Taos - American Southwest - page 223

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Kids

Skiing with Kids

With its children's ski school, Taos Ski Valley has always been an excellent choice
for skiing families, but with the 1994 addition of an 18,000-square-foot children's
center (Kinderkäfig Center), skiing with your children in Taos is even better.
Kinderkäfig offers many services, from equipment rental for children to babysit-
ting services. Call ahead for more information.

www.cottamsoutdoor.com), and Taos Ski Valley Sportswear, Ski & Boot Co., in Taos
Ski Valley ( & 575/776-2291 ).
Taos Ski Valley , P.O. Box 90, Taos Ski Valley, NM 87525 ( & 866/968-7386
or 575/776-2291; www.skitaos.org), is the preeminent ski resort in the southern Rocky
Mountains. It was founded in 1955 by a Swiss-German immigrant, Ernie Blake. Accord-
ing to local legend, Blake searched for 2 years in a small plane for the perfect location for
a ski resort comparable to what he was accustomed to in the Alps. He found it at the
abandoned mining site of Twining, high above Taos. Today, under the management of
two younger generations of Blakes, the resort has become internationally renowned for
its light, dry powder (as much as 320 in. annually), its superb ski school, and its personal,
friendly service.
Taos Ski Valley can best be appreciated by the more experienced skier and snow-
boarder. It offers steep, high-alpine, high-adventure skiing. The mountain is more intri-
cate than it might seem at first glance, and it holds many surprises and challenges—even
for the expert. The London Times called the valley “without any argument the best ski
resort in the world. Small, intimate, and endlessly challenging, Taos simply has no equal.”
The quality of the snow here (light and dry) is believed to be due to the dry Southwest-
ern air and abundant sunshine. Note: In 2008, Taos Ski Valley began allowing snow-
boarders onto its slopes.
Between the 11,819-foot summit and the 9,207-foot base, there are 72 trails and
bowls, more than half of them designated for expert and advanced skiers. Most of the
remaining trails are suitable for advanced intermediates; there is little flat terrain for
novices to gain experience and mileage. However, many beginning skiers find that after
spending time in lessons they can enjoy the Kachina Bowl, which offers spectacular
views as well as wide-open slopes.
The area has an uphill capacity of 15,000 skiers per hour on its five double chairs, one
triple, four quads, and one surface tow. Full-day lift tickets, depending on the season,
cost $40 to $66 for adults, $30 to $55 for teens ages 13 to 17, $25 to $40 for children
12 and under, $40 to $50 for seniors ages 65 to 79, and are free for seniors 80 and over
and for children 6 and under with an adult ticket purchase. Full rental packages are $29
for adults and $20 for children. Taos Ski Valley is open daily 9am to 4pm from Thanks-
giving to around the second week of April. Note: Taos Ski Valley has one of the best ski
schools in the country, specializing in teaching people how to negotiate steep and chal-
lenging runs.
Taos Ski Valley has many lodges and condominiums, with nearly 1,500 beds. (See
“Taos Ski Valley,” under “Where to Stay,” earlier in this chapter.) All offer ski-week pack-
ages; three of them have restaurants. There are three restaurants on the mountain in
addition to the many facilities of Village Center at the base. Call the Taos Ski Valley
( & 800/776-1111 or 575/776-2233).

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