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New Mexico Skiing

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MaimHelp
Posts: 1721 - Karma: 13,597
Can someone who has skied or lives in New Mexico give me a rundown of the skiing?

im literally just curious cause it’s like a desert and pretty warm most of the year but the altitude allows for ski resorts.



what are the big mountains there? Any places with fun parks? Local scenes? Lmk
Feb 15 2023 11:57AM
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BradFiAusNzCoCa
Posts: 7073 - Karma: 61,950
My buddy lives in Santa Fe. I visited him last March and it was really fun. I skied ski Santa Fe. They’ve got quite a few resorts down there. Taos is, obviously, the main attraction down there but don’t overlook some other places. Red River town looks super sick. He told me of one resort that has a good park but I forget the name. Honestly, I really want to explore NM skiing more. A lot of mom and pop resorts and seems like it’s always warm.
Feb 15 2023 12:03PM
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eheath
Posts: 61648 - Karma: 123,479
MaimHelpim literally just curious cause it’s like a desert

utah and nevada are basically deserts too with spots of mtns and trees haha deserts get cold af

there are some areas in southern california around death valley and shit that has the coolest mountains, maybe we can ski them in the next ice age
Feb 15 2023 12:05PM
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Dilldoes
Posts: 761 - Karma: 5,853
Grew up skiing Angel Fire and Toas very regularly.

Toas is amazing and Angel Fire used to have a pretty decent park including a super pipe back in the day.

The snow is hit or miss and lately it's seemed to miss more.

The state is fun to ski but if you only ever visited Toas and nothing else you wouldn't be missing out as the rest of the resorts are pretty basic.

**This post was edited on Feb 15th 2023 at 12:21:52pm
Feb 15 2023 12:21PM
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armchair_skier
Posts: 2349 - Karma: 29,658
Taos Ski Valley!

Very slept on imo. Lift access up to 12,400ft, good vert not so big area. Backcountry access to wheeler state wilderness and wheeler peak (highest point in NM). Even has a park.

The town of Taos is also very cool, lots of art and galleries, and the cost of living is WAY less than other ski areas.


Angel fire is nearby too but I don't know as much about it.


Santa Fe is only an hour and half away too

**This post was edited on Feb 15th 2023 at 1:09:59pm
Feb 15 2023 1:08PM
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MaimHelp
Posts: 1721 - Karma: 13,597
eheathutah and nevada are basically deserts too with spots of mtns and trees haha deserts get cold af

there are some areas in southern california around death valley and shit that has the coolest mountains, maybe we can ski them in the next ice age


Yeah I knew they got cold, just the lack of precipitation is what I was thinking of. Seems like it would be all man made snow

I’m also looking for places with mild climates that I can also ski at for future living that aren’t utah
Feb 15 2023 1:47PM
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eheath
Posts: 61648 - Karma: 123,479
MaimHelpYeah I knew they got cold, just the lack of precipitation is what I was thinking of. Seems like it would be all man made snow

I’m also looking for places with mild climates that I can also ski at for future living that aren’t utah


next thing you know that mild climate is gonna turn into no skiing climate, at least at the rate were going.

desert =/= no precip but i get what you mean
Feb 15 2023 1:48PM
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MaimHelp
Posts: 1721 - Karma: 13,597
eheathnext thing you know that mild climate is gonna turn into no skiing climate, at least at the rate were going.

desert =/= no precip but i get what you mean


A mild climate will be better than this garbage PA rain all szn weather.

plus if I live out there trips to Colorado or Utah and shit will be way easier
Feb 15 2023 1:54PM
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BeefSupreme
Posts: 17 - Karma: 97
Snow isn’t great but better than you’d think.

Taos absolutely rocks though. Steep as shit and you can get a pretty cheap season pass if you’re under like 35. Good food and chill locals too.
Feb 15 2023 2:38PM
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SofaKingSick
Posts: 9339 - Karma: 61,310
BeefSupremeSnow isn’t great but better than you’d think.

Taos absolutely rocks though. Steep as shit and you can get a pretty cheap season pass if you’re under like 35. Good food and chill locals too.


great username. if i had a pro model that's what i'd name it
Feb 15 2023 2:49PM
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BearsOnKetamine
Posts: 674 - Karma: 1,234
i went backpacking in cimeron 2 years ago and there was snow in july so you’re prob chillin
Feb 15 2023 9:19PM
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tanner48
Posts: 25 - Karma: 59
Taos has the best terrain of all of them, spring storms usually deliver way more than forecasted, cool art stuff some good food and not a whole lot going on in town really

Santa Fe is pretty good and gets some sneaky storms (39in since this monday), cool little town with some really good food and if you like art theres a lot of that

Pajarito is small no lift lines and cheap if you buy online (can be $25 for a full day), some really fun runs and when the snows good its amazing, only open on weekends and over the holidays

Sipapu small cheap lift tickets no lines

Sandia Ski Area 40ish minute drive from albuquerque not sure if they even run the lifts anymore but you can tour up or shuttle up it by car


Southern Colorado (including this because if you live in albuquerque or anywhere in the northern half of New Mexico its super close)

Wolf Creek if you like powder is incredible (skied boot deep pow november 11th this year) they are always getting big storms and pagosa springs is cheap to get a hotel and say for a weekend

Purgatory super fun mountain lots of rollers and a few little cliffs, has a really good park, durango is really cool also a fun town for going out.
Feb 15 2023 10:26PM
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ajax
Posts: 2852 - Karma: 1,245
Yeah dude New Mexico has some pretty sweet skiing. I moved here 10 years ago and wasn't sure how long I was going to stay. The reasonably good quality of skiing has been a big factor of me staying here. Taos and the surrounding backcountry is hands down the best. Red River is also a pretty cool mountain and usually has a good park. For off-the-beaten-path scenes, Sipapu is pretty rad. It's small and cheap, and jeans and carhartts are pretty common. Also, Pajarito is kind of tucked away, has some great blue/black skiing, and has a pretty active after work skinning lap culture. There's even some other places pretty far south like Ski Apache and Cloudcroft, but I haven't been down that far.
Feb 15 2023 10:31PM
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weastcoat
Posts: 6435 - Karma: 74,259
Feb 15 2023 10:54PM
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buck_nasty
Posts: 239 - Karma: 1,313
NM skier here. Lots of good skiing around these parts. Snow isn’t as consistent as some places, but it’s usually dry and light when it comes. Terrain at Taos is world class. Had an incredibly sick pow day up there today!
Feb 15 2023 11:14PM
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ViolentSkiBlade
Posts: 114 - Karma: 576
Concur with everybody else on here saying Taos. I lived there for 2 years and enjoyed every day I hit the ridge, kachina, or basin. I still live about 2.5 hours away in southern colorado and plan on doing lots of march skiing there
Feb 16 2023 9:04AM
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IsaacNW82
Posts: 769 - Karma: 6,693
In late feb/early march there is no where in the world I'd rather be than Taos. Incredibly gnarly mountain that needs a shitload of snow to really open everything up, and the snow tends to come later in the year, usually with a few truly ridiculous storms a year. Dry spells in dec and jan are common, which I think is a big part of its bad rap for snowfall. Fortunately most of the mountain is an excellent aspect with a pretty stable climate.

Parks kinda suck in NM tbh but the (very small) scene is nice and chill
Feb 16 2023 11:09AM
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ViolentSkiBlade
Posts: 114 - Karma: 576
IsaacNW82In late feb/early march there is no where in the world I'd rather be than Taos. Incredibly gnarly mountain that needs a shitload of snow to really open everything up, and the snow tends to come later in the year, usually with a few truly ridiculous storms a year. Dry spells in dec and jan are common, which I think is a big part of its bad rap for snowfall. Fortunately most of the mountain is an excellent aspect with a pretty stable climate.

Parks kinda suck in NM tbh but the (very small) scene is nice and chill


Frickin ditto!
Feb 16 2023 6:24PM
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tri_photo
Posts: 1530 - Karma: 7,195
weatcoast


thank you good sir for doing this because I was about to post something regarding BB or BCS, Yo.
Feb 16 2023 9:55PM
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MaimHelp
Posts: 1721 - Karma: 13,597
tri_photothank you good sir for doing this because I was about to post something regarding BB or BCS, Yo.


we need to cook
Feb 16 2023 10:13PM
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weastcoat
Posts: 6435 - Karma: 74,259
MaimHelpwe need to cook

New Mexico gets snow but it’s always real sugary and blue. Weird.
Feb 16 2023 10:59PM
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