Big Winter Storm System Hits Taos Ski Valley

A large storm system made its way into the Southern Rockies on Saturday, beginning one of the bigger storm systems to New Mexico for the 2009/10 ski season. So, far 18 inches has fallen as of 6 AM mountain standard time with no end in site. To add to that total, forecasters are calling for 16+ inches more before the storm is said and done.
The NOAA site said "...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM MST TUESDAY...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11
AM MST TUESDAY.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...NEW SNOWFALL THROUGH EARLY TUESDAY WILL
RANGE FROM 4 TO 8 INCHES BELOW 7500 FEET AND 8 TO 16 INCHES
ABOVE 7500 FEET. LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER
THE HIGHEST PEAKS AND ALONG NORTH AND EAST FACING SLOPES."

Taos Ski Valley has already experienced an epic ski season with numerous days of pure powder runs for skiers. All the terrain is open, including Taos' famed Kachina Peak, however some delays in certain area openings are expected as avalanche control will be extensive. Southern Rockies Reservations very own powderhound report has kept tabs on the storm. Check back with Tito often!

True Democracy Taos Ski Valley

Come celebrate President's Day up at Taos Ski Valley with perfect ski conditions, plenty of snow, sun and beautifully groomed runs. Bask in the regal peaks, fit for kings and queens - like the view of Kachina here - but don't be fooled. This is true democracy here. Both beginners and experts share the glory of Taos Ski Valley. At TSV, you can be a happy beginner skier or boarder on your first day, or an expert traversing the thrill of our peak, open this weekend for the first time this winter.

If you need lessons, I personally vouch for the Ski School here. As a newbie skier and new employee to Southern Rockies Reservations this season, I recently completed my first "Ski Week". The patience, skill and good humor of the TSV Ernie Blake Ski instructors are unsurpassed. What seemed impossible became possible within a few short days. I hereby officially nominate the lovely lady in yellow, ski instructor Emily Watson, for sainthood. She only got kicked in the head a few times (working to get my skis back on!) to get me safely down the relative challenge of Honeysuckle to the leisurely Rubezahl runs along rolling Rio Hondo streams. The views from atop the mountain surpass your wildest dreams: a truly magical apex in the famed land of enchantment.

Beat the mid-winter blues and bring the whole family up soon to frolic beneath the New Mexico sunshine on the most awesome slopes in North America! Presidents Day, a February weekend, Spring Break, there's still plenty of time left this winter to ski or board the West. Check out skithewest.com for our specials.

- submitted by Laura Lynch