Taos Ski Valley Turns White

Even as most of the Southwest is experiencing sunny days, there is snow in Taos Ski Valley man-made snow, that is. Snowmaking operations began at Taos Ski Valley on October 20 and continue as nighttime and early morning temperatures permit. Snow is covering 1/2 mile of the Rubezahl Return Trail, portions of Powderhorn, and the base of Chairlift #4. Taos has one of the largest snowmaking operations among ski areas in the Southwest with 100% snowmaking capabilities on its beginning and intermediate terrain. Forcing high-pressure air (100 PSI) and water (540 PSI) through pipes and then pumping them through various snowguns creates man-made snow. Taos uses a wide range of snowmaking equipment including a snowcat-driven turbo crystal gun, fan guns, large-mount Z-1s, and the new tower guns. This snowmaking season, thirteen experienced crewmembers welcomed to the crew thirteen new hires, three of who have twenty-five years of combined snowmaking experience. They are John Weinmeister, with training at Kirkwood, California and Santa Fe Ski Basin; Phillip Nardini who honed his skills at Killington, Vermont; and Arnold Morrison bringing his knowledge from Sugarloaf, Maine.

Obviously, even these talented snowmakers need Mother Nature to provide cold temperatures. Snowmaking can begin once the temperature drops to 28 degrees. Nice cold nights with low humidity are optimal. A cold front is moving in this weekend so plenty of snow is in the forecast for Taos Ski Valley. We expect Mother Nature will be providing a little of her own snowmaking as well. Taos Ski Valley plans to open Saturday, November 22. Snow has started falling in the base village at Taos Ski Valley and forecasters predict unsettled weather to continue through November.

To check out a picture of the snow falling, goto www.skitaos.org and check out the webcam page.