Taos, NM
- Thread starter SammyDubz
- Start date
Grew up skiing Taos.. imo get stoked about aggressive alpine skiing, tree lines and steeps but not necessarily deep deep pow.. not the most playful mountain, snowpack can and probably will be an issue at Christmas time. Having said all that, Taos is a special place.. green chile burgers at the St. Bernard and breakfast burritos at the Guadalajara grill in town.
Well got some bad news, while most of CO is bitching because that's what we're good at when the snow isn't good. Taos residents have a legit reason to be scared for this season.
https://www.skitaos.com/lifts-trails/
https://www.skitaos.com/lifts-trails/
SofaKingSick
Active member
that place looks wild. 12.5k feet too dang. does it not get a lot of snow?
ShredderSexton
New member
go to Orlandos, get your food Christmas style, check out the sick brewery, and if you want the good stuff you gotta hike to it but unless it snows a ton soon that prob won't be an option. but it is a rad place!
search4freshies
Member
I live in the South West and ski Taos a handful of times a season. But like some others have said, maybe not so much this year. I can say this; The mountain is off the charts, lost of spicy terrain, chutes, mandatory airs, and hittable cliffs. There's a reason the longest running FWT qualifier is at Taos. As far as freeride terrain goes, its incredible!
On a good snow day, and its regularly tits deep , there are only a couple of places in North America I can think of that compete (silverton, crested butte, squaw, revy). However, it is not Japan and the storms often come and go. In between cycles expect to ski windcrusted bumps, ALOT of BUMPS, with dodgy runouts, and pockets of death scattered everywhere. I tend to appreciate these days as much as the blower pow days, but this type of skiing isn't for everyone.
I obsess over the weather in SW Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah on the daily, and Taos just got their first dusting last night. A whopping 1 inch. The early season down here isn't as good as it tends to be a little farther North, in the front range, but it is wayyy to early to tell how the pow is gonna fall in the future. Last year we got a huge Christmas storm, and 100 inches the month of January. I have a feeling deep in my ballsack that says this year is gonna be even better.
All that being said; here's what you need to know.
-Bring equipment that can handle the deep days, as well as something that will do you right on the hardpack. Who knows what you'll be skiing on over Xmas break.
-If you plan on hitting any hike to terrain, or side country make sure you have your beacon, shovel and probe. Sketchy snowpack is an understatement.
-If you order Chilli, it won't be a red stew. Its green and it's motherfuckin SPICY! *Standard NM cuisine*
-if the snow sucks, there's a lot of cool shit to do within driving distance. Come up to Durango CO for outdoor fun (and potentially better snow) or Santa Fe for city fun. (check out 'Meow Wolf' if you have the chance)!
Mahalo my dude!
On a good snow day, and its regularly tits deep , there are only a couple of places in North America I can think of that compete (silverton, crested butte, squaw, revy). However, it is not Japan and the storms often come and go. In between cycles expect to ski windcrusted bumps, ALOT of BUMPS, with dodgy runouts, and pockets of death scattered everywhere. I tend to appreciate these days as much as the blower pow days, but this type of skiing isn't for everyone.
I obsess over the weather in SW Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah on the daily, and Taos just got their first dusting last night. A whopping 1 inch. The early season down here isn't as good as it tends to be a little farther North, in the front range, but it is wayyy to early to tell how the pow is gonna fall in the future. Last year we got a huge Christmas storm, and 100 inches the month of January. I have a feeling deep in my ballsack that says this year is gonna be even better.
All that being said; here's what you need to know.
-Bring equipment that can handle the deep days, as well as something that will do you right on the hardpack. Who knows what you'll be skiing on over Xmas break.
-If you plan on hitting any hike to terrain, or side country make sure you have your beacon, shovel and probe. Sketchy snowpack is an understatement.
-If you order Chilli, it won't be a red stew. Its green and it's motherfuckin SPICY! *Standard NM cuisine*
-if the snow sucks, there's a lot of cool shit to do within driving distance. Come up to Durango CO for outdoor fun (and potentially better snow) or Santa Fe for city fun. (check out 'Meow Wolf' if you have the chance)!
Mahalo my dude!
search4freshies
Member
13864601:ShredderSexton said:
First time i went to New Mexico someone asked me, "red, green or christmas?" I honestly had no clue they were talking about the chilli on my burrito. Someone behind mein line had to explain it to me! HAHAHA
tiger_shart
Member
13864479:Sinjun said:
Cry baby...
for real tho, if you like cushy resorts where you can have everything spoon fed to you, don't come here. It's not vail, and no matter how hard the new owners try, it never will be. New Mexico is different dawg, def ain't Colorado.
tiger_shart
Member
13864501:mulz said:
I wouldn't worry bout that, usually the later the snow hits down here, the better. It will be bone dry for weeks, and then shit 3 feet out of nowhere.
tiger_shart
Member
13864980:mulz said:
Totally, but Taos often gets pretty hammered last couple weeks of December. Kachina may not be open, but the lower steeps are at their best in the early season storms.
13864954:ShireRat said:
It has nothing to do with being a crybaby. When I go on vacation for skiing I like to get as much vertical in as possible. I as well as a lot of other people only get to get out west once a year. And I want to make the most out of that one time. At other resorts my son and I can average over 20,000 feet of vertical a day not so much at Taos.
And as far as the night life in Taos during the week almost everything closes by 8:00pm so make sure you get out early enough to get dinner.
steezy.sam
New member
Always get the christmas burritos...best burritos north america!
search4freshies
Member
BUMP: Headed down to Taos MLK weekend.
search4freshies
Member
13875042:SammyDubz said:
Gotta head north to CO for the greens, but if you have the time take an edible and go explore MeowWolf in Santa Fe and have your mind blown!
search4freshies
Member
13875506:SammyDubz said:
nah, just be smart and it'll be all good.
Funnel
Active member
Bump.
Heading to Taos to ski Friday - Sunday. Kind of bad timing with all the snow we’re getting in the Sierras, but my friends are adamant since we’ve got it locked in.
Anyone going to be there this weekend? Suggestions? Conditions update?
Living by the water in So Cal means This weekend will feel like running a marathon while breathing through a straw. Hope to link up with someone here for a few laps.
Heading to Taos to ski Friday - Sunday. Kind of bad timing with all the snow we’re getting in the Sierras, but my friends are adamant since we’ve got it locked in.
Anyone going to be there this weekend? Suggestions? Conditions update?
Living by the water in So Cal means This weekend will feel like running a marathon while breathing through a straw. Hope to link up with someone here for a few laps.
tiger_shart
Member
13996381:Funnel said:
Taos just got dumped on, the resort will be bangin. Wouldn’t recommend going into the backcountry right now as it’s been a gnarly season avy wise. Hit up @steezeninja on here or ig, longtime Newschoolers member, Taos OG, and one of my all time favorite people to ski with, he will show you the goods. Get yourself a breakfast burrito from Abe’s on the way up, green Chile cheeseburger at the deck of the hotel St. Bernard, and then happy hour at the stray dog for $5 frito pies and michiladas. Taos is a special spot with a special community, enjoy it to the fullest.