts, and a terrain
the resort features over 41
park on 751 acres in the
trails, six lifts and three terrain
Jemez Mountains. Spec-
parks, perfect for all ability
tacular vidws of Rio Grande
levels. The newly-renovated
Valley and Valles Caldera
and enlarged historic lodge
National Preserve. Fall ine
this year boasts a new rental
and bump runs are consid-
shop, modern ticket kiosks,
ered tops in the state. This
locker room, more retail
season, Pajarito is replacing
space, and new facilities and
the old Mitey Mite with a
bathrooms. In conjunction
new Magic Carpet, and is
with Pajarito Mountain Ski
expanding beginner terrain,
Area, Sipapu sells NM Power
doubling the teaching area
Passes, offering unlimited
for beginners. The mountain
skiing and snowboarding at
is open Wednesdays through
five regional resorts. The ski
Sundays, plus extended
school’s magic carpet has a
schedule in March.
new hand rail, and the intermediate trail “Beep Beep” was recently widened. Visit our website for stats and current conditions.
sipapunm.com 800-587-2240 skipajarito.com 505 662 5725
SKICOUNTRY 2018
ENCHANTED FOREST XC Enchanted Forest, a few
tracks for additional skiing
miles east of Red River, NM,
and a wide skate lane for
offers the best of all worlds
the freestylers. Snowshoe?
– stunning mountain vistas
Old growth forests, aspen
along meandering forest
groves, wildlife—a cool
trails for both skiing and
nature trek. Warm up with
snowshoeing, with a back
a snack at the hut where
country feel in a groomed,
you can rent the stuff you
signed and patrolled area.
need. Group and individual
of any resort in the state,
Getting on the right trail is
lessons. Got a dog? Bring
largest ski area in NM,
allowing 5,600 guests to
easy stuff at New Mexico’s
‘em. Five km are dog-
managed by the Mescalero
explore the mountain’s runs
oldest full-service cross-
friendly. Need a night? How
Apache Tribe and offering
and 1,900 foot vertical drop
country ski and snowshoe
about a mountain yurt? We
the best warm-weather
every hour. The year-round
area. Cross Country? Over
rent ‘em. Moonlight torchlight
powder skiing in the world. A
zip tour, a 3,900-foot-long
33 km (600 acres) of prime
treks? Midweek is easier to
mix of wide beginner slopes,
thrilling adventure, rises over
forest groomed 12-foot wide
book. Events on the web:
SKI APACHE Ski Apache is the second
tough bump runs and nice
11,000 feet on parallel cables
cruising runs, terrain park
allowing riders to glide down
with jumps, tubes, and rails,
the mountain side-by-side.
and tubing hill, Ski Apache’s
The Adventure Center offers
750 skiable acres is the
full days of fun activities for
perfect location for skiers,
young skiers 4-12 with 100
snowboarders and snow
certified instructors. Sisters
lovers looking for a chal-
on Snow for women focuses
lenge or a relaxed day on
on a supportive and relaxed
the slopes. Ski Apache is
learning experience. For
home to New Mexico’s only
more about package deals,
eight-passenger gondola
the mountain, and events:
and has the most lift capacity
skiapache.com 575-464-3600
hawk-media.com
enchantedforestxc.com 800-966-9381 575-754-6112
PHOTOS COURTESY OF ALL SKI AREAS.
23
urgent medical care
Lesa Fraker, MD PhD FACEP
Owner/Medical Director Board Certified Emergency Medicine Physician
care you can count on No appointment necessary 7 days a week All ages welcome Care for most illnesses & injuries Colds and coughs Sprains and broken bones X-rays, prescription medications & lab tests on site Oxygen & IV Therapies for Altitude Sickness Most insurances accepted including Medicare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, & Humana
red river
200A Pioneer Road 575.754.1773
angel fire
FA-1 Ski Patrol Building 575.377.1805 The ONLY certified Urgent Care Clinics in the Enchanted Circle
ultimed.com
24
SKICOUNTRY 2018
ALPINE LODGES EL PUEBLO LODGE Come stay at the edge of town, at the edge of everything! Southwest charm with early Taos architecture. Complimentary wi-fi & DirecTV. Heated, seasonal pool, year-round hot tub. Full hot breakfast bar each morning, fresh-baked cookies each afternoon. Pet-friendly. Three blocks from historic Taos Plaza; 18 miles from Taos Ski Valley. Taos Pueblo and Taos Mountain Casino two miles north. See our website for specials and packages.
800.433.9612 575.758.8700 412 Paseo del Pueblo Norte, Taos, NM elpueblolodge.com
FIRESIDE INN & CABINS
Angel Fire is now offering a state-of-the-art hostel with the opening of Wheeler Peak Lodge, Condo and Hostel. Grand views of the Wheeler Peak range. Three luxury condos, 44 pods (bunks with a power supply), fireplaces, showers, game room, pool table, continental breakfast. Check out the newest ski shop in town with K2 rental equipment and retail. Open year-round, the Lodge is available for weddings and groups.
Open all year-round. Weeknight winter specials starting at $99 for 1 BR; or stay two nights and get the third night free. Specials exclude holidays and special events; some restrictions apply. Call about winter specials through May 1st. Modern, deluxe one- and two- bedroom fully-equipped cabins with room to roam on ten acres along the San Juan River. On the east side of Pagosa, close to Hot Springs, Wolf Creek Ski Area, and National Forest X-country ski trails. Private river access and fishing (catch & release) on our property. Individual living area with gas fireplace, bedroom/s, kitchen, bathroom. Covered porches with grills. Hot tub on property. Pet friendly.
888.308.3917 20 N. Angel Fire Rd, Angel Fire, NM 87710 wheelerlodge.com
888.264.9204 970.264.9204 1600 E. Hwy 160, Pagosa Springs, CO firesidecabins.com
WHEELER PEAK LODGE
hawk-media.com
25
From Dreams to dust… On the trail of ghost towns …who of us has never felt while walking through twilight or writing a date from his past, that something infinite had been lost? — Jorge Luis Borges
I
n Portugese there is a phrase, saudade, which speaks to a deep and profound sense of loss and nostalgia in regards to someone or some thing that has gone away. There is a Japanese term mono no aware, which has been translated: “Sensitivity to the sadness of impermanence,” or “a gentle, sorrow-tinged appreciation of transitory beauty.” Life’s perishability and ephemera, and the wistful states which it can conjure, finds itself wedded to the lore and legacy of local ghost towns. As time-locked vanishing points, ghost towns are endlessly resurrected through the stuff of legend. Places relegated to dust and dreamless remains are not only haunting grounds, but also part of an ongoing narrative. Or as Cormac McCarthy wrote, “Scars have the strange power to remind us that our past is real.” The scarred realities of the past are quite evident in New Mexico, which is home to over 400 ghost towns. We’ll shine a light onto the storied ruins of several ghost towns located in the northern New Mexico region. Dawson, which is located about seventeen miles southeast of Cimarron, was born in 1901, when the Dawson Coal Mine was opened and a railroad was constructed from Dawson to Tucumcari. Yet the “black gold,” 26
which brought vitality and commerce to the community, was also tied to two cataclysmic disasters. On October 22, 1913, the second worst mining disaster of the century occurred, when an incorrectly set dynamite charge resulted in an explosion, killing 263 miners and two rescuers. Ten years later, on February 8, 1923, a mine train jumped its track, hit the supporting timbers of the tunnel mouth, and conflagrated coal dust in the mine. The explosion killed 120 miners. Dawson Cemetery twice had to be extended to include the graves of the victims, 385 in all, which are marked by white iron crosses. Despite the tragedies, Dawson hung on until 1950, when the mine was closed and the entire town was sold off and dismantled. Pretty much all that remains is the cemetery, which is open to the public and has been placed on the National Register of Historic Sites (a rare distinction for old cemeteries). Colfax, originally known as Vermejo Junction, was a town whose existence was predicated on promises and the lure of attraction, a salespitch with a hustler’s grin. In the late 1890s, with nearby Dawson’s coalindustry thriving, Colfax expected to cash in. Not only did Colfax promoters play the Dawson angle, but also the fact that Colfax was located near two railroads, and possessed rich and arable farmland. Yet Colfax was one of those can’t-miss prospects, which never realized its potential. By the 1930s, most of the town had shut down, including the post office,
DAWSON CEMETERY – GERAINT SMITH
school, general store, hotel, and gas station. Nowadays, Colfax, with sparse fossilized remains indicating its past life, is a true ghost town whose vanishing act is nearly complete. In the 1800s gold fever was a contagion that precipitated the rise of many towns in New Mexico. One of those model “boom-or-bust” towns was Elizabethtown, which was founded by Captain William H. Moore, and named for his daughter, Elizabeth Catherine Moore. Located five miles from what is now Eagle Nest, nearby Baldy Mountain became the hot-spot for digging, panning, and pick-axing in hopes of hitting the jackpot. At its peak of popularity in 1870, “E-Town” had over 7,000 residents, and was designated New Mexico’s first incorporated town. Yet just two years later, with prospecting on the decline, there were only about 100 residents left, and the county seat was shifted to Cimarron. Yet minus the greed, violence, and viciousness SKICOUNTRY 2018
FORT UNION – GERAINT SMITH
that often went hand-in-hand with gold fever, “E-Town” morphed into a slightly saner, quieter version of itself. A widespread fire destroyed most of the town in 1903, yet it wasn’t fire that became the death-blow for “E-town” but water. Commissioned by Charles and Frank Springer, a dam was built at the entrance to Cimarron Canyon (completed in 1918), which created Eagle Nest Lake. Shortly thereafter the town of Therma was founded (later to be renamed Eagle Nest) and most of “E-Town’s” remaining residents switched locales. Structural bits and pieces of “E-Town’s” past still remain, with its bones consecrated in the hillside cemetery. The E-town museum rounds out the details through books, clothing, pictures, maps, family heirlooms, and other period-specific memorabilia. Loma Parda (“Gray Hill”) is situated on the banks of the Mora River, about thirty miles north of Las Vegas. Interestingly, it wasn’t Las Vegas but hawk-media.com
ELIZABETHTOWN – STAFF PHOTO
this modest little village which became New Mexico’s “Sin City,” or “Sodom on the Mora,” as it was referred to back in its salacious heyday. When Fort Union was established in 1851, located about six miles from Loma Parda, local entrepreneur Julian Baca capitalized on the soldiers’ desires for vice-driven fun by opening a saloon and dance hall. It wasn’t long before Baca’s was operating 24-7, with the world’s oldest profession in full swing, a rotgut liquor dubbed Loma Lightning being served in mass quantities, and the entire town turned into a “resort for thieves, murderers, and bad men and women of all kinds.” The advent of the railroad impacted the relevance of Fort Union, which was not only a military outpost but also a trader’s hub, and by 1892 the fort was abandoned entirely. As a result, Loma Parda lost its best customers and watched its fiery, dark star wane. Some families continued to live there and farm, but by World War
II Loma Parda slipped from its coma state into soft death. While much of the old village is now on private land, there are still some time-chewed remnants that can be seen, including relics of Baca’s dance hall, a wooden cross from the old church, and slabs of what was McMartin’s store. Legend has it that the ghosts of “lost souls,” perhaps men whose lives were claimed by violence, perhaps the women who were in the flinty business of pleasure, continue to stir echoes of the past. Fort Union, now a national monument, reflects its spectral existence through rows of adobe ruins, rusted cannons and farm equipment, and wagon ruts in the earth. To find out more about any of these and other New Mexico ghost towns, including directions and helpful guidelines, visit: www.ghosttowns.com/ states/nm/nm.html or www.newmexico. org/places-to-go/true-trails/ghost-towns/.
— John Biscello 27
WHEELER PEAK LODGE
Time to Dine TAOS
LUXURY CONDOS, HOSTEL, and GROUP ACCOMMODATIONS
ACEQ – 480 State Road 150, Arroyo Seco, NM 87514. 575.776.0900. Fresh, local, fun dining at its finest. Family-owned, farm-totable restaurant in Arroyo Seco Plaza. We serve our own interpretation of comfort food, utilizing the best in local, wild, and farm fresh ingredients. Contemporary takes on old classics, house-made specialties, craveable desserts. Chicken & Waffle SunThurs, Fresh Fish & Chips Friday, Prime Rib Fri-Sat. Reservations highly recommended. info@aceqrestaurant.com or visit aceqrestaurant.com COMMON FIRE – 88 State Road 150,
SKI SHOP ON PREMISES
next to Quail Ridge Inn. 505-803-9113. Locals-friendly, kids-friendly, just-plainfriendly. Bring an appetite. Beautiful, wood-fired clay oven pumps out flatbreads and braises in a world of styles made with New Mexico’s best meats, grains, vegetables and fruit. Fresh, local, organic, delicious. Great patio; killer view. All-craft, all-draught beer and about 100 wines. Never reservations; show up when you’re ready. Noon to 9, every day of the week. We’re here for you. taoscommonfire.com
DOC MARTIN’S RESTAURANT – 1/2
PRIVATE PODS and BATHS
block N of Taos Plaza in the Historic Taos Inn, 575-758-1977. Fresh, casual dining in a historic setting. Winner of Wine Spectator’s “Best Of Award Of Excellence” for 29 consecutive years. Innovative Regional New American Cuisine using the freshest local ingredients, specializing in organic vegetables, meats and fish, including favorites like buffalo, elk, trout. Homemade desserts. Lunch, dinner, weekend brunch. Reservations recommended. docmartinsrestaurant.com
FARMHOUSE CAFÉ and BAKERY –
888.308.3917
wheelerlodge.com 28
Three miles north of Taos Plaza at Overland Ranch. 575-758-LOVE (5683). Farm-totable, local organic cuisine. Legendary grass-fed burger, green chile chicken stew, daily quiche. House-made soups, salads and a variety of vegetarian, vegan, and
gluten-free options. Incredible assortment of artisan breads, croissants, tarts, muffins, cheesecakes, cookies and more. Specialty coffees and fresh organic grab-and-go items. Open 8 am-5 pm daily. Sunday Brunch. Ask about our dinner hours. Full menu: farmhousetaos.com
THE GORGE BAR and GRILL – 103 East Taos Plaza. 575-758-8866. Stop by and try our juicy burgers, handshaken margaritas, or fresh oysters – something for everyone! Enjoy The Best Happy Hour in Taos while sitting on our patio overlooking the Taos Plaza. Happy hour: M-F, 3-5:30 pm. Check out our wine bar and retail shop below The Gorge: PARCHT BOTTLESHOP + BITES. 575-758-1994. A cozy place to discover unique wines + quality craft beer + hand-picked artisanal cheese & charcuterie + locally roasted coffee. Explore the things that excite us while you taste + shop + unwind. thegorgebarandgrill.com and parcht.com GUADALAJARA GRILL – Two locations in Taos: Southside – 1384 Paseo del Pueblo Sur, Taos: 575-751-0063. Northside – 822 Paseo del Pueblo Norte, El Prado: 575737-0816. “Our secret sauce makes the difference!” Authentic Mexican food in New Mexico. Seafood, Chile Rellenos, Azteca Quesadilla, Camarones a la Diabla, Ceviche and so much more. Beer, Wine, Agave Margaritas. Voted “Best Of Taos” 2015: Best Mexican Food, Best Fast Food. Open 10:30 am to 9 pm 7 days a week. Full menu online: guadalajaragrilltaos.com RICKY’S – Located 2 1/2 blocks south of Taos Plaza at 312 Paseo del Pueblo Sur. 575-758-1156. A locals’ favorite. Breakfast, lunch and dinner specials daily. Great New Mexican and American dishes at family-oriented prices. Breakfast enchiladas and the meat-lover’s Bruno Omelette. Gluten-free and vegetarian chiles. Burgers made with fresh local beef daily. Kid’s menu. 80% of our dishes available vegetarian. Dine in or take out. Open 7 days, 7 am to 8 pm.
SKICOUNTRY 2018
SABROSO RESTAURANT & BAR – 470 State Hwy. 150, Arroyo Seco, NM. 575-7763333. An American fine dining restaurant on the road to Taos Ski Valley. Sabroso, which means delicious, is housed in a historic 150-year-old adobe in the tiny village of Arroyo Seco. Famous for wood-grilled steaks, fully-stocked bar, amazing wine cellar. Patio dining in summer with outside bar and covered tables. Fabulous handsqueezed Margaritas; local musicians in the cozy lounge. Book your upcoming event in our breathtaking plum orchard. Happy hour 4–6 pm, dinner 4:30 ‘til close. 10% OFF with valid ski pass. sabrosotaos.com
RED RIVER BRETT’S BISTRO – At Lifts West, 201 W. Main Street in Red River. 575-754-9959. Serving the best steaks, seafood and Rocky Mountain trout for over 35 years. Daily lunch special until 4 pm: Burger, fries, and a beer for just $9.95. Cold beer and fine wines. Kids’ menu. Like us on Facebook. Open daily 11 am–9 pm. brettsbistro.com
SUNDANCE – High Street at Copper King. 575-754-2971. Same great food, same great service. Celebrating our 44th year. Steaks, salads, excellent Mexican food. Great sopaipillas! Specials include shrimp fajitas and quesadillas. Frozen wine Margaritas. Reservations welcome. Call for to-go orders. Open nightly 5 pm.
ANGEL FIRE ANGEL FIRED PIZZA – Located on the second floor of the Mountain View Mall (next to the Lowe’s Valley Market). 575377-2774. We serve specialty pizzas, baked pastas, subs, calzones and salads. Our fun, relaxed atmosphere has great views of the mountain. Wide selection of handcrafted beers and fine wines. Many gluten-free options. Dine-in or carry-out. Open lunch and dinner, Tuesday–Sunday 11 am–9 pm. Happy Hour daily 3-6. angelfiredpizza.com
hawk-media.com
LEGENDS GRILL – Located on the second floor of The Lodge at Angel Fire Resort. 575-377-4201. A great place for the whole family. Proudly serving 1/2 lb. Angus beef burgers, sandwiches, salads and more. Great selection of craft beers on tap. Sports on the big screens! Open daily 4-9 pm. THE LIFT – Located in the lobby of The Lodge at Angel Fire Resort. 575-377-4234. Serving Starbucks specialty coffees and freshly baked goods daily. The Lift dishes up delicious breakfasts and lunches, including homemade breakfast burritos (a local favorite), breakfast sandwiches, wraps, fresh salads and homemade dressings. Beer and wine also available. Open daily 7 am-4 pm, with extended hours during peak periods. ELEMENTS at THE COUNTRY CLUB – 575-377-3055. Enjoy unobstructed Southern Rocky Mountain views while your taste buds delight in world class cuisine. Featuring a full bar, an award winning wine list, private dining rooms and group event spaces. Located on the upper level of the Angel Fire Country Club and open to the public year-round. Dining room is open Tuesday-Saturday 5–9 pm. Bar and lounge open Tuesday-Saturday 4 pm-close. Extended hours during peak periods.
PIZZA STOP – Located one block from the slopes, Village Center #1, North Angel Fire Road. 575-377-6340. Angel Fire’s oldest family restaurant features all kinds of pizzas, sandwiches, spaghetti, garlic rolls and more. Open Monday–Saturday 11 am-1 pm and 4:30 ‘til closing(?). Open Sunday 4:30–closing. Closed Tuesdays. Thanks for the past 28 years!
It All Happens
Under Our Rf 125 Paseo Del Pueblo Norte taosinn.com | 575.758.2233 29
2018 DECEMBER – 2017
8, 22, 29 Snow Divas Womens’ Clinic, Ski Apache
9, 16, 23, 30 Torchlight Parades, Red River
9
10-17 College Days, Red River Ski Area
11, 18, 25 Men’s Mountain Masters, Ski Apache
11 Military Monday, TSV – weekly through March 26
12-14 Winter Carnival, Red River
15-16 Public Demo Days, Taos Ski Valley
13 Race the Face Snowmobile Hill Climb
15-17 Femme de Freeride, Taos Ski Valley
13 Telemark Festival, Sipapu Ski Area
16 Venture Snowboard Demos, Purgatory
13-14 Skijoring, Town of Red River
16 Christmas Tree Lighting, TSV
13 Santa Fe Brewing Happy Hops Hunt, Sipapu
19 Member X-Country Ski Clinic, Angel Fire Resort
13 Freeheel Fray Telemark Race, Sipapu
21 Children’s Center Grand Opening, TSV
13 Snowshoe Headlamp Tour, Sipapu
22 Dress as Santa or Elves and Ski Free, TSV
14 Ice Climbing Clinic, Purgatory Resort
22 First Annual Christmas Market, TSV
16-21 5th Annual Not Forgotten Outreach week, TSV
22 New Belgium Brewing Fleece Giveaway, Purgatory
17, 24, 31 McDonald’s Twilight Nights Race Series, Purgatory
23-31 Scenic Snowcat tours, Purgatory Resort
20 USSC Ultimate Ski / Snowboard Challenge, Red River
24 Procession of the Virgin & bonfires, Taos Pueblo
21 King of the Hill Terrain Competition, Sipapu
24 Torchlight parade & fireworks, all ski areas
21 Locals Benefit Day, Purgatory Resort
24-25 Ski or Ride with Santa, most ski areas
21 Demo Day, Purgatory Resort
25 Matachines or Deer Dance, Taos Pueblo
21 King of the Hill Terrain Park competition, Sipapu
25 Christmas Luminaria Tour, Enchanted Forest XC
21 USASA SW Freeride Slopestyle Competition, Sipapu
27 Dummy Gelunde and Torchlight Parade, Ski Apache
26-28 Ladies Turn Ski Weekend, Purgatory Resort
29 Tour with a Ranger, Red River Ski Area, ongoing
26-28 Big Ol’ Texas Weekend, Angel Fire Resort
31 Torchlight parade & fireworks, all ski areas
27 UNM Corporate Cup, Sipapu
31 Night Rail Jam, Purgatory Resort
27 Moonlight Hike & Campfire, Sipapu
31 Moonlight Ski & Snowshoe, Sledding, Sipapu
31 Member Moonlight Dinner & Ski, AF Resort
31 Moonlight Ski & Snowshoe, Enchanted Forest
FEBRUARY
31 New Year’s Celebration, Taos Plaza
JANUARY 1
Turtle Dance, Taos Pueblo
Member X-Country Ski Clinic, Angel Fire Resort
1, 8, 15 Men’s Mountain Masters, Ski Apache 2-3 World Championship Shovel Races, AF Resort 2-3 UNM Lobo Invitational NCAA races, Sipapu
1-7 College Week, Angel Fire Resort
3
1-28 Scenic Snowcat tours, Purgatory Resort
3-4 Air Bag Jump, Purgatory Resort
2-16 College Days, Red River Ski Area
3-4 Rando Raid: US Ski Mountaineering Nationals Race, TSV
3-4 Never Summer Demo Day, Purgatory Resort
3, 10, 17, 24 Ladies’ Days, Ski Apache
5 New Belgium Brewing Fleece Giveaway, Purgatory
4, 25 Locals Benefit Day, Purgatory Resort
5-8 USASA Snowboard Slalom & Giant Slalom, Purgatory
5, 12, 26 Snow Divas Womens’ Clinic, Ski Apache
6
22nd Annual Brewmaster’s Festival, TSV
6
6
Buffalo or Deer Dance, Taos Pueblo
9-11 Junior Taos Freeride Regionals, TSV
6
USASA Gold Rush Rail Jam, Red River
9-13 Mardi Gras Celebration, Angel Fire Resort
7 Ladies’ Telemark ski clinics, Wolf Creek 30
Telemark Ski Clinic, Wolf Creek Ski Area
Member X-Country Ski Clinic, Angel Fire Resort
9-13 Mardi Gras in the Mountains, Red River Ski Area SKICOUNTRY 2018
10 Red Ball Express, Purgatory Resort
14 Wolves Visit The Mountain, Purgatory Resort
11 Mardi Gras Fun Race, Wolf Creek
16-17 22nd Ben Myers Ridge-A-Thon, Taos Ski Valley
14-15 10th Annual SW On-Snow Demo Days, TSV
16-18 Dog Days – Ski with your dogs, Sipapu
16-18 Members’ Winter Weekend, Angel Fire Resort
16, 23 Kids Glowstick Parade, Red River
17 USASA Halfpipe Competition, Purgatory Resort
17 Snowboarding 10th Anniversary, TSV
17 ON3P Ski Demos, Purgatory Resort
17 Pond Skimming Contest, Sipapu
17 Night Rail Jam, Purgatory Resort
17 Snowshoe Headlamp Tour, Sipapu
17 Santa Fe Brewing Happy Hops Hunt 2, Sipapu
17 McDonald’s Cardboard Derby, Purgatory Resort
17-19 February Fun Fest, Sipapu
19-23 Yeti Club Ski & Ride Camp, Sipapu
18 Presidents Day Fun Race, Wolf Creek Ski Area
24 Ski-Easter for kids, Purgatory Resort
22-26 Military Winterfest, AF Resort
25 Closing Day, AF Resort
23-25 Ski Bike Festival, Purgatory Resort
25 Closing Day, Sipapu Resort
24 4th Annual Lloyd Bolander Memorial, Sipapu
25 Locals Benefit Day / Demo Day, Purgatory Resort
24 Moonlight Hike & Campfire, Sipapu
31 Howlin’ Wolf Super-G Downhill, Wolf Creek
24 Just Desserts Eat and Ski, Sipapu
31 Pond Skimming, Purgatory Resort
24 Shred the Love for Breast Cancer, Taos Ski Valley
APRIL
24 USASA Rampage Slopestyle, Red River Ski Area 24 Dave Spencer Ski Classic, Purgatory Resort 25 Demo Day, Purgatory Resort 25 Slalom & Giant Slalom Races, Red River
1
Closing Day, Taos Ski Valley
1
Easter Bunny at Wolf Creek Ski Area
1
Locals Appreciation Day, Wolf Creek Ski Area
28-March 3 Taos Freeride Championships, Taos Ski Valley
MARCH 2
Member Ski Day in Taos, AF Resort
3
Uncle Clyde’s Run & Slide, Purgatory Resort
3
Chow Down Pet Supplies Giant Slalom, Wolf Creek
3
Ski Team Invitational Giant Slalom, Wolf Creek
INFORMATION
Angel Fire 800-446-8117
Chama 800-477-0149
Durango 970-247-3500
Eagle Nest 800-494-9117
Pagosa Springs 800-252-2204
Red River 800-348-6444
Ruidoso 877-784-3676
Santa Fe 800-777-2489
10 Rally in The Valley, TSV
South Fork 800-571-0881
10-11 Air Bag Jump, Purgatory Resort
Taos County 800-732-8267
10 Member Sledding Social, AF Resort
Taos Pueblo 575-758-1028
3-4 Hawaiian Days, Sipapu Ski Resort 4
Ladies Ski & Snowboard clinic, Wolf Creek
10 Spring Fling Fun Race, Wolf Creek 10 15th Annual Cardboard Derby, Sipapu 10 “We Be Jammin’” Sundown Rail Jam, Red River 10 Ernie Blake Birthday Celebration, TSV
11 Lone Star Cup, Ski Apache 12, 15 Fun With Science performances, Purgatory Resort
Dates are subject to change. Check with local chambers
12-23 Spring Break Celebration, Angel Fire Resort
and visitor centers for updated calendar information.
hawk-media.com
31
commute isn’t a word you’ll need here lodge to lift
in under
ten minutes
www.redriverskiarea.com