Report Updated: Saturday, November 23, 2024 8:34 AM

Another great weekend to hit the slopes in New Mexico and southern Colorado. Event though it’s been warm in town, it’s cold in the mountains and they have been making lots of snow and packing the left overs from the early season storm. Here are some highlights: Sanida Peak back open with 80% of the mountain and some grooming… Santa Fe opens early for the season Saturday… Pajarito back open with more grooming… Sipapu open daily for a week with more terrain expected soon… Purgatory is open daily with top to bottom on the front side… Wolf Creek now 100% open.

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New: 0

Storm: 0

Base: 12-24

Season: 36

Runs: 30/35

Lifts: 2/4

Notes: Sandia Peak is reopening this weekend. 80% of the mountain with half of the trails groomed and Lift 3 to the top and Lift 4 in the beginner area. Rentals, private lessons, retail, and food at the Café are available.

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Santa Fe:

New: 0

Storm: 0

Base: 22

Season: 35

Runs: 70/90 (upper and lower mountain)

Lifts: 7/7

Notes: Opening early for the first time since 2001! Early snowfall and great snowmaking conditions have allowed 70 of our 90 trails to open across the mountain, 28 of those trails groomed. The dedication of the new Santa Fe Express High-Speed Quad will be at 8:30 Saturday. In addition to the Santa Fe Express, the Millennium and Tesuque Peak triple lifts, will be open to the upper mountain. Expect early season conditions, with thin cover and unmarked obstacles possible in spots. The mountain’s best coverage will be on Lobo, Alpine, Midland, Santa Fe Trail and Easy Street, which have seen a lot of extra love from the snowmaking crew. The terrain parks will remain closed until more snow falls. All facilities are open.

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Taos Ski Valley:

New: 0

Storm: 0

Base: 16

Season: 33

Notes: Crews have been boot and machine packing the mountain and snowmaking every night. They will open Thursday, Nov. 28 (Thanksgiving Day).

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Pajarito:

New: 0

Storm: 0

Base: 14

Season: 44

Runs: 46/55 (86% open, 11 runs groomed)

Lifts: 3/6 (Aspen and Beginner and this weekend the Mother lift will run)

Notes: Open this weekend with 86% of the mountain. They are grooming parts of the mountain on green and blue trails.

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Angel Fire:

New: 0

Storm: 0

Base: 18

Season: 46

Notes: Will open Friday, Dec. 13.

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Sipapu:

New: 0

Storm: 0

Base: 16

Season: 36

Runs: 6/44 (All trails open are on the lower mountain)

Lifts 3/6 (Lifts 2 and 5 open along with ski school magic carpet)

Notes: Open daily through Dec. 1. Tickets start at $15. The crew has been making a lot of snow no ropes may drop on more runs soon. Runs open are: Thumper, Faline, the lower pitch of Rolling Rock, Bambi and Lower Badger's.

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Red River:

New: 0

Storm: 0

Base: NR

Season: 28

Notes: Opens Wednesday, Nov. 27 with 10 trails and a terrain park serviced by Gold Chair and the midway unload on Platinum Chair. From November 29th to 30th, with our Four Pack on sale, you'll have a chance to grab a combination of the most savings with the most flexibility we offer on Lift Ticket deals. With (4) 1 Day Lift Tickets that are fully transferable, you have the power to use them in any way you choose during most of the season. Whether using all four days for yourself or sharing them with friends and family using all four on the same day, you’ll be saving almost 30% per day compared to online Lift Tickets as an Adult. The new $6M Copper chair (fixed grip) will open for the 24/25 season. New this season also is a new Beginner Lift Ticket that is valid for one day from 9:00am-4:00pm on Gold Chair and Little Blue Carpet only. This will be the perfect Lift Ticket to purchase for those new to skiing or snowboarding who are taking a lesson.

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Ski Apache:

New: 0

Storm: 0

Base: NR

Season: NR

Notes: Will open this weekend, Nov. 23-24 with the lower mountain open and chair 43 running. 21.

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Purgatory:

New: 0

Storm: 0

Base: 19

Season: 30

Runs: 9/107 (upper front side and Demon down to the base)

Lifts: 2/11 (6-pack chair and Lift 2)

Notes: Open daily with top to bottom terrain on the front side. Headwaters terrain park is also open. Snow making continues daily. Limited food is available at the Powderhouse, Purgy’s, Bear Bar & the Waffle House. Tickets start at $41. Get ticket info here.

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Wolf Creek:

New: 0

Storm: 0

Base: 25

Season: 71

Runs: 100%

Lifts 10/10

Notes: Open daily with the whole mountain. The Water Fall area and Alberta Peak are open along with Knife Ridge and Horshoe Bowl. Lift tickets are at regular rates. $91 for Adults, $60 for Seniors, and $45 for Children.

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Arizona Snowbowl (Flagstaff):

New: 0

Storm: 0

Base: 14

Season: 28

Runs: 12/61

Lifts: 4/8

Notes: Open with the Arizona Gondola and Grand Canyon Express going up to the top. Hart Prairie Chairlift is now open with beginner terrain.

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Cross Country Areas:

Here are the links to some other resorts of interest in New Mexico, Southern Colorado and Arizona. Click on the resort name to get all the details.

Enchanted Forest XC

Chama Cross Country

Valles Caldera National Preserve

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Report Legend:

Snowfall amounts are listed in inches. Surface conditions are noted as follows: P=Powder, PP=Packed Powder, TP=Tracked Powder, MG=Machine Groomed Snow, HP=Hard Packed, SP=Spring Conditions, VC=Variable Conditions, NR=No Report From Ski Area, N/A=Not Applicable, T=Trace.

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More Information:

Here are some links that you may find helpful:

Ski New Mexico

Colorado Ski Country

Ski Utah

New Mexico National Weather Service

Colorado National Weather Service

Colorado Mtn Weather & Avalanche Report

Detailed Ski Area Forecast From SnowForecast

Warren Miller Films & Info

National Forest Service (has fall color info and more)

Colorado Ski History Web Site (includes info on closed NM/CO areas)

New Mexico Road Conditions

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Road Condition Phone Numbers:

New Mexico 800-432-4269, Colorado 303-639-1111, Utah 866-511-8824, Arizona 888-411-7623.

Jackie