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Angel Fire

Chama

Durango

Pajarito

Red River

Sipapu

South Fork

Ski Apache

Taos

Taos Ski Valley

Wolf Creek

SkiCountry SkiCountryW I N T E R 2 0 1 6 G U I D E T O S K I I N G T H E S O U T H W E S T

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575.377.6612

Ski Reservation Hotline:

575.377.6559

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Contents

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15

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Welcome

Historic Hotels

Our Towns

Tale-spinning in the High Desert

Historic Hotels

Ski the Southwest

Taos Ski Valley, Angel Fire Resort

Wolf Creek Ski Area, Red River Ski Area

Durango Mountain Resort, Sipapu, Pajarito

Ski Apache

Alpine Lodges

Name That Run

Time to Dine

Calendar

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Publisher/Editor Joe Haukebo

Design/Production Digerati Design

Advertising Sales Christine Pedler

Contributing Writers John Biscello, Gustav Herold

Photography Chris McClennan, Carol Morgan Eagle,

Geraint Smith, Gak Stonn,

Cover photo Geraint Smith – Rio Grande

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 MediaPO Box 182, Angel Fire, NM 87710575 595 0575 | 575 758 4047

info@hawk-media.comScan the QR code or visit us at www.hawk-media.comfor more articles, photos & e-zines

PHOTO: GERAINT SMITH

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866.668.7787 AngelFireFun.com

AngelFire

I n 1831, mountaineer Albert Pike trekked across the Sangre de Cristo

Mountains in the dead of winter – a rough one, killer cold – trudging through deep snow and ice. He finally stumbled into Taos half-frozen and severely frostbitten. His moccasined feet had swelled to four times their normal size. His Mexican host roasted onions and packed them around Pike’s feet; the swelling eventually subsided and he regained their normal use. As a kid growing up near the Minnesota-Canada border – the deep freeze of the nation – I wished we knew about the onion trick. We’d play hock-ey outside after school and after dinner and regularly freeze our feet. When we couldn’t feel them any more, we’d crawl indoors and moan while we rubbed our toes, trying to rub away the numbness, then rub away the jabbing needles as they started to thaw. Our feet felt like freezer-burned meat. And we did this on a regular basis. We knew it made no sense, but it was winter and you don’t want to miss out – winter wants to dance. We did all kinds of different dances. From the early days, we were bundled up in bulky snowsuits and woollen mittens that grew heavier as the snow stuck to them. The suits, for the most part, kept out the snow and cold but they were so cumbersome, if you plopped down to make a snow angel, it was tough to get back up – you worried about being stuck there awhile. But as little kids we always had plenty of thing to worry about, things our older siblings told us to watch out

for: monster icicles falling from roof-tops and splitting your head open like a melon; snow snakes that tripped you and dragged you away; wandering lost and snow-blind in blizzards that lasted for days; temperatures so cold you could freeze your lungs and spit ice. Our ripe imaginations could easily take over. The silence of a cold winter day only helped make it worse. But we braved the elements inside and out to build snow caves or fly downhill on sleds. Our play grew bolder, more reckless. We graduated to hockey, bombing enemies with snowballs, ice fishing, snowmo-biles, snurfing on ice behind cars or skiing behind cars in interstate ditches. Many milestone memories were created, like no longer thinking of girls as icky, but holding gloved hands and skating around a dimly lit rink. Our fears and hopes changed. And when winter threw its best stuff at us, we learned to tough it out. Old-timers taught us when netting whitefish under the ice that it was best in sub-zero weather to freeze one bare hand on purpose. They’d show us how. You shove a cupped hand into the hole of water where you pull the net out. Your hand would freeze into a claw, which was good for unsnagging fish from the gill net. While we might freeze on purpose a hand for fish, we learned how not to accidentally freeze to death. I remember 40° below weather with a windchill of 100° below, and snowmobiling – if any-thing was exposed, you were in trouble, frostbit face, fingers, whatever. Once temperatures get that low, it doesn’t

Winter wants to dance

Welcome to the southern Rockies

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cross country

snowmobile

snowboard

sleigh ride

snowshoe

downhill

ice fish

shop

tube

dine

sled

The lifeup high

seem to matter how low the numbers get. It’s just arctic cold. Here in the southern Rockies, we have our share of big bad wolf winters that come lumbering into the mountains, pushed by howling winds or dumping snow for days until the system lightens its load enough to lift and move on. Old-timers here talk about seven-footers in one blast, deep enough to bury snowmobiles where you can’t find them, drifts mounded up to the roof. Or ice storms that could suffocate cattle or require helicopters to airlift feed. People hunker down and ride out the storm. It’s tougher on the animals. This winter is supposed to be an El Niño year. And with luck, we’ll get some superstorms. Storms and freezing weather that make cars cranky, cough-ing and groaning before starting. Driveways that you shovel, and before you finish you have to start over again. Pipes that freeze and bust. Tree branch-es that snap. Roofs that avalanche. But we’re lucky. Unlike so many parts of the nation, we are blessed with the famous Southwest sun – more sunny ski days than almost anywhere on the planet. So we don’t have to hide all day indoors; we can play outside until we’re worn out. Then, we come in to rest and sit by a roaring piñon fire, sip something warm, savor the smells of green chile stew or chantrelle mushroom goulash cooking on the stove. Outside, you hear another storm brewing, the mounting wind rattling the windows. Then the first pellets of sleet pound the window pane you’re look-ing out just before dark. The sleet turns to snow and caught by a gust slants sideways across the window, spinning and swirling. Behind the window and the snow large pines rock back and forth on the wind and behind that, an endless gray. The only sound is the occasional burst of wind and roar of the storm, an icy music. Winter is there, calling you, waiting to dance. — Joe Haukebo, Publisher

Angel Fire is

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Historic Hotels

Hotel La Fonda de TaosThe 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, NEW MEXICO WWW.LAFONDATAOS.COM 800.833.2211 505.758.2211

The Historic Taos InnExperience 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, NEW MEXICOTAOSINN.COM 575.758.2233

St. James HotelWhere western history – and the paranormal – come alive. The historic St. James Hotel, built in 1872, has hosted a smorgasbord of famous outlaws and Wild West legends including Clay Allison, William F. Cody and Wyatt Earp. Today, it continues its tradition with fine dining and comfortable rooms and a restored western restaurant and bar. Ghosts, each with their own obsessions and rituals, are said to still haunt the place.

617 SOUTH COLLISON, CIMARRON, NEW MEXICO, 87714WWW.EXSTJAMES.COM 888.376.2664 575.376.2664

PHOTO: WWW.CAROLMORGANEAGLE.COM

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Our Towns

I prefer winter…when you feel the bone structure of the landscape – the loneliness of it, the dead feeling of winter. Some-thing waits beneath it, the whole story doesn’t show. — Andrew Wyeth

Wyeth’s ode to winter, and its subtle undercurrents, would be a

fitting prologue for tales of winter set in Northern New Mexico and the south-ern Rockies. The year-round or rather timeless mystique and aura permeating these regions takes on a stark and coldly luminous level of beauty and wonder during the winter season. Matriarchal mountains cotton-swabbed in snow, deep silences flooding chasms and pine forests, wide-spanning skies reflecting a complexion of fleece and chalk. Yet this slow and meditative pulse is counter-bal-anced by the numerous celebrations and adrenaline-boosting activities that give the area its ritual charge. What you might call: Zen and the Art of Winter Merrymaking. Taos—high-desert iconoclast, mountain-maned black sheep, tradition-alist with an anarchic streak—there are many ways in which this Northern New Mexico town can be pegged, but ulti-mately its character remains undefinable.

“Yuletide in Taos” is the umbrella term for the various celebrations that take place during the holiday season. Two historic streets, Bent and Ledoux, are fire-kindled and given a festive make-over for local favorites: The Lighting of Ledoux (December 5) and Bonfires on Bent Street (December 12). The

religious spirit of the holidays is quint-essentially captured in the Las Posadas reenactments (December 14-21) at the San Francisco de Assis Church, which marked its 200th anniversary in 2015. Taos Pueblo, the oldest contin-uously inhabited community in North

Angel Fire

Chama

Cimarron

Durango

Eagle Nest

Red River

South Fork

Taos

Taos Pueblo

Taos Ski Valley

Continued on page 13

PHOTOS: GERAINT SMITH

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America, provides the sacred Christ-mas Eve setting for a procession and mood-evocative bonfires. On Christmas Day, the spirit of winter is honored through the Taos Pueblo Deer Danceor Matachine Dance. Taos Ski Valley, celebrating its 60th season, recently lost its “First Lady,” Rhoda Blake, who was the nuts and bolts behind the Blake family’s 58-year stewardship of TSV. Sold to billionaire conservationist, Louis Bacon, in 2013, TSV is undergoing expansion, with base area additions to include a new hotel, retail space, equipment rentals, restau-rant, and spa. The Kachina lift, complet-ed in 2014, serves the highest elevation of any triple chair in North America (12,481 feet). As for one’s inspired downward trajectory on the slopes, there are multiple options: skiing, snowboard-ing, sledding, tubing and snow-shoeing. Bacchus enjoys elevated status during the ever-popular Winter Wine Festival (January 27-31), which is celebrating its 30th year. When it comes to breath-arresting pyrotechnics, the sunsets at Angel Fire, after which the resort town is named, bring an all-natural glow to the snow-capped mountain peaks. There are 76 skiing and snowboarding trails, suitable for all age levels, and the Polar Coaster, the largest tubing park in the south-ern Rockies, is the unofficial leader in “squealish delight” (see: Child’s Play). Two rollicking events, in which spirits are raised and grooves laid: Big Ol’ Texas Weekend (January 22-24) and Angel Fire Mardi Gras celebration (February 5-9). Red River, known for its Main Street quaintness and Texas-sized ap-petite for good times, exercises a happy middle ground with its ski base located in the center of town. An old-time tradition

that was revived in recent years, the Win-ter Carnival and Parade of Ice (January 15-17) features ice sculptures, snowmo-bile races, snowman building, live music, torchlight parades, fireworks, and more. And for those who’d like to enjoy a Willy Wonka-fied version of skiing, there’s Just Desserts Eat and Ski (February 27) in which the indulgence of homemade des-serts sweetens the five-kilometer course at Enchanted Forest. 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. Formerly a goldfever boomtown, Chama is set in the awe-in-spiring Rio Chama Valley. Hitting the slopes, ice fishing on the Heron Reservoir, or riding the rails on the Cumbres-Toltec Scenic Railroad are several ways to experience the area. The 43rd Annual Chama Chile Ski Classic, a cross-country ski event, takes place on Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend in January. Durango could be the charming town you find inside a snow globe, or the unsung verse in “Winter Won-derland.” At the heart of its winter fun is Purgatory, the mountain resort which offers 35,000 acres of ski-friendly terrain. Snowboarding, snowshoeing, dog sledding, and sleigh rides are other means by which to traverse Purgatory. Caroling, hot chocolate, and a reading

of The Polar Express, are part of “The Polar Express,” which takes place on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad through the holidays. This year’s “Snowdown,” a popular week-long, activity-filled event, brings the spirit, fashion, and flair of the 1980s back into vogue (January 27-31). As the inspired and elevated gate-way to the San Juan Mountains,

Rio Grande County, which includes South Fork, Monte Vista and Del Norte, is a winter playground with lots of room to spare. Wolf Creek, just outside of South Fork, is powder-packed heaven for skiers, receiving the highest amount of snowfall in Colorado. South Fork’s “Winterfest” (December 11 and 12) features sleigh rides, cocoa-sipping, Christmas crafts, and a visit from old St. Nick himself. Monte Vista, home of the National Wildlife Refuge Center, cele-brates its 33rd annual “Crane Festival” (March 11-13). Del Norte offers natural splendors in various forms, including Lookout Mountain, Elephant Rocks, and Penitente Canyon, one of Colorado’s premier sport climbing areas.

– John Biscello

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In the beginning was the word“Who is the storyteller? Of whom is the story told? What is there in the darkness to imagine into being? What is there to dream and to relate? What happens when I or anyone exerts the force of language upon the unknown? ... If there is any absolute assumption in back of my thoughts…it is this: that we are what we imagine. Our very existence consists in our imagination of ourselves. Our best destiny is to imagine at last, completely, who, and what, and that we are. The greatest tragedy that can befall us is to go unimagined.”

– N. Scott Momaday, The Way to Rainy Mountain

Y ou could say that storytelling is the descendant of an innate

and ageless spirituality, or the genetic sibling to Necessity, the mother of invention. We, as human beings, frame ourselves, our inner lives, our history and traditions, our sorrows and follies, in the context of language. In the Navajo culture, a child does not acquire human status until he or she masters the art of speaking a language. New Mexico, a veritable Wonder- land gumbo of legends, tales, and parables, seasons its canon with accents and spices rooted in the Native and Hispanic cultures. The region itself seems a gateway to “otherness,” a breeding ground for metaphor and myth, or sacred placeholder for fugitive voices. Apache, Navajo and Pueblo mythology chronicle an emergence from underworlds into this world: a “middle place” or “middle world.” The Acoma creation myth tells of two female humans, born underground in Shipapu, and their ascent from the dark-ness below to the lighted world above.

This, perhaps, is what storytelling is at its core: a bridge between worlds, or an illuminating torch being passed from one generation to the next. Through words communion is achieved, and a sense of discovery renewed.

By the light of the fire“Our ancestors have been telling stories to their children since 1598, when the first Spanish families settled along the Chama River in Northern New Mexico. A 400-year-old tradition began during that first harsh winter, when the warmth of rustic hearths beckoned and warmed the settlers throughout their first winters. It was many years ago while growing up in Penasco, NM . . . that a seed for storytelling was planted in me. The fondest memories I have from my childhood are when my mother would relate cuentos, or stories, to us.” – Paulette Atencio, Cuentos from Long Ago

A cold winter’s night and crackling fireplace have set the domestic stage for many a storyteller. Through voice and gesture alone, family elders would guide children into worlds of enchantment, intrigue, and terror. Juan B. Rael, a native of Arroyo Hondo, and the author of Cuentes Epsañoles de Colorado y Nuevo México, recalled: “An old neighbor of ours, the aunt of one of my playmates, was a gifted storyteller, and my friend and I would often listen to her fascinating sto-ries about giants, witches, thieves, rogues, and clever animals. It was a special treat to listen to her during the long winter nights as she sat by the fireplace, which dimly illuminated her large but scantily furnished living room. The leaping shad-ows on the whitewashed walls, produced

by the flickering flames in the hearth, added a mysterious background to the stories we heard…” Riddles were another part of the Hispanic storytelling tradition, with children being challenged to find the answer. One example: I went into the country and found someone who crossed himself. He is a saint, yet he is not a Christian. Who might it be? (Answer: The Holy Thistle.) In Zuni culture, tales, or telapnaawe, were told in winter, to avoid attracting snakes and snake-bite, and generally told at night, lest the days be shortened. “The ability to create the appearance of reality is clearly the most important measure of the individual Zuni narrator’s skill and success, ranking above such considerations as accuracy or memory or size of repertoire. Ashuwa (a Zuni male) said: ‘Some are good storytellers not just because they may know the story, but because of their voices and gestures, and they make it exciting. Some tell it like they were actually part of it, had wit-nessed it.’” – Dennis Tedlock, “The Ethnography of Tale-Telling at Zuni”

Her Majesty, the Moon The moon, as the cosmic pope of lovers, lunatics and werewolves, has been a popular lead in many stories and legends throughout history. In 1894, trailblazing writer, photographer, adventurer, and anthropologist, Charles Lummis, who claimed to have invented the term “Southwest,” collected stories from the Isleta Pueblo people and pub-lished them in a book titled The Man Who Married the Moon. The story of

Tale-spinning in the high desert

Continued on page 17

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the same name, which appears in the collection, tells of the powerful and beloved Nah-chu-r´u-chu (“The Bluish Light of Dawn”) and his marriage to the Moon, a beautiful maiden, blind in one eye, who at that time dwelled among the people and not in the sky. After the Moon is drowned and buried by the jealous Yellow-Corn-Maiden sisters, a heartbroken Nah-chu-r´u-chu dispatch-es different animals to find his missing wife. It is Turkey-buzzard who spies a mound, covered with all the different flowers in the world, in the middle of a cottonwood forest, and through a single tiny white flower Nah-chu-r´u-chu resurrects the Moon, who punishes the Yellow-corn-maidens by turning them into snakes. A poetic take on why the Moon has one eye is covered in a parable known throughout various Pueblo cultures. The Trues, the unseen spirits behind creation, made the Sun, the father, and the Moon, the mother, who were to keep watch over the world, The problem was both the Sun and the Moon, with four luminous eyes between them, kept the world aglow in light, and without dark the people did not know when to rest, the birds flew non-stop, the flowers stayed open day and night. The Trues decided to put out one of the Sun’s eyes, but the Moon offered her eye in place of her husband’s, and with partial blindness came the respite of night. And, as the tale concludes, “But she who first had the love of children, and paid for them with pain as mother’s pay, she did not grow ugly by her sacrifice. Nay, she is lovelier than ever… For the Trues are good to her, and gave her in the place of the bloom of girlhood the beauty

that is only in the faces of mothers.” Bewitched, Bothered, Bewildered When it comes to supernatural terror, the reigning queen in Hispanic folklore is La Llorona. Her ambiguous origins might go back to 16th century Mexico City, or could be the offshoot of Die Weisse Frau, or “the White Lady,” an old German legend about a peasant girl who falls in love with and is abandoned by a young aristocrat, murders her bastard children, goes insane and dies a violent death, only to return as a malignant specter. Traditionally, there are three incarnations of La Llorona that appear in Hispanic tales—the siren, the grieving woman, and the woman who poses a threat to children—with her signature weeping or wailing providing the eerie soundtrack to this “living” horror movie. Back in the day, parents in Hispanic families employed the “phantom threat” of La Llorona to keep their children from playing in the arroyos and acequias, two of her favorite haunts. El Santuario de Chimayo (the Sanctuary of Chimayo), renowned for its healing “holy dirt,” is also the home to a miraculously light traveler: El Santo Niño de Atocha (The Holy Child of Atocha). He is also called Santo Niño Perdido (The Lost Holy Child) because, as the story goes, he departs the church at night and travels the countryside to perform miracles. In aiding and abetting the intrepid miracle-worker, villagers and visitors leave baby shoes at the feet of El Niño, to replace his “worn-out” shoes.

The Best Medicine In the late 1950s and early 1960s,

during a prolific period of space explora-tion by the Russians and the Americans, the Newekwe clowns of the Zuni pueblo incorporated “space burlesque” into their performance. Barbara Tedlock states in her essay, “Boundaries of Belief” that the clowns’ goal was “to startle and even shock the audience in order to get a response, perhaps a sudden laugh, or at least a gasp of disapproval. In doing so they ‘get to the people,’ they ‘open them,’ and release them from internal idle thoughts or worries… The space program was a source of general (and one might say visceral) worry at Zuni, and so… for more than ten years the clowns trivial-ized, folklorized, and negated both its religious threat and its scientific seri-ousness.” Clowns function as powerful medicine men and shamans in many Native American cultures, as ritual heal-ing takes place beneath the mirth and inspired madness. If Voltaire was right when he said, “God is a comedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh,” then clowns might be regarded as masked angels dispensing the best, and most necessary medicine. A four-legged Harlequin that figures prominently in Native American legends and lore is Coyote, whose ex-ploits were once explained by a Navajo storyteller, Yellowman, to author, Barre Toelken: “Why does Coyote do all those things, foolish on one occasion, good on another, terrible on another? ‘If he did not do all those things, then those things would not be possible in the world.’ Yellowman thus sees Coyote less as a Trickster per se and more as an enabler whose actions, good or bad,

Continued on page 27

TALE-SPINNING – Continued from page 15

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You can ride almost anywhere in the world. But

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Southwestern sun and snow, culture and cuisine,

wildlife and wilderness, art and history. The landscape is

stunning – from high alpine terrain above treeline to a

huge rip in the earth.

Our ski mountains rip – chutes, cliffs, bowls, cruis-

ers, and in terrain parks – rails, boxes, rainbows, banks.

Treks into the backcountry are beautiful and boss.

Outside our quaint mountain towns you’ll discover

fresh pockets of adventure and feel this winter

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And at day’s end, when your thighs are screaming,

slip into a hot tub or pound a big, honking green chile

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MAP SHOWS APPROXIMATE LOCATIONS. DISTANCES NOT TO SCALE.

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When the snow flies, Angel Fire is a winter wonder-land with an abundance of adventures for all ages

and abilities. For skiers and snowboarders, Angel Fire Mountain offers over 560

acres of terrain with rolling cruisers, gladed tree runs,

three terrain parks and one of New Mexico’s top ski and snowboard schools. Off the slopes, the adventure con-

tinues with the Polar Coast-er Tubing Hill, the Nordic Center with over 15 km of

terrain and the sledding hill at the Nordic Center for

kids 12 and under. Our three terrain parks are ready for all

ability levels, with features that include rails, jumps, tabletops and fun boxes. Terrain includes 80 runs,

more than 30 acres of gladed tree skiing, NASTAR

racing, Polar CoasterTubing Hill, and a lighted beginner

slope for New Mexico’s only night-time skiing and snowboarding. And don’t

miss great live music in the Village Haus when the lifts

are running after dark.

ANGEL FIRE RESORT

angelfireresort.com800-633-7463

Flanked by sacred wilder-ness, rugged peaks and

multicultural vibes, there’s a reason Taos Ski Valley sits

in the center of New Mexico’s Enchanted Circle.

Located 50 miles south of the Colorado border, Taos

Ski Valley is a mystical haven for 300+ inches of bone-dry powder stashes

and some of the most untamed chutes, bowls and

glades in North America. And with nearly half of all

trails rated for beginners and intermediates, its un-

polished charm and cheeky mountain rituals welcome

TAOS SKI VALLEY

skitaos.org866-968-7386

anyone with a spirit of ad-venture. Our new base area developments will include

a new hotel, retail space, equipment rentals, restaur-

ant and spa. TSV’s Ernie Blake Snowsport School

is still world-class, the terrain park is deluxe, and a

shuttle runs daily from the Albuquerque airport. TSV continues its commitment

to keeping it green with mountain-wide

recycling and energy conservation. See the

interactive trail map online.

lidsonkids.org

This year, all ski areas are supporting and

implementing Lids On Kids, a snowsport safety

awareness program. Know the code.

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ENCHANTED FOREST XCenchantedforestxc.com

800-966-9381 575-754-6112

Last year – chalet upgrades, new rental gear, e-commerce website, heated snow coach

ride and dinner tours, new snow cat, more snow guns.

This year – we’ve cooked up new features for all you

park rats out there. We took our Battleship to the chop

shop and came out with an urban down box, a flat down

box, and a teepee. We’ve added even more snow guns and new automation to our

snowmaking system, and new all-day classes for kids

RED RIVER SKI AREAat the Youth Ski Center. Our

new e-commerce website is still the hot ticket: print out

the barcode and give it to the ski techs to scan and get you geared up. Or check out

the 24-hour ticket kiosks. Ski and snowboard programs

are available for kids and adults. After riding, there’s

tubing, evening rail jams and torchlight parades.

For events online:

redriverskiarea.com575-754-2233

After a summer of frequent rainstorms, Wolf Creek is fo-cusing on maintaining safety

by removing hazard trees and transplanting healthy

ones, and by improving avalanche hazard reduction

with our new Gazex and Avi Blasters which work

by generating powerful shock waves, not explo-

sions, to release dangerous snow buildup. Our biggest

on-mountain project is completing the Race Hutch building with power for race timing equipment, cameras

and speakers, an observation area, and storage for race

gear. Improvements are also being made to our ski and snowboard rental depart-

ment with the introduction of premium demo skis,

snowboards, boots and an online reservation system, as Wolf Creek moves into dig-itizing rentals and ski school

reservations both on-site and online. Seniors (65 -

79) get their own lift tickets and season passes this year,

as well as specially-priced clinics and Local Apprecia-

tion days. Wolf Creek’s eight lifts service over 1,600 acres

of beautiful terrain and, with an average of 400 natural

inches, as usual we have the most snow in Colorado.

WOLF CREEK SKI AREA

wolfcreekski.com970-264-5649

1-800-SKI-WOLF

PHOTO: JASON LOMBARD, COURTESY WOLF CREEK SKI AREA

22

PHOTO: COURTESY DMR

A top family-friendly resort, Purgatory at Durango

Mountain has 91 trails, five terrain parks and more

than 1,360 skiable acres. With 10 chairlifts and rarely

any lines, it’s simple to zip around the mountain and

enjoy the spectacular scenery of the San Juan Mountains. Dog sledding, snow tubing,

Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, horse-drawn sleigh rides, snowbiking, backcountry skiing, snowmobiling and

more. This year, Purgatory’s Legends Lift 8 has been

replaced with a new high-speed detachable quad,

almost a mile in length and covering about 1,500 vertical

feet, transporting skiers to Purgatory’s summit in less

than five minutes. And two brand new trails provide

speedy access. The Purgatory - Sipapu - Pajarito

- Arizona Snowbowl collective is investing $10 million in improvements this year, including three

new quads, more trails, and more and better

snowmaking. Power Pass season passes provide

unlimited access to all four resorts with a combined

3,088 acres, 28 lifts, over 200 trails and 13

terrain parks.

PURGATORY at DURANGO MOUNTAIN RESORT

skipurg.com800-525-0892

Sipapu Ski Resort is building its first new quad chairlift this summer, the third new lift in less than five years. The new

quad serves popular begin-ner and intermediate trails,

giving beginners an easier way to practice their skills before progressing to more

advanced terrain. A new trail will be added directly

under the lift, and mountain crews will also complete the

much-anticipated Howdy Extension, adding nearly five acres of skiable terrain. New

snowmaking infrastructure is being added for Sipapu’s

staple “first to open, last to close” trails, including a

new snow gun and a second

SIPAPU SKI RESORT

sipapunm.com800-587-2240

skipajarito.com505 662 5725

booster pump at Midway, allowing the mountain team to cover its slopes with more

snow in less time. Also this year, Pajarito Mountain of Los Alamos, New Mexico, expanded its water system

and they’re on pace to collect more water than

ever before, which means more snow than ever before.

There’s also a new trail on the west side of the moun-

tain at Pajarito, providing a gentle slope for beginners. For more on both resorts:

23

Boasting over 300 days of sunshine each year,

Mescalero, New Mexico’s Ski Apache – the country’s

southernmost ski resort – offers the best warm-weath-

er powder skiing in the world with snowmaking on 33% of the mountain. The

slopes offer a mix of wide beginner slopes, tough bump

runs, a huge bowl, nice cruising runs and a terrain

park with jumps, tubes and rails. Ski Apache sprawls out

under the 12,000-plus foot peak of Sierra Blanca.

The Adventure Center offers full days of fun activ-

ities for young skiers 4-12; we have plenty of group

and private family learning programs. And we offer

Sisters on Snow for women, focusing on a supportive and relaxed learning experience.

Or you can kick it on a trikke or rip down the

tubing hill. You can even take a break and hit the slot

machines slopeside at The Inn of The Mountain Gods. For more about ski package

deals, the mountain, and events online:

SKI APACHE

skiapache.com575-464-3600

THRILLSEEKERS

calling all

(and deal seekers, too)

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To book your stay todaycall 1-800-545-9011.

See website forrestrictions and details.

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FRI & SAT OR SAT & SUNNovember 29-February 28

THURS-SAT OR SAT-MONNovember 29-February 29

1-800-545-9011 | Mescalero, NM near Ruidoso

24

red river200A Pioneer Road

575.754.1773

angel fireFA-1 Ski Patrol Building

575.377.1805

The ONLY certifiedUrgent Care Clinics

in the Enchanted Circle

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No appointment necessary7 days a week

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Care for most illnesses & injuries

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Oxygen & IV Therapiesfor Altitude Sickness

Most insurances acceptedincluding Medicare,

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ORGANICSUPERFOODS

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818 Paseo del Pueblo Norte, Taos

Powder Perfect

LocalAppreciationDays2015-2016

$43 Adults$26 Seniors$24 Children

November 11, 18, 30

December2,9

January10, 27

February7, 24

March 2, 27, 30

April 3

Wolf Creek Ski Areawww.wolfcreekski.com 1-800-SKI-WOLF

25

TAOS BED & BREAKFAST INNS Enjoy your Southwestern adventure even more when

you begin and end each day at one of our 16 Taos Bed and Breakfast Inns. Excep-tional food, well-appointed rooms and gifted innkeepers who know just how to help you create memories of Taos,

which will keep you coming back for years to come. For more information and to book online:

www.taosbandbinns.com

EL PUEBLO LODGECome stay at the edge of town, at the edge of everything! Southwest charm with early Taos architecture. Complimentary wifi and HBO. Heated, seasonal pool, year-round hot tub. Continental breakfast 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 Moun-tain Casino two miles north. See our website for specials and packages.

800.433.9612 575.758.8700 412 Paseo del Pueblo Norte, Taos, NMwww.elpueblolodge.com

KACHINA LODGE andMEETINGS CENTER in TaosFour blocks from the historic Taos Plaza, shops, galleries

and museums. Full-service ho-tel. Includes full hot breakfast, leisure bar/lounge with pool ta-bles, video games, and coffee shop. Southwestern dining. Out-door seasonally heated pool, hot

tub, and free high speed internet. Nightly Indian dances May-October. Near Taos Casino and Taos Pueblo. Afford-able prices, friendly service staff.

800.522.4462 575.758.2275 www.kachinalodge.com413 Paseo del Pueblo Norte, Taos, NM

FIRESIDE INN & CABINSModern, deluxe one and two bedroom fully-equipped cabins with room to roam on ten acres along the San Juan River. Located on the east side of Pagosa, close to Hot Springs, toward Wolf Creek Ski Area and national forest X-country ski trails. Private river access and fishing (catch and release) on our property. Individual living area with gas fireplace, bedroom/s, kitchen, bathroom. Covered porches with grills and a Hot Tub! Open year-round.

888.264.9204 970.264.92041600 E. Hwy 160, Pagosa Springs, COwww.firesidecabins.com

Alpine Lodges

26

M ost of us stand atop ski runs such as Niños Heroes (one of the first

few double blacks of the ridge in Taos Ski Valley) and think to ourselves – “How do I drop in and not die?” But there are those few, possibly feeling the effects of oxygen deprivation, who think to themselves – “Who were these tiny heroes, and what made them so rad?” This article is for the latter group. Well, oxygen-deprived double diamond ripper, the Niños Heroes were a group of six young cadets at the Mex-ico Military Academy who were killed defending the academy from invading American forces during the Mexican-American war. Taos Ski Valley’s founder, Ernie Blake, was an intelligence officer during WWII. He apparently had a fascina-tion with martyrs such as the Niños Heros that shows in his ski run names. Stauffenberg, Oster, Treskow, and Fabian are all named after people who tried to assassinate Hitler. Hidalgo was named after Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, another martyr of the Mexican American

war. Winkelreid is Arthur von Winkel-reid, a Swiss martyr from a Hapsburg conflict. Taos even has a run called Patton, after General Patton – Ernie Blake’s general during the war. Red River Ski Area has a bit of a theme as well, albeit less violent, but still explosive. Many of the runs are throwbacks to the town’s mining roots. Some are obvious, with names like Powder Keg, Prospector’s Lane, Tailings, and Miners Alley. The less obvious are names of actual mines in the Red River area – Golden Treasure, Buffalo, and Purkapile. Linton’s Leap is named after the owner’s son and the family that owns the ski area, Linton Judycki. It is one of the steepest runs at Red River, and looks as if the world drops out from the top. Sipapu Ski Resort developed a Bambi theme, but it was not planned. Flower starts out as a gentle green but then quickly turns into a black diamond, so it was known as a “little stinker” – a thick-ly veiled reference to a scene in Bambi. Sipapu then named another run Thump-

er after a family of rabbits were found while cutting the run. The classic ski run name Bambi was used for a gentle green. The trend was recognized, and keeping with tradition, Sipapu is opening a new run for the upcoming season and calling it Faline. The Bolander family (Sipapu’s owners) also has a tradition of naming runs after family dogs, many of which are buried near the runs they are named after as a way to commemorate them. Sassafras and Razmatazz were both family Airedales, Candi and Brandy were St. Bernards, and Howdy was a Springer Spaniel. Wolf Creek Ski Area, like Sipapu, also has a dog theme. The dog chutes – Zia, Chi, Jiri, Eliott and Max’s, are all named after Avalanche Dogs that have served Wolf Creek. Patina was named after an Airedale, Bernard, and Mastiff mix that belonged to the Pitcher family (the Wolf Creek owners), who actual-ly called her Tina. Rockin’ Robin was another family dog, a black lab with huge paws who liked to race the family

Name that run

COURTESY ANGEL FIRE RESORT GAK STONN

kids up the mountain as they rode the Treasure lift – and usually beat them. Wolf Creek, like most ski areas, has some family-owned references as well. Pitcher’s gate was named because it was the favorite route of the original owner, Kingsberry Pitcher, when he was headed to the waterfall area. Blueberry Hill is not actually named for the fruit, but rather the first name of one of Kings-berry’s grandchildren. Angel Fire has a few mining refer-ences as well, seen in trail names like Nitro, Detonator, Sluice Box (also a run at Red River), and Prospector. Pros-pector, however, was originally called Tucker Doubt, a reference to a bet made by Ray Tucker and Bill Burgess. Tucker was a former GM of Angel Fire Resort. Burgess is a long-time instructor and NM ski hall of fame inductee.The bet was on the length of time it would take for Tucker to cut the run, creating the fantastic double entendre, Tucker Doubt. You also may notice that Angel Fire has many runs that start with the letter H, such as Hell’s Bells, Highway, Head-

bring certain actions and ideas into the field of possibility, a model who symboliz-es abstractions in terms of real entities.” Then there are tales stretched to cartoonish heights, yarns spun with free-wheeling flair. The tall tale, or “windy,” provided the hot air that gave rise to many Wild West folk icons, such as Pecos Bill, Little Joe the Wrangler, and Billy the Kid. Gathering round the campfire to swap stories was an integral part of life on the range. In Jack Thorp’s 1926 collec-tion, Tales of the Chuck Wagon, he wrote: “It had been an old established custom…that the men working on the round-up should meet on the first night at the chuck-wagon – i.e., the grub-wagon. Every man there was obliged either to tell a story, sing a song, or do a dance. Anyone refusing was sure to get a dose of the leg-gings, a punishment administered by the other punchers, several of whom would grab the offender and stretch him, toes and face down, across the wagon-tongue, while another puncher applied the leather leggings or chaps. Such treatment, you can be sure, usually elicited a response in the form of song, story, or dance.”

To be continued There are no real endings to stories, so long as new generations of storytellers, from all walks of life, lend their voices to what is a mythically rich and historically broad love letter. We, as humans, are engaged in a never-ending courtship with the Great Mystery, a dance that time and again sparks the invitation: Let me tell youa story…. John Biscello is the author of the award-winning novel Broken Land, A Brooklyn Tale, and a collection of stories, Freeze Tag. His new novel Raking the Dust (Zharmae Press) is primarily set in Taos, where he has lived for the past 13 years.

ing Home, Humpty Dumpty, and Heck No. This is no mistake – the H runs were named in honor of Roy H. Lebus, the original developer of the resort. Minder Binder was originally called Jaspers, after Jasper Hicks, a ski patrol director who was killed in a motorcycle accident in the 70s. Minder Binder was not actually named after the Catch-22 character, but a bar in Tempe, AZ. Free Flight stirs up feelings of a wide open, fast run, devoid of other skiers. But it is actually named after the American Jazz Ensemble, who played at the annual Music From Angel Fire festival. The story goes that Free Flight agreed to make a song called Angel Fire, and Angel Fire agreed to name a run after them. So the next time you are about to drop into a run – and you start to won-der why on earth anyone would choose this name for a run – there is probably more history underfoot than you think.

Gustav Herold is a Colorado-based writer and skier, who grew up in Taos, NM.

TALE-SPINNING – Continued from page 17

27

COURTESY ANGEL FIRE RESORT

28

TAOSBENT STREET CAFE & DELI – 120 Bent

Street, Taos. 575-758-5787. A local favorite with menu selections to satisfy every palate. Served in a relaxed atmosphere featuring a year-round heated patio and outdoor terrace. Omelettes, eggs Benedict, gourmet French toast, excellent sandwiches, creative salads and homemade soups and desserts. Daily specials, chicken or beef burrito and tamales plates. Vegetarian and vegan friendly. Beer & wine. Open 7 days for breakfast, lunch, and Sunday brunch. BentStreetDeli.com

DOC MARTIN’S RESTAURANT – 1/2 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 27 consec-utive years. Innovative Regional New Ameri-can Cuisine using the freshest local ingredi-ents, specializing in organic vegetables, meats and fish, including favorites like buffalo, elk, trout. Homemade desserts. Lunch, dinner, weekend brunch. Reservations recommended. DocMartinsRestaurant.com

EL GAMAL – Behind Taos Plaza, 112 Doña Luz. 575-613-0311. Serving conscious vege-tarian Middle Eastern food, made from scratch. Hummus, falafel, baba ganoush, shakshuka, labane, dolmas. Daily specials, soups, house-made pita, desserts. Gluten-free and vegan options; Turkish coffee and espresso drinks; beer and wine. Family-friendly: kids’ playroom, pool table, free wi-fi. Patio seating. Call for takeout. Like us on Facebook. Open Monday-

Wednesday 9-5; Thursday-Sat-urday 9-9; Sunday 11-3.

FARMHOUSE CAFÉ and BAKERY – Three miles north of Taos Plaza at Over-land Ranch. 575-758-LOVE (5683). Farm-to-table, serving local organic cuisine. Legend-ary grass-fed burger, green chile chicken stew, daily quiche. House-made soups, salads and a variety of vegetarian, veg-an, and gluten-free options. Incredible assortment of artisan breads, croissants, tarts, muf-

fins, cheesecakes, cookies and more. Specialty coffees and fresh organic grab-and-go items. Open 8 am-5 pm daily. Sunday Brunch. Ask about our new dinner hours. For full menu: FarmhouseCafeAndBakery.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: 575-737-0816. “Our secret sauce makes the difference!” Au-thentic 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 on-line: GuadalajaraGrillTaos.com

MIDTOWN MARKET, BISTRO and LOUNGE – 575-776-1680. 680 Hwy 522, Arroyo Hondo. Just 15 mins. north of Taos Plaza on the Enchanted Circle, at northern cross-road shortcuts to Taos Ski Valley or Rio Grande hot springs. Lounge open 3 pm-close; Bistro open for dinner 4-10 pm. Best nachos in Taos, appetizers, salads, panini sandwiches, Frito pies, green chile cheeseburgers, deli hot dogs, kids’ menu. Authentic NM red or vegetarian chile. Friendly neighborhood bar, foosball, three pool tables. No time to dine? Visit our convenience market: quick to-go meal options, chips & dips, package liquors, beer & wine. Menus and more: MidtownHondo.com

RAW TAOS – “Raw to the People!” 818 C Paseo Del Pueblo Norte. 575-741-0259. The best 100% organic, vegan, raw superfoods pre-

pared with love, fresh each morning. Taste our cold-pressed juice blends, nutmylks, smooth-ies, wheatgrass shots, artisan teas, warm cacao drinks, hot cider from local apples, and deca-dent salads. Shop our selection of essential oils, health products, and vegan gifts. Get clean with our individually tailored juice cleanse packages. Open Mon-Sat 8 am-5 pm. Check out our social media for events and to like us! facebook.com/rawtaos rawtaos.com rawtaos@gmail.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. Glu-ten-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.

TAOS PIZZA OUT BACK – 712 Paseo del Pueblo Norte. 575-758-3112. We start each morning with organic flour and fresh produce to create our acclaimed hand-rolled pizzas. Our reclaimed adobe abode is the perfect setting for fun, foam and feasting. Enjoy a unique Taos ex-perience where the three local cultures relax & mingle with international travelers. Open daily 11 am. TaosPizzaOutback.com

A LA CART – 625 Paseo del Pueblo Norte. 575-758-7503. A food cart serving afford-able meals inspired by street food from around the world. Garden patio or express takeout at our drive-through window. Moroccan: grilled beef, red peppers and onions served on a flat bread pita or over rice with a yogurt mint sauce. Indian: grilled chicken with a spicy pea-nut sauce and a chickpea, tomato, cucumber salad. Ethiopian: lentil curry with yams, peas and potatoes on rice with warm pita bread and salad, served mild, medium or spicy. Ameri-cans classics, soups, stews, salads, sandwiches, Nathan’s hot dogs. Breakfast and lunch. From $5.50 to $9.

THE GORGE BAR and GRILL – 103 East Taos Plaza. 575-758-8866. Stop by The Gorge and try our juicy burgers, handshaken margari-tas, or fresh oysters – something for everyone! Enjoy The Best Happy Hour in Taos while sit-ting on our patio overlooking the Taos Plaza. We

Time to Dine

29

feature TWO happy hours: M-F, 3-5:30 pm and again from 9-10:30 pm. Check out our new wine bar and retail shop located 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. Come in and explore the things that excite us while you taste + shop + unwind. Visit us online at TheGorgeBarAndGrill.com and Parcht.com

RED RIVERBRETT’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 25 years. Daily specials, kids’ menu. Catering available. Cold Beer and Fine Wines. 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 42nd 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 FIREANGEL FIRED PIZZA – Located on the second floor of the Mountain View Mall (next to the Lowe’s Valley Market). 575-377-2774. We serve specialty pizzas, baked pastas, calzones, Paninis and salads. All in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. Gluten-free options are available. We also offer a wide selection of hand-crafted beers and fine wines. Dine in or take out. Open Tues-Sun 11 am-9 pm. Daily Happy Hour. AngelFiredPizza.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.

H2 UPTOWN – 48 North Angel Fire Road. 575-377-1200. Casual mountain style dining with an upscale experience, where you’re treated like family. Serving specially seasoned charbroiled steaks, wild game, pastas, fine wine, draft beer and much more. An unforgettable experience at an affordable price. Open for lunch and dinner. Reservations for dinner are suggested. Also visit Café Expresso 575-377-6669 for hearty breakfast and lunch.

PUT ‘N GRUB – Located at the Village Center Plaza, 52 N. Angel Fire Road. 575-377-2335. A family-friendly pub with 20 craft brews on tap including a draft style root beer. Gourmet dining in a rustic and casual environment. Best steaks in town. Open every day during winter ski season, 5 to 9 pm.

CIMARRONSAINT JAMES HOTEL – 17th and Collison in Cimarron. Reservations recommended. 575-376-2664. Landmark on the Santa Fe Trail, the St. James has been known for its fine dining since 1872. Menu includes hand cut steaks, New Mexico favorites, homemade soups and desserts. Select from a variety of beers, fine wines or a specially-made cocktail, all served from the antique bar. New breakfast menu. Open daily 7 am–9 pm. Visit us online at ExStJames.com

LODGING, DINING & LIVE MUSIC NIGHTLY

at The HISTORIC TAOS INN

taosinn.com575.758.2233

Cherish the spirit.

Winner of Wine Spectator’s “Best Of” Award of Excellence

for 28 consecutive years

2015-2016 winter Calendar

30

3 2-Star Taos Freeride Championships, TSV4-5 4-Star Taos Freeride Championships, TSV5 Ski Bum Ball, Angel Fire Resort5 Big Mountain Challenge, Ski Apache5 NMX Competition, AF Resort5-6 Hawaiian Days, Sipapu Ski Resort5, 20 Fun Races, Wolf Creek Ski Area5, 26 College Days, Wolf Creek Ski Area7 Springtacular, Purgatory Resort12 New Belgium Scavenger Hunt, Taos Ski Valley12 Spring Fling Race, Wolf Creek Ski Area12 13th Annual Cardbox Derby, Sipapu Ski Resort12 Ernie Blake Birthday Celebration, TSV12-18 Fiesta del Sol Spring Break, AF Resort13 Cardboard Derby, Purgatory Resort13 Pond Skimming & Beach Body Contest, Ski Apache17 St. Patrick’s Day Celebration, Angel Fire Resort17 Shamrock Relay, Ski Apache18 Kids’ Glow Stick Parade, Red River Ski Area18 Happy Hops Hunt, Purgatory Resort18-19 Ben Meyers Ridge-A-Thon, Taos Ski Valley19 12th Annual Pond Skimming Contest, Sipapu19 Fatty Paddy Mountain Bike Race, AF Resort20 Locals Benefit Day, Purgatory Resort20 Demo Day, Purgatory Resort20 Pond Skim, Red River Ski Area20 Moonlight Hike and Campfire, Sipapu Resort26 Spring Brew Masters, Taos Ski Valley26 Telemark Ski Clinic, Wolf Creek Ski Area27 Easter Egg Hunt, Taos Ski Valley27 Easter Eggstravaganza, Purgatory Resort

Apr2 Kachina TWIST lap-a-thon, Taos Ski Valley2 College Day, Wolf Creek Ski Area3 Local Appreciation Day, Wolf Creek Ski Area3 Angels and Demons Party, Purgatory Resort3 Pond Skimming Championships, TSV7-10 Taos Shortz Film Festival, Taos Center for the Arts

InfoAngel Fire 800-446-8117Chama Valley 800-477-0149 Durango 970-247-3500Eagle Nest 800-494-9117Pagosa Springs 800-252-2204Red River 800-348-6444Ruidoso 877-784-3676Santa Fe 800-777-2489South Fork 800-571-0881 Taos County 800-732-8267Taos Pueblo 575-758-1028

Dates are subject to change. Check with local chambers for updated calendar information.

Dec4 Sipapu Ski Resort opening day 4-6 Race Camp & Clinic, Red River Ski Area10 Taos Ski Valley opens full time11 Enchanted Forest XC Ski opens11 Red River Ski Area opens full time11 Angel Fire Resort opens11-13 International Women’s Ski Day, TSV11-13 Not Forgotten Appreciation Weekend, Sipapu 12 Bent Street Bonfires, Taos12 Fun Race, Wolf Creek Ski Area12-13 Cumbres & Toltec Railroad Christmas Train13-18 College Days, Red River Ski Area15-16 “A Christmas Story,” Taos Mesa Brewery18-19 Public Demo Days, Taos Ski Valley18-19 Alumbra de Questa Christmas Market, Questa19 Brew Master’s Festival, Taos Ski Valley19 “The Magic Flute,” Taos Center for The Arts19 Grand Opening, “Legends Lift,” Purgatory 19 Dummy Gelunde & Parade, Ski Apache20 Messiah sing-along, St. James Episcopal, Taos20 Santa on the Mountain, Purgatory Resort 24 Procession of Virgin Mary, Taos Pueblo24 Torchlight parade and fireworks, all ski areas25 Christmas Luminaria Tour, Enchanted Forest XC24-25 Ski with Santa, most ski areas25 Matachines or Deer Dance, Taos Pueblo26 Terrain Park Competition 1, Ski Apache31 Torchlight parade and fireworks, all ski areas

Jan1 Turtle Dance, Taos Pueblo2 Gold Rush Rail Jam, Red River Ski Area2 Terrain Park Competition 2, Ski Apache2 Ski Bike Demo Day, Sipapu Ski Resort2-3 Never Summer Demo Days, Purgatory Resort3 Apache Star Races begin; ongoing3-10 College Week, Angel Fire Resort4-15 College Days, Red River Ski Area6 Buffalo or Deer Dance, Taos Pueblo7, 14 Locals Days, Ski Apache9 NMX Ski/Snowboard Competition, AF Resort9 Ongoing ladies’ ski clinics, Wolf Creek9 Fun Race, Wolf Creek Ski Area9 Terrain Park Competition 3, Ski Apache10 Demo Day, Purgatory Resort10 Locals Benefit Day, Purgatory Resort10, 27 Locals Appreciation Day, Wolf Creek 15-17 Winter Carnival, Red River Ski Area15 Snowmobile Hill Climb, Red River Ski Area15 Ski & Snowboard Challenge, Red River Ski Area15 Happy Hops Hunt, Purgatory Resort16 Telemark Festival, Sipapu Ski Resort

16-17 Winterfest, Purgatory Resort17 MLK Jr. Race, Wolf Creek Ski Area19-24 Not Forgotten Outreach Week, TSV20 United Way Day, Wolf Creek Ski Area20 Ongoing School program begins; Ski Apache22-24 USASA SW Freeride Showdown, AF Resort23 Terrain Park Competition Finals, Ski Apache23 Moonlight Hike & Campfire, Sipapu Resort23 College Day, Wolf Creek Ski Area23 King of the Hill Terrain Competition, Sipapu 23-24 Low O2 Challenge, Enchanted Forest XC 23-25 Big Ol’ Texas Weekend, Angel Fire Resort24, 31 Fun Races, Wolf Creek Ski Area27 Local Appreciation Day, Wolf Creek Ski Area27-31 Taos Winter Wine Festival, Taos Ski Valley30 Transworld TransAm Tour, AF Resort30 UNM Ultimate Ski Challenge, AF Resort30 Shred Cancer Benefit, Red River Ski Area30 Telemark Clinic, Wolf Creek Ski Area30 Rail Jam, Purgatory Resort

Feb4-7 50th Anniverary Reunion, Purgatory Resort4-9 Mardi Gras in the Mountains, Red River4, 11 Locals Days, Ski Apache5-9 Mardi Gras Celebration, Angel Fire Resort6 World Championship Shovel Races, AF Resort7, 24 Local Appreciation Day, Wolf Creek7 Cosmic Series Rio Hondo Rando, Taos Ski Valley7 USASA Southwest Freeride Series, AF Resort7 Super Bowl Fun Race, Wolf Creek Ski Area9 Mardi Gras, Purgatory Resort13-15 I Heart Purg Weekend, Purgatory Resort14 Heart to Heart Races, Ski Apache16 Fat Tuesday Costume Day, Ski Apache17-22 Military Winter Fest, Angel Fire Resort18-21 IFSA Junior Freeride by JETA, Taos Ski Valley20 Moonlight Hike & Campfire, Sipapu Ski Resort20 Judy Collins, Taos Community Auditorium20 Ski Apache Cup and Apache Star Races20 Telemark Ski Clinic, Wolf Creek Ski Area20 Ski Bike Festival, Purgatory Resort20 Red Ball Express, Purgatory Resort21 Local Benefits Day, Purgatory Resort21, 28 College Days, Wolf Creek Ski Area26 Happy Hops Hunt, Purgatory Resort27 USASA Rampage Slopestyle, Red River Ski Area27 Wild Western Cup, Ski Apache27 K2 Breast Cancer Awareness Day, Taos Ski Valley27 Just Desserts Eat & Ski, Enchanted Forest XC27 Hope on the Slopes, Purgatory Resort28 NM Pine Cup, Angel Fire Resort

Mar1 Apache Quest Scavenger Hunts, Ski Apache2, 27, 30 Local Appreciation Days, Wolf Creek