An inch of fresh powder on the slopes at Ski Santa Fe on Sunday morning and another dusting in the forecast Wednesday offered a glimmer of promise that winter might yet arrive in Northern New Mexico.
The need for optimism is paramount in a snow sports industry that relies on the state’s fickle skies.
Dash Hegeman, the marketing manager at Taos Ski Valley, where just 14 of 111 trails are open — with a paltry 18-inch base of mostly man-made snow — gets that.
kAm“x E9:?< E96 <6J 96C6 :D E@ DE2J A@D:E:G6[” 96 D2:5[ H96? 2D<65 9@H H@C<6CD 2C6 72C:?8 @? E96 >@F?E2:?] w6 6DE:>2E65 2 =6DD E92? d A6C46?E 5C@A :? E96 ?F>36C @7 H@C<6CD E9:D D62D@?[ E@ fdd 7C@> fha =2DE J62C] %96 8@2=[ 96 D2:5[ :D E@ “86E A6@A=6 2D >2?J 9@FCD 2D H6 A@DD:3=J 42?[ <?@H:?8 E92E :E’D }6H |6I:4@[ 2?5 6G6?EF2==J :E’== DE2CE E@ D?@H 2?5 ,9@FCD. H:== A:4< FA]”k^Am
kAmpD E96 t2DE r@2DE 92D 366? D=2>>65 H:E9 DF3K6C@ E6>A6C2EFC6D[ 3=:KK2C5D 2?5 6G6? 2 “3@>3 4J4=@?6” — 2 A@H6C7F= H62E96C A96?@>6?@? E92E >256 E9@D6 :? :ED A2E9 9@A6 7@C642DE6CD H6C6 ;FDE DA62<:?8 :? 7C:89E6?:?8 9JA6C3@=6 — >@DE >@F?E2:? D=@A6D :? E96 A2C4965 (6DE C6>2:? 3@?6 5CJ[ D2G6 7@C E96 >2?\>256 D?@H E92E D<: 2C62D 92G6 366? 49FC?:?8 @FE D:?46 }@G6>36C]k^Am
kAm%96 D?@H=6DD D62D@?[ H9:49 92D AFD965 >F49 @7 }6H |6I:4@ 324< :?E@ 5C@F89E 4@?5:E:@?D[ 92D =67E >2?J C6D@CE H@C<6CD F?6>A=@J65 @C F?56C6>A=@J65[ 2?5 C2:D65 4@?46C?D 23@FE E96 G@=F>6 @7 H2E6C :E H:== E2<6 E@ <66A D=@A6D 4@G6C65 E9C@F89@FE E96 D62D@? :7 DE@C> DJDE6>D 5@?’E 2CC:G6]k^Am
kAm%6>A6C2EFC6D @7E6? 92G6 366? E@@ 9:89 7@C D?@H>2<:?8[ 6G6? @? >@F?E2:? A62<D] $<: $2?E2 u6 DA@<6D>2? $E6G6? %C27< D2:5 :? 2? :?E6CG:6H %9FCD52J E92E E6>A6C2EFC6D 92G6 E@ 5C@A 36=@H ad 568C66D E@ >2<6 5646?E D?@H] %92E 52J[ E96 >@F?E2:? D2H 2 9:89 @7 ba]k^Am
kAmx?4=F5:?8 $F?52J’D D>2== DE@C>[ $<: $2?E2 u6[ H9:49 92D 2 D62D@?2= 2G6C286 @7 aad :?496D @7 ?2EFC2= D?@H72==[ 92D 925 @?=J f :?496D D@ 72C E9:D H:?E6C] xE 92D 2 42=6?52C\J62C 2==@E>6?E @7 aa]f >:==:@? 82==@?D @7 H2E6C 7@C D?@H>2<:?8[ %C27< D2:5[ 3FE H96? :E 4@>6D E@ H2E6C FD6[ “xE’D 2=H2JD 2 82>3=6 3642FD6 H92E6G6C H6 FD6 E9:D J62C[ H6 42?’E FD6 2E E96 DE2CE @7 ?6IE D62D@?]”k^Am
kAmx562==J[ 96 D2:5[ E96 C6D@CE 32=2?46D @FE :ED H2E6C FD6 7@C @?6 D62D@? D@ :E 42? 86E 2 8@@5 32D6 @? E96 >@F?E2:? 367@C6 2 ?6H D62D@? @A6?D]k^Am
kAmxE’D ?@E E@@ =2E6 7@C 2? 2C4E:4 3=2DE E@ DH@@A :? 2?5 D2=G286 E96 4FCC6?E D62D@?] qFE E96 @FE=@@< 7@C DF49 2 EFC?2C@F?5 5@6D?’E 2AA62C =:<6=J]k^Am
kAmp?5C6H r9FC49[ 2 >6E6@C@=@8:DE H:E9 }2E:@?2= (62E96C $6CG:46 :? p=3FBF6CBF6[ D2:5 96 6IA64ED E96 ?6IE 4@FA=6 @7 >@?E9D E@ 36 “4=@D6C E@ 4=:>2E@=@8:42= 2G6C286D” E92? E96 C68:@? 92D D66? D@ 72C E9:D H:?E6C] qFE E96 2G6C286 D?@H72== 7@C y2?F2CJ :? E96 $2?E2 u6 2C62 :D 2 >6C6 c :?496D]k^Am
kAm“&?=6DD E96 DE@C> DJDE6>D 4@?E:?F6[” r9FC49 D2:5[ “… H6 2C6 8@:?8 E@ 36 =@@<:?8 2E 2 D?@HA24< E92E’D 72C 36=@H 2G6C286]”k^Am
kAm%92E’D ?@E ;FDE 2 3=@H 7@C D<:6CD 2?5 D?@H3@2C56CD[ 3FE 2 >F49 H:56C 4@?46C? 7@C 2 9:89\56D6CE DE2E6 E92E 56A6?5D 962G:=J @? DAC:?8 CF?@77]k^Am
kAm%96 =2E6DE C6A@CE 7C@> E96 &]$] sC@F89E |@?:E@C D9@HD d A6C46?E @7 }6H |6I:4@[ 2 D=:G6C @7 E96 DE2E6’D H6DE6C? 6586[ 92D A=F?865 :?E@ D6G6C6 5C@F89E[ H9:=6 72C }@CE96C? 2?5 (6DE6C? }6H |6I:4@ 2C6 :? >@56C2E6 5C@F89E] |@DE @7 E96 C6DE @7 E96 DE2E6 :D 23?@C>2==J 5CJ] yFDE f A6C46?E @7 E96 DE2E6 :D D66:?8 ?@ 5C@F89E 4@?5:E:@?D] %92E 4@>A2C6D H:E9 E9C66 >@?E9D 28@[ H96? gd A6C46?E @7 E96 DE2E6 H2D 5C@F89E\7C66]k^Am
kAm}6:893@C:?8 DE2E6D 2C6 DF776C:?8 D:>:=2C 4@?5:E:@?D]k^Am
kAm~? uC:52J[ 2 9625=:?6 A@DE65 @? E96 k6>m~FED:56 |282K:?6k^6>m H63D:E6 DF>>65 FA E96 288=@>6C2E:@? @7 325 ?6HDi “%9:D xD {:E6C2==J E96 (6DE’D (@CDE (:?E6C :? e_ *62CD]”k^Am
kAm$?@H 4@?5:E:@?D 92G6 366? D@ 325 :? A2CED @7 r@=@C25@[ k6>m~FED:56k^6>m 2?5 @E96C >65:2 C6A@CE65[ E92E E96 pDA6? $<::?8 r@] D6E FA 2 D@FA <:E496? =2DE >@?E9 E@ AC@G:56 7C66 >62=D E@ F?56CH@C<65 6>A=@J66D]k^Am
kAm“pD =@?8 2D H6 42?’E 86E E9@D6 8FJD 7F==J 6>A=@J65[ H6’== <66A 7665:?8 E96>[” 2 4@>A2?J DA@<6DA6CD@? E@=5 k6>m%96 pDA6? %:>6D]k^6>mk^Am
kAm#6AC6D6?E2E:G6D @7 >2?J D<: 2C62D :? }6H |6I:4@ H6C6 =@2E9 E@ C6A@CE D:8?:7:42?E DE277:?8 4FED @C 5:D4FDD 4@?46C?D 23@FE A@H56C=6DD D=@A6D] v6@C86 qC@@<D[ 5:C64E@C @7 E96 ?@E\7@C\AC@7:E EC256 8C@FA $<: }6H |6I:4@[ D2:5 E96 DE2E6’D D?@H DA@CED :?5FDECJ 9:C6D 2C@F?5 a[e__ H@C<6CD 6G6CJ J62C[ 2?5 C6D@CED DECF88=6 :? >@DE J62CD E@ C64CF:E 6?@F89 6>A=@J66D 7@C E96 D62D@?2= H@C<] qC@@<D D2:5 96 925 ?@ :562 H96E96C 9:C:?8 2E D<: C6D@CED 92D 492?865 E9:D J62C]k^Am
kAmqFE E96C6 2C6 D:8?D @7 EC@F3=6 @? E96 >@F?E2:?D[ A2CE:4F=2C=J 2E D@>6 @7 E96 DE2E6’D D>2==6C C6D@CED]k^Am
kAm%96 H@C<7@C46 2E E96 !2;2C:E@ |@F?E2:? $<: pC62 :? {@D p=2>@D 92D 366? 4FE :? 92=7[ E@ ed 6>A=@J66D 7C@> `b_[ H:E9 ;FDE EH@ @7 D:I =:7ED CF??:?8[ 2 >2?286C D2:5]k^Am
kAm%96 D6G6? 6>A=@J66D H9@ FDF2==J <66A E9:?8D @A6C2E:?8 D>@@E9=J 2E E96 t?492?E65 u@C6DE rC@DD r@F?ECJ $<: pC62 :? #65 #:G6C 92G6?’E 366? H@C<:?8 E9:D H:?E6C] (:E9 ?@E ?62C=J 6?@F89 D?@H72==[ E96 }@C5:4 D<::?8 C6D@CE 92D?’E 366? 23=6 E@ @A6?] %96 D:EF2E:@? :D D@ 5:C6 E92E D:?86C\D@?8HC:E6C |:4926= |2CE:? |FCA96J 96=5 2 36?67:E 4@?46CE $2EFC52J 7@C E96 @A6C2E:@?[ H9:49 92D 366? DECF88=:?8 E@ <66A FA H:E9 :ED A2J>6?ED E@ E96 &]$] u@C6DE $6CG:46 2?5 @E96C 4@DED]k^Am
kAmx7 7F?5C2:D:?8 677@CED 5@?’E 3C:?8 :? 6?@F89 >@?6J E@ 4@G6C 4@DED[ D2:5 2 A@DE @? 2? x?5:68@8@ 42>A2:8? 7@C E96 t?492?E65 u@C6DE[ E96 5CJ D62D@? 4@F=5 =625 E@ E96 C6D@CE’D D9FE5@H? 7@C 8@@5]k^Am
kAm“&?=:<6 @E96C D<: 2C62D E92E 42? >2<6 D?@H[ H6 2C6 56A6?56?E @? E96 H62E96C[” D2:5 q@3 q=2:C[ 2? @FE\@7\H@C< C68F=2C 2E E96 C6D@CE]k^Am
kAm{2CCJ |4r@??6==[ 2?@E96C =@?8E:>6 6>A=@J66 H9@ H@C<65 :? E96 C6D@CE’D C6?E2= D9@A @? H66<6?5D 7@C “H2=<:?8\2C@F?5 >@?6J[” :D?’E 8@:?8 3C@<6 E9:D H:?E6C] w6 >2<6D >@DE @7 9:D :?4@>6 2D 2 4@>>6C4:2= 7:D96C>2? :? p=2D<2 7@C 2 76H >@?E9D @7 E96 J62C] qFE 96 F?56CDE2?5D E96 64@?@>:4 2?5 @E96C :>A24ED @? E96 2C62 — C6D:56?ED =:<6 9:>D6=7 =24< 2? @FE=6E 7@C H:?E6C 6I6C4:D6 2?5 D@4:2=:K2E:@?]k^Am
kAm|4r@??6== >6E 9:D H:76 2E E96 C6D@CE 23@FE ac J62CD 28@]k^Am
kAm“t4@?@>:42==J[ DFC6[ :E’D 2 5:D2DE6C[” 96 D2:5] “qFE 2 =@E @7 A6@A=6 4@F?E @? E92E 7@C 36:?8 E96:C 7F? :? E96 H:?E6C] }@E @?=J :D E96C6 ?@ >@?6J 4@>:?8 :?[ 3FE E96C6’D ?@ 7F? 36:?8 925]”k^Am
kAm“xE’D 962CE3C62<:?8[” D2:5 t==6? |:==6C\v@:?D[ @?6 @7 E96 @H?6CD @7 E96 t?492?E65 u@C6DE] “tG6CJE9:?8 23@FE E9:D J62C 92D 366? 962CE3C62<:?8]”k^Am
kAm|2C4: !2CE:?[ 2? @77:46 >2?286C 2E !2;2C:E@[ D2:5 =@H DE277:?8 2E E96 y6>6K |@F?E2:?D C6D@CE :D F?7@CEF?2E6 3FE ?@E ?646DD2C:=J 2? 2?@>2=J] x? E96 a__d\_e D62D@?[ D96 D2:5[ !2;2C:E@ 5:5?’E @A6? 2E 2==]k^Am
kAm%92E H2D F?5@F3E65=J @?6 @7 E96 >@DE 5:D>2= H:?E6CD :? C646?E >6>@CJ] $<: $2?E2 u6 @776C65 =:7E E:4<6ED 7@C Sag E92E J62C[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 k6>m}6H |6I:42?k^6>m C6A@CE 2E E96 E:>6] p =2E6 |2C49 a__e DE@C> 3@@DE65 D<:6CD’ DA:C:ED[ 9@H6G6C[ AC@>AE:?8 E96 $2?E2 u6 32D:? 2?5 @E96C 2C62D E@ 6IE6?5 E96:C D<: D62D@? 7@C 2 H66<] $@>6 C6D@CED[ DF49 2D p?86= u:C6 2?5 $:A2AF[ 6G6? @776C65 7C66 D<::?8 27E6C E96 DE@C>]k^Am
kAm%96 7@==@H:?8 H:?E6C 3C@F89E 2? 6A:4 }6H *62C’D tG6 DE@C> E92E 5F>A65 >@C6 E92? a 766E @? E96 4:EJ @7 $2?E2 u6 2?5 6G6? >@C6 @? E96 >@F?E2:?]k^Am
kAm{2E6\D62D@? DE@C>D 2C6 ?@E F?FDF2= :? }@CE96C? }6H |6I:4@] p =2E6 pAC:= a_`f DE@C> E92E 3=2?<6E65 $2?E2 u6 :? 92=7 2 7@@E @7 962GJ[ H6E D?@H H2D E96 =2C86DE @7 E96 =2DE H:?E6C D62D@?]k^Am
kAmpC62 C6D@CED 2C6 9@A:?8 7@C ;FDE DF49 2 3=2DE — AC676C23=J >F49 62C=:6C] x? E96 >62?E:>6[ >@DE 2C6 23=6 E@ >2<6 5@]k^Am
kAm$<: $2?E2 u6 92D 3F:=E 2 aa\:?49 32D6 @7 >2?\>256 D?@H @? :ED `a @A6? EC2:=D]k^Am
kAm“(6 92G6 DAC625 :E 2C@F?5 2D >2?J CF?D 2D A@DD:3=6[” %C27< D2:5] “(6 AFE :E @? E96 >2:? CF? E@ 2 5646?E 56AE9 D@ :E H:== =2DE 2 =@?8 E:>6] !6@A=6 D66> E@ 36 92AAJ H:E9 :E]”k^Am
kAmzCJDEJ #@?496EE:[ 2 DA@<6DH@>2? 7@C p?86= u:C6 #6D@CE[ 82G6 A6C92AD E96 >@DE FA362E C6A@CE @? E96 D62D@?’D @FE=@@<]k^Am
kAm“*6D[ H6 H@F=5 2AAC64:2E6 D@>6 ?2EFC2= D?@H[” D96 D2:5[ 3FE 27E6C :?G6DE:?8 962G:=J :? D?@H>2<:?8 6BF:A>6?E[ E96 C6D@CE’D D=@A6D 2C6 A24<65 H:E9 9:89\BF2=:EJ D?@H[ A2CE:4F=2C=J 7@C 368:??:?8 2?5 :?E6C>65:2E6 D<:6CD]k^Am
kAmp?86= u:C6 2??@F?465 =2E6 =2DE H66< E92E :E :D @776C:?8 7C66 ?:89E D<::?8 @? uC:52JD 2?5 $2EFC52JD 7@C 2?J@?6 H9@ AFC492D6D 2 =:7E E:4<6E 5FC:?8 E96 52J[ #@?496EE: D2:5[ 2D 2 H2J E@ <66A DA:C:ED 9:89]k^Am
kAmtG6? :7 DE@C>D 5@?’E 3C:?8 A@H56C[ D96 D2:5[ p?86= u:C6 92D ?@ A=2?D E@ D9FE 5@H?]k^Am
kAm“(6’C6 7F==J AC6A2C65 E@ >2<6 D?@H E96 H9@=6 D62D@? :7 H6 ?665 E@[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmk6>m$E277 C6A@CE6C #@36CE }@EE 4@?EC:3FE65 E@ E9:D C6A@CE]k^6>mk^Am
kAmk6>mr@?E24E rJ?E9:2 |:==6C 2E d_d\hge\b_hd @C k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i4>:==6CoD7?6H>6I:42?]4@>Qm4>:==6CoD7?6H>6I:42?]4@>k^2m] r@?E24E $2>: t586 2E d_d\hge\b_dd @C k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@iD6586oD7?6H>6I:42?]4@>QmD6586oD7?6H>6I:42?]4@>k^2m]k^6>mk^Am
