I had 1 1/2 days of skiing on this press trip, and it was different from my usual ski experience. We (Kelly from Steamboat and John from SF were the other advanced skiers among the writers) were with instructors all day Friday, and with guide Adrianna Blake (granddaughter of founder Ernie) Saturday morning.
Taos has an "old school" reputation, but Jean Mayer's ski school has embraced the new ski technology more aggressively than PSIA. Our first exercise with instructor Stuart was traversing while balancing on the uphill edge of the uphill ski. This helps break the traditional ski technique of staying 100% on the outside ski while turning. This was also interesting in that it recalled my memory of my son Adam and his 2 Snowbird friends practicing skiing on one ski on Chickadee at the end of the day. With some practice they were eventually skiing Wilbere groomers on one ski. Adam is impatient that I am incapable of making turns on the inside ski alone if I lose the outside ski.
On Friday afternoon we were with instructor Muggsy on some of Taos' more challenging terrain. First we had the short hike up to the relocated (since my 1993 trip) High Traverse to the West Basin runs, 35+ degree Spitfire in this case. Next time up we skied Reforma/Blitz, which Muggsy had probably selected as an example where we could follow his advice of making more rounded, fall line turns in the bumps.
As an aside, mogul aficionados like joegm MUST make a pilgrimage to Taos some time. There is serious bump skiing all over the place, ranging from fairly intermediate pitch to classic steep to Tuckerman's steep. And some of them, like Al's, Snakedance and Longhorn, go on forever and test your conditioning, expecially at the 10,000+ altitude. With the low skier density and typical Taos skier profile, shape and spacing of bumps would likely meet joegm's approval also. And with the dry snow and mostly north exposure there were few "hard noses" (as John described at other ski areas) on the Taos moguls.
Reported base was 67 inches, slightly below the "80-inch rule" that I have previously espoused. With local guidance the entire time I did not have the opportunity to get into much trouble. Nearly everything was open, though some areas looked much different than with the 130 inch base I enjoyed in 1993. We were obviously able to get around quite well, including the hike-to terrain above the top lifts. Taos is a steep and rocky mountain, and I do stand by my previous advice to avoid advance booking for earlier than February 1. For shorter notice trips the Taos website does post number of trails open by ability level, and chances are the base will be in the 60+ inch range by the time all trails are open.
Taos reported 5 inches overnight Friday, and while I was a bit restless waiting for our group to form finally 1/2 hour after opening, it was well worth the time for Adrianna's local guidance. The first run down Inferno was the always (for me) challenging combination of powder(20%) over bumps(80%). Kelly and I diverted late in the run to Edelweiss Glade which had a more pleasing 50/50 proportion. So next run Adrianna led us to the less heavily trafficked Lorelei Trees, which were smoother but at 30+ degree pitch in 5 inches of light Taos powder many turns still bottomed out.
So to really get the goods we hiked ~20 minutes out Highline Ridge to Corner Chute. This area probably had unconsolidated snow before the overnight storm plus some blow in being on the leeward side of Highline Ridge. At any rate Corner Chute had consistent steep untracked in the trees comparable to much of last Monday's skiing at Solitude. Our final run before lunch was a humbling 20/80 powder/bump marathon on Longhorn.
Saturday afternoon we drove out to the Rio Grande Gorge and toured/shopped at Taos Plaza. I will write a Taos Resort Guide feature for FTO by this summer.
Taos has an "old school" reputation, but Jean Mayer's ski school has embraced the new ski technology more aggressively than PSIA. Our first exercise with instructor Stuart was traversing while balancing on the uphill edge of the uphill ski. This helps break the traditional ski technique of staying 100% on the outside ski while turning. This was also interesting in that it recalled my memory of my son Adam and his 2 Snowbird friends practicing skiing on one ski on Chickadee at the end of the day. With some practice they were eventually skiing Wilbere groomers on one ski. Adam is impatient that I am incapable of making turns on the inside ski alone if I lose the outside ski.
On Friday afternoon we were with instructor Muggsy on some of Taos' more challenging terrain. First we had the short hike up to the relocated (since my 1993 trip) High Traverse to the West Basin runs, 35+ degree Spitfire in this case. Next time up we skied Reforma/Blitz, which Muggsy had probably selected as an example where we could follow his advice of making more rounded, fall line turns in the bumps.
As an aside, mogul aficionados like joegm MUST make a pilgrimage to Taos some time. There is serious bump skiing all over the place, ranging from fairly intermediate pitch to classic steep to Tuckerman's steep. And some of them, like Al's, Snakedance and Longhorn, go on forever and test your conditioning, expecially at the 10,000+ altitude. With the low skier density and typical Taos skier profile, shape and spacing of bumps would likely meet joegm's approval also. And with the dry snow and mostly north exposure there were few "hard noses" (as John described at other ski areas) on the Taos moguls.
Reported base was 67 inches, slightly below the "80-inch rule" that I have previously espoused. With local guidance the entire time I did not have the opportunity to get into much trouble. Nearly everything was open, though some areas looked much different than with the 130 inch base I enjoyed in 1993. We were obviously able to get around quite well, including the hike-to terrain above the top lifts. Taos is a steep and rocky mountain, and I do stand by my previous advice to avoid advance booking for earlier than February 1. For shorter notice trips the Taos website does post number of trails open by ability level, and chances are the base will be in the 60+ inch range by the time all trails are open.
Taos reported 5 inches overnight Friday, and while I was a bit restless waiting for our group to form finally 1/2 hour after opening, it was well worth the time for Adrianna's local guidance. The first run down Inferno was the always (for me) challenging combination of powder(20%) over bumps(80%). Kelly and I diverted late in the run to Edelweiss Glade which had a more pleasing 50/50 proportion. So next run Adrianna led us to the less heavily trafficked Lorelei Trees, which were smoother but at 30+ degree pitch in 5 inches of light Taos powder many turns still bottomed out.
So to really get the goods we hiked ~20 minutes out Highline Ridge to Corner Chute. This area probably had unconsolidated snow before the overnight storm plus some blow in being on the leeward side of Highline Ridge. At any rate Corner Chute had consistent steep untracked in the trees comparable to much of last Monday's skiing at Solitude. Our final run before lunch was a humbling 20/80 powder/bump marathon on Longhorn.
Saturday afternoon we drove out to the Rio Grande Gorge and toured/shopped at Taos Plaza. I will write a Taos Resort Guide feature for FTO by this summer.