Comments on: Let’s Take it to Taos

By: Brittany Walker Konsella

Brittany Walker Konsella — Sun, 14 Dec 2014 02:17:33 +0000

In reply to JB. Thanks JB for all of your local input and insights! We really appreciate it! We certainly would NOT want people wallowing in dense forest and getting lost ;) Hopefully we'll be able to head down this year to experience the new Kachina! Taos is a great place to ski :)

By: JB

JB — Sun, 14 Dec 2014 01:25:47 +0000

Nice write up here! The Kachina lift is built and ready to open as soon as we have enough snow. The one thing I don’t agree with you on is having a backcountry gate. That is something that wouldn’t be suitable for the terrain accessed from the top of Kachina, and it’s something most locals don’t want. Having lift serviced access to the Wheeler Peak Wilderness wouldn’t be a good idea, it is very steep and rugged terrain. Wilderness Bowl and Lake Fork Mountains, the areas that would be accessed if there were a gate, are avalanche prone and require knowledge of the lines and routes to avoid getting cliffed out. Each of these mountains drain into large paths that slide naturally pretty often. If there was a gate on Kachina people who don’t understand the area would be getting into terrain they aren’t ready for. We have plenty of great inbounds terrain especially now with a lift on Kachina (which is already moguled out within hours of opening so snow quality isn’t an issue), and we have some stellar, tho limited, backcountry terrain that doesn’t need a lift accessed gate. The William’s Lake trail begins near the bottom of lift 4 and allows easy access to the entire basin. The Pueblo land boundary is about a mile south of Kachina Peak and the ridge south and above William’s Lake is the boundary. A gate on Kachina probably wouldn’t create any conflict with the Pueblo, the issues are more about the ruggedness of the closer terrain. There are lines that look skiable from the top that run into large cliff bands. The west side of Kachina and Lake Fork drains into the East Fork of the Hondo River below Vallecito Mountain. Even locals who know this area have gotten lost and a horse was even abandoned in there because it’s dense forest with tons of trees down and other obstacles to navigate, and the route out is a 4 mile long creekbed with no developed trails. It wouldn’t be a very pleasant experience for anyone who dropped into that side without knowing what they were getting into. Taos Ski Valley does not currently have a developed search and rescue team and the Ski Valley’s Ski Patrol has said in the past they are not interested in performing out of bounds rescues, tho this may be a changing factor with the Ski Valley’s new owner and much needed modernization beginning to unfold. The Kachina lift is good for the ski area, it’s been in the development plan for decades, and it’s not going to ruin any of the skiing or experience at TSV. A backcountry gate would however, in my opinion as a longtime local backcountry user, have a negative impact on this area and what this place is within our western mountain culture. If you’d like to keep updated on current conditions in the Taos region, as well as see pics and reports from the Taos backcountry, check out our informal forum, the Northern New Mexico Avalanche Exchange; http://www.nnmae.org/phpbb3

By: Frank

Frank — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 15:57:59 +0000

In reply to Keith.

Agreed, Keith. Kachina will often sport moguls with a lift, which is definitely a bummer. But Taos will gain a backcountry gate, which would be awesome considering the current closed boundary as well as the somewhat limited backcountry options due to the reservation.

We also noticed the lack of a bro-brah scene there. The snow didn’t get shredded nearly as quickly as it would on a pow day in places like Alta-Bird, Squaw, Jackson, or even Crested Butte where there are just gangs of good skiers pillaging every pow stash. The snow lasts better in Taos, partly because of the short hikes, but also due to the lack of a “scene”. Which is sweet.

Oh, and Orlando’s was amazing for dinner- and go ahead and try their avocado pie- we decided it was a combo of cheesecake, key lime pie, and avocado.

By: Keith

Keith — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 16:05:56 +0000

Taos…is my favorite area anywhere. A little partial being from NM, but I strangely never skied it while growing up there. I didn’t have the skills yet, hah.

You hit the nail on the head with the mix of Bavarian & southwestern influences making it so incredibly unique. Oh yeah. And those steeps. And desert sunsets. Cripes!

I am not so wild about the proposed west ridge and Kachina lifts though. Maybe west ridge won’t have a ton of impact, but a Kachina lift reminds me of the new six pack to the top of Parsenn at Mary Jane. Just loses allure, and of course the snow will be chewed up instantly. I’m a stubborn old coot in some respects, as slower lifts (as you mention) aren’t a problem to me. The snow lasts longer, no crowds as you mention, and no traffic to race against.

I also have to add that it’s amongst the most friendly of areas I’ve ever skied. This is in large part to the number of Texans who frequent the area on holiday, no joke (mixed in with humble locals). I’ve lost count how many chipper conversations have begun by someone asking us, “Where ya’ll from?” on the lift. The bro/brah ‘tude is pretty much nonexistent, esp for how gnarly some of the terrain is.

Fun story. My aunt went to UNM in Albuquerque with Ernie Blake’s daughter, and said she wasn’t a very focused student as she was more consumed with getting to Taos every weekend than her studies. LOL!

I could go on. Hah. Glad you guys enjoyed the trip.