Taos 2018-19, conditions and more

[marzNC]

Since I'm headed to Taos in January with friends and have a friend from DC going in early February, I was happy to see that Taos has had it's first big snow storm already. Last season was a low snow season, so hopefully this winter will be more like the first time I was at Taos when Kachina was fully open by mid-January.

For Divas with enough posts, there is a Meet On The Hill (MOST) thread for my January trip. @alison wong is going the same week, as well as @diymom . We are all going to do a Ski Week.

For more about why Alison and I want to do another a Taos Ski Week, check out this thread. Although the title is about the Women's Ski Week, the discussion is also about the regular Ski Weeks that are co-ed and happen every week of main season.

https://www.theskidiva.com/forums/index.php?threads/womens-taos-ski-weeks.22789/

 

[marzNC]

Upper mountain expecting 5-10 inches this week.

 

[marzNC]

TSV is supposed to get snow tonight. Then daytime temps stay below 35 for the next week. Guess that's why TSV is known for snow preservation and bumps have a chance to grow once the lifts open. Haven't ever watched this carefully during November before.

Just played with the webcams. The camera at the Base and for Kachina are live already. Takes a fast Internet connection but it's possible to control the view if someone else isn't in control. The Base camera has 5 views and the Kachina camera can point is several different directions.

WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 4 PM MDT WEDNESDAY...

WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 4 to 8 inches, with localized amounts up to 12 inches, are expected.

WHERE...Northern Sangre de Cristos above 9500 feet including Red River, Southern Sangre de Cristos above 9500 feet, East Slopes Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Raton Ridge and Johnson Mesa.

WHEN...From 8 PM this evening to 4 PM MDT Wednesday.

 

[nopoleskier]

7" this morning :-))))))))

 

[marzNC]

User controls for webcams are fun! May melt at the base but clearly it was a significant storm for late October.

 

[marzNC]

The total for the last snowstorm is in. In the last reminder email about getting a season pass before the price goes up, TSV wrote: "On October 31, 2018 the mountain received 16.5" of snow, which was a great way to transition into November. Opening Day is November 22." Looks like there is a measuring spot set up near the base.

 

[theyardsaleexpert]

Taos is supposed to get another big snow storm this week. It was fun skiing there last year with the sub par conditions so I am excited for a good winter.

 

[marzNC]

Taos is supposed to get another big snow storm this week. It was fun skiing there last year with the sub par conditions so I am excited for a good winter.

Looks good to me. Staying cold afterwards too according to OpenSnow.

 

[marzNC]

Given the Taos and Santa Fe open on 11/22, the OpenSnow reports are starting up for the season. The Nov. 11-12 storm dropped a 13" at TSV and 12" at Santa Fe. Red River got 16". Even Sandia Peak near Albuquerque got 2-4".

 

[marzNC]

Another Taos snowstorm in the books!

11/14/18 email:
Winter has brought its second big storm - this time 14" of powder over the last 48 hours, and it couldn't have come at a better time. Opening Day is right around the corner on November 22, 2018 - Thanksgiving Day - and we invite you to come Ski The Change with us this winter.

 

[marzNC]

Taos got an early December storm.

From OpenSnow on 12/3/18:
Below are the snow totals from Storm #1 (Friday evening through Saturday morning) PLUS Storm #2 on Sunday:

Taos: 12”
Ski Santa Fe: 11”
Angel Fire: 9”
Red River: 7”
Pajarito: 6”
Sipapu: 6”
Ski Apache: 6”
Sandia: 5”

 

[marzNC]

Another snowstorm at Taos. Actually dropped more snow than expected. Here are the totals from the 12/14/18 report on OpenSnow for NM. 45% of the terrain is open already. Taos is not typically a place people plan on going during early season. For that matter, many people wait until February if they want to ski the off-piste terrain on the upper mountain.

Ski Santa Fe: 7”
Taos: 5”
Ski Apache: 4.5”
Angel Fire: 4”
Sipapu: 4”
Red River: 3”
Sandia: 2”

 

[marzNC]

Oh good, TSV is getting a snowstorm for Christmas!

 

[marzNC]

In addition to Taos Ski Weeks, TSV seems to have added a new option for spending time with an instructor. It's similar to what's offered at Alta in the afternoons for advanced/expert adults who want to explore challenging terrain with a very experienced instructor. Not a lesson exactly, but can get a few pointers by asking a few questions about technique.

What's interesting for TSV is that the "Mountain Experience" is in the mornings for advanced/expert terrain and there are options for green/blue terrain in the mornings and afternoons. Max 4 and only $75 for 2.5 hours, plus tip. That's a unique deal for an intermediate who is traveling alone and isn't staying long enough to do a Ski Week. Or an intermediate who doesn't have ski buddies to ski with in the afternoon after a Ski Week session, but wants to explore a bit without worrying about where to go to find good conditions.

 

[marzNC]

@badger : when are you liking to get to Taos if it keeps snowing?

 

[marzNC]

Looking pretty good for Christmas week at TSV. All the lifts except Kachina are open. Have some black and double-black trees runs open. It's pretty cold today with single digits at lunch time.

 

[marzNC]

Hmm, Taos offers a 1-day or 2-day Beginner lesson that guarantees a ride on the chair lift even for never-evers. Not a bad deal for $175 or $275 for 9:30-3:30. There is a half-day option but then no guarantee for learning enough to ride the lift. Can watch the adult beginner area on the base cam.

The children's ski school uses a completely different area away from the main base. The free gondolita makes it easier for parents who don't have a lift ticket to go between the children's base and the main base.

Gondolita station at the main base, liftie watching from inside but pretty much self-service for loading and unloading

 

[marzNC]

With a little patience, it's possible to control where the base cam is pointed. Noticed that there is a set of banked turns in the teaching area (next to the magic carpet tunnel). Don't know if that's just for the holiday week when there are obviously lots of beginners. There is a short line for the Pioneer lift.

Base cam with Pioneer Close view, 12/29/18 around noon

 

[marzNC]

Oh my, another big snowstorm is headed to TSV. Could be up to 10 inches on Dec. 31, 2018 and the storm watch covers two days.

 

[santacruz skier]

Taos already has more snow than it probably did all season...... should be a different experience than last year. Even though skiing mostly on groomers (all that was open) last year was good for me to get back to basics/fundamentals as it had been decades since i had proper instruction!