It's always interesting to see what major media have to say about skiing in this region. Ski Magazine in its December issue had a 12-page feature article, "Southern Comfort," about southwestern Colorado's ski areas. Hannah Nordhaus, of the Nordhaus family of New Mexico that launched Sandia Peak, profiled Silverton. She notes, "The fierce, fun, choppy mountain demands you bring your a-game. Big time." She says it's the place skiers come to test their "mettle" and that many leave with their "egos slightly battered." I vouch for that. Silverton is reporting a 73-inch base, and is open for guided skiing only through April 4.

Deborah Williams reports that Wolf Creek is not a place you come to "wine, dine, shop or spa. You come here to ski." She notes that it's not unusual for storms to drop feet of snow here with "crosshair precision" even when the rest of the state's resorts "writhe in drought." As is the case this winter, with Wolf Creek sitting on a cushy base of 65 inches, and snow falling as this is written.

The Salomon BBR Demo Tour will be at Wolf Creek on Saturday with new shaped skis available for demo! Also on Saturday is a Ladies' Ski and Board Clinic. Ladies can purchase a lift ticket and two-hour morning lesson of any ability for only $63. On Sunday, skiers and boarders of all abilities are invited to join the free Super Bowl Race or take a Telemark Clinic, with a lift ticket and two-hour morning lesson of any ability for $63. Sunday is also a Locals Appreciation Day (open actually to all comers). Lift tickets are $33 for adults and $19 for seniors and children. The Cross Country Track was freshly groomed on Feb. 2 and the entire track is open.

A piece on Durango Mountain Resort notes that the resort has "matured" since the days writer Chris Bettin tended bar at the venerable (and entirely rebuilt) Purgy's, but that it is still unpretentious, a place where "comfort is always the best fit."

DMR has a 46-inch base, with snow falling. This Saturday, the Durango Nordic Ski Club is hosting their annual Langlauf Race, a distance skate competition of 30 km or 15 km for adults, and shorter distances for juniors. The race starts at 10 a.m., with registration ($25 for adults or $15 for juniors) at 9 a.m. at the Nordic Center. On Sunday, the center is holding a skate clinic ($25) at 1 p.m. with classes for skiers of all ability levels. Equipment rentals are available. To sign up for clinics or events or details, call 970-385-2114.

Opening the Ski Magazine article is a piece on Telluride by Rob Story. It begins, "Forgive me for thinking I'm in the Alps," and goes on to describe its stunning high-alpine vistas, above-treeline bowls and chutes, and sophisticated hangouts like the charming Alpino Vino wine bar. But he also notes, with perception, that it still also remains an "odd, funky outpost."

Telluride has a nice 46-inch base, with snow coming down. Many of the hike-to runs off Gold Hill and Palmyra Peak are now open.

Ski Santa Fe has a 41-inch base, with snow expected Thursday night and Friday. The area is hosting a USSA Southern Series slalom race this Saturday and Sunday, with racers from Angle Fire, Los Alamos, Taos, Ruidoso, Red River, Flagstaff and Durango expected. Spectators are welcome to the course, located on Muerte.

Santa Fe will also open its terrain park, the Bone Yard, this Saturday. It is located under the quad chair near the top, so everyone can easily check out the moves skiers and boarders are throwing down. The area is also offering $10 discounts on lift tickets for people holding a Santa Fe Winter Fiesta Pass through Feb. 5. The pass also gets you into numerous other events being held in town. Visit www.santafe.com for details.


Several readers responded to my column last week on the hazards of skiing and means of avoiding some common dangers. While a Ski Apache spokesperson stated that a death there a few weeks ago was the resort's first, William Watkins of Santa Fe wrote and said that isn't true.

"In 1962 my friend and fellow skier David Via was killed while skiing there," reports Watkins. "He was an excellent skier and was on the Santa Fe High School ski team. He was skiing in fresh snow and wasn't wearing goggles. Apparently some snow blew up under his glasses and he ran into a tree. There happened to be a doctor from Texas right behind him and when he got to David, he was already gone."

This incident points out the need to have appropriate eyewear for skiing. If you wear glasses, you can now buy extra-large goggles for wearing over them. Or, even better system is to wear contacts, which eliminates one possible layer that can fog up and improves overall vision. With contacts, even a pair of sunglasses with a bit of a streamlined, face-hugging profile will provide good protection from snow and wind, as well as sun.

Talking about old times brought up other memories for Watkins of a happier nature. He recalls, "I have been skiing for 60-plus years, and still have a season pass for Santa Fe. I started skiing at the old Girl Scouts lodge at Hyde Park before the ski basin was started. Buzz Bainbridge had an old Cadillac motor that powered the rope tow. When I was in the third grade, in 1951, Buzz started the local school ski program. For a $1.50, we got a ride to the slopes, rental skis, boots, poles and a sack lunch, and we got to get out of school at 10 a.m. on Fridays. Pete Totemoff was the ranger there then and he took a lot of us kids out to learn to ski the trees. He and I remained friends and ski buddies until he passed away. I was always proud to say, "I skied the trees with Pete."

Daniel Gibson can be reached at dbgibson@newmexico.com.