Skiing Taos Ski Valley - Okay, this reviewer has exercised restraint for every other review up to this point, but... I’m not sure I’ll be able to do it with Taos. Sorry snowboarders, you’re not allowed on this hill (might be a good place to try skiing- you can also hike the astounding backcountry that is on all sides). The mountain sits above ten thousand feet and has terrain you can hike to that surpasses 12,000, which means quality snow and no rain. Taos is the best ski area in America for steeps and it is one of the only hills that will let you ski all of its trees. There is a wonderful beginner area, and some of the groomed runs are so consistent with steepness and fall line that you’ll realize just how funky all those runs in Vail and Breckenridge really were. Controversial visionary Ernie Blake thought that this mountain looked like the European Alps when he decided to build the mountain, and it has become the reason New Mexican skiers ski like they have learned out there. I don’t have a single favorite part of the mountain, like I do for every other ski area (except maybe Jackson and Snowbird), but rather I like the entire thing because it is easy to navigate and scare oneself all day long. From the top of Kachina Peak, look for the resident mountain goat who likes to share the view of gargantuan Wheeler peak (13,00 feet and New Mexico’s tallest) as its flanks caress historic Taos pueblo and then feed the 1000 foot deep Rio Grande Gorge that cuts the valley into two pieces. After you have the best day of your life skiing high alpine Utah style powder on a European class mountain, go down to Tim’s Stray Dog Cantina, and don’t forget to order an over-easy egg on top of your red chile enchiladas! As the brochure says, “drier snow than Utah and more sun than Sun Valley.” Come root me on for the New Mexico Extreme Skiing Championships! Joey Smallwood