Taos 2/5 - 2/10 2023

[Benny Profane]

Middle of week report. No pics, yet. Hasn't snowed in a while, so, the steep stuff, which, of course, is everywhere, is a bit rocky, and the bumps are ugly at times, and there are a ton of bumps. But the snow, everywhere, is very nice, even in the bump troughs. Chalky, dry.
I signed up for a ski week, which is about 350 for six mornings of group lessons. My second ski week. This one is turning into bump school, which is weird, since I avoid bumps like a common cold because of my half meniscus in the right knee, but, a day into it, I said, wtf, and its turning out very well. All about speed control and two feet, not one. Great school. Highly recommended.
Staying a few hundred feet from the base quad in a friend's condo, so, can't vouch for lodging. The old St. Bernard is gone, new one starts construction this late Spring.

Btw, I have a cold. God bless Dayquill.

 

[MarzNC]

Just got back from Taos. Did another Private Ski Week with compatible ski buddies both in terms of age, interest, and learning style. I go to Taos to learn how to ski bumps of any variety slowly and smoothly. Been working out well. My current favorite instructor is over 70 and it's quite something to watch him slither slowly down a set of bumps. Last week was mostly blue skies and relatively warm weather. Perfect for lessons, even if not ideal for skiing steeper terrain that's not that well covered yet. I've skied powder at Taos more than once. That's fun, but not as valuable in the long run as a Ski Week.

If anyone wants tips about lodging, shoot me a PM. The group of friends I was with mostly shared room at the Alpine Village Suites but collectively we have experience with other slopeside lodging as well as options down the mountain.

Upper Hunziker had the best snow off Lift 4 before the Kachina Lift opened for the first time on Feb. 3
Bumps were on the small side for this run

 

[Benny Profane]

It dawned on me today that this place has trees, big trees, everywhere, up to 11,000 ft and a little beyond. Even up on Kachina, a little. Makes storm skiing much better. Although that ain't happening right now.

 

[tirolski]

It dawned on me today that this place has trees, big trees, everywhere, up to 11,000 ft and a little beyond.

Trees have many more genes than humans. Enjoy them.

 

[Benny Profane]

Here I am on top of Kachina with my instructor. You can easily see the giant avi control bomb tube in the middle. There's four, I think.

 

[Tjf1967]

It dawned on me today that this place has trees, big trees, everywhere, up to 11,000 ft and a little beyond. Even up on Kachina, a little. Makes storm skiing much better. Although that ain't happening right now.

Dude that just dawned on you?

 

[jasonwx]

Here I am on top of Kachina with my instructor. You can easily see the giant avi control bomb tube in the middle. There's four, I think.
View attachment 18116

I think those tubes use compressed air

 

[jamesdeluxe]

I think those tubes use compressed air

They're called Gazex Exploders. As I understand it, they ignite a mixture of propane and oxygen. They've been used for a long time in the Alps and ski areas in the States are now adopting them instead of ordnance.

 

[jasonwx]

They're called Gazex Exploders. As I understand it, they ignite a mixture of propane and oxygen. They've been used for a long time in the Alps and ski areas in the States are now adopting them instead of ordnance.

they are a few up on Teton Pass

 

[MarzNC]

It dawned on me today that this place has trees, big trees, everywhere, up to 11,000 ft and a little beyond. Even up on Kachina, a little. Makes storm skiing much better. Although that ain't happening right now.

There are a LOT less trees around TSV than a couple years ago. There were major wind bursts in January 2022 that took down big trees all over the mountain. Have you noticed the piles of brush in most of the tree areas? Some of the tree areas that look like glades this season were much tighter last season. The clean up effort was immense. A year ago, many of the tree runs were closed not because of lack of snow but because of too much dangerous deadfall.