After a very long drive from Montana, I had arrived back in New Mexico for some time in Santa Fe, skiing at Taos, and taking an avalanche safety course. I usually cooked my meals on the trip, but in New Mexico I made sure to try as many local places as I could, the first of which gave me the best meal I've ever had, by far.
Mole Colorado Enchiladas with a Hibiscus Orange Agave Margarita
I had a bit of extra time when traveling between Taos and Santa Fe one day, so took a detour through Ojo Caliente. The desert views did not disappoint.
Hills outside of Ojo Caliente
While in Taos I ended up connecting with a coworker who was visiting from Denver, CO, and a few of her friends who had just built their own home outside of Taos, NM. The home was beautifully made and had envious views of the mountains. I'm looking to do something similar someday, so I appreciated their generosity to not only host, but answer my many, many questions on how they achieved it.
Residence in Taos, NM
It's hard to pick a favorite child, but if I did it would probably be Taos Ski Valley. The remoteness combined with great snow and steeps make for world class skiing that is never crowded with tourists (like myself).
Taos Ski Valley
Stauffenberg ski line at Taos Ski Valley
Of the runs there, Stauffenberg and the surrounding lines were my most frequent attraction. It's hard to fully capture the depth in a top-down cell photo, but I did what I could
Stauffenberg Ski Line at Taos Ski Valley
I liked to drop in where the yellow-orange jacket skier is standing, center left on the picture. He and a few more folks on the ridge were doing tests laps in preparation for a competition the next day. I got to talking to them and one of them asked if I was competing, which was a nice compliment. Maybe someday.
Looking down Stauffenberg at Taos Ski Valley
I had opted for a propane lantern as I wanted maximum light, and also to avoid any issues with batteries freezing at night. It could really brighten up the camp, which made cooking in the dark more enjoyable.
Camping at Taos Ski Valley
The Wheeler Peak Wilderness next to Taos Ski Valley was the host of the Avalanche Safety (AIARE 1 + Avalanche Rescue) course. The instructor did a great job and the learnings were highly valuable, even for in-bounds skiing. I recommend it to anyone who spends time in steep terrain in the winter, whether they are skiing, snowshoeing, or anything in-between. The weather was also a perfect test for our learnings, as it snowed 8+ inches while we were in the field -- The Jeep was buried when we returned!
FRESH SNOW! at Taos Ski Valley
I took a few days off the next week after the course to ski Stauffenberg a few more times with the fresh snow. The new powder made the run a lot easier on the knees and less technically challenging, but just as fun.
Stauffenberg at Taos Ski Valley with fresh snow
Stauffenberg at Taos Ski Valley with fresh snow
Taos Ski Valley is another resort that allows overnight camping with a permit. There are some National Forest sites I've used in the past and recommend as well, but it was nice to have the walk-in, walk-out experience for this trip. The National Forests sites may have facilities also, but I knew Taos did which was a nice bonus. That said, using an outhouse in that weather remains the coldest bathroom experience I've had.
Camping at Taos Ski Valley
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