Bluebird Weekend with Lots of Snowmaking

Report Updated: Friday, December 6, 2024 10:57 AM

We will have a nice bluebird weekend to hit the slopes! All the mountains have been making snow every night with most of the snow guns running to prep more terrain for opening. Here are some highlights: Sanida Peak back open Saturday and Sunday with snowmaking and some grooming… Santa Fe has 62 runs open… Pajarito back open with more grooming… Sipapu now open daily with more terrain expected soon… Red River has a dozen runs… Purgatory has top to bottom on the front side and now the backside… Wolf Creek now 100% open with a great deal on lift tickets Monday through Thursday next week.

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Sandia Peak:

New: 0

Storm: 0

Base: 12-18

Season: 36

Runs: 30/35

Lifts: 2/4

Notes: Sandia Peak is reopening this weekend. They have been making a lot of snow this week and about 80% of the mountain with half of the trails groomed and Lift 3 to the will be open. Expect early season conditions on runs in spots. Rentals, private lessons, retail, and food at the Café are available.

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Santa Fe:

New: 0

Storm: 0

This Week: 0

Base: 22

Season: 37

Runs: 64/90 (upper and lower mountain)

Lifts: 5/7

Notes: The new Santa Fe Express High-Speed Quad is open (replaced the old quad chair. Expect early-season conditions, including thin cover and unmarked obstacles across much of the advanced and expert terrain. Trails with best coverage due to increased snowmaking efforts include: Gayway, Middle Gayway, Highline, Sunset, Lobo, Alpine, Santa Fe Trail, Davey Lane, Riblet Road, Upper/Middle/Lower Midland, Easy Street and Pine Flats. Thunderbird, Thruway, Slalom, Lower Broadway and Sierra Catwalk will be closed until further notice for snowmaking operations. Desafio, Muerte, and Middle Broadway will require an exit on Spruce Catwalk.

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Taos Ski Valley:

New: 0

Storm: 0

Base: 16

Season: 33

Runs: 13/120 (includes 5 blues and one black)

Lifts: 6/13

Notes: Terrain on the upper and lower front side open. Upper front side runs include Upper Powderhorn and Bambi.

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Pajarito:

New: 0

Storm: 0

Base: 14

Season: 44

Runs: 44/55 (80% open, 9 runs groomed)

Lifts: 3/6 (Aspen, Beginner, Magic Carpet)

Surface: Hard packed, groomed

Notes: Open this weekend with 80% of the mountain. They are grooming parts of the mountain on green and blue trails. They were able to make snow this week on Bruce's Blvd, Lower Aspen, Beginner East and Bread & Butter (a newly named trail off the top of the Beginner lift). Head there for the best snow.

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Angel Fire:

New: 0

Storm: 0

Base: 18

Season: 46

Notes: Will open Friday, Dec. 13. Terrain details will be available the day before opening.

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Sipapu:

New: 0

Storm: 0

Base: 16

Season: 36

Runs: 5/44 (All trails open are on the lower mountain)

Lifts 4/6 (including Lift 1 to the top)

Notes: Now open daily for the season. Top to bottom skiing on Sassafras off of Lift 1. They have been making lots of snow. Expect more terrain to open soon.

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Red River:

New: 0

Storm: 0

Base: 15

Season: 28

Runs: 13/64

Lifts: 4/7

Notes: Now open daily for the season. The Gold and Platinum chairs are open.

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Ski Apache:

New: 0

Storm: 0

Base: NR

Season: NR

Runs: NR

Lifts NR/10

Notes: Will re-open this Saturday and Sunday (Dec. 7 - 8) with Terrain under Chair 3 on the lower mountain and limited upper mountain terrain.

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Purgatory:

New: 0

Storm: 0

Base: 24

Season: 43

Runs: 34/107 (front side and limited terrain on the backside under Chair 3)

Lifts: 3/11 (Chairs 1 and 2 on the front and Chair 3 on the backside now open)

Notes: Headwaters terrain park is also open. Daily snowmaking continues. Tickets start at $41. Get ticket info here.

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Wolf Creek:

New: 0

Storm: 0

This Week: 0

Base: 42

Season: 94

Runs: 144/144

Lifts 10/11

Notes: Open daily with the whole mountain. The Water Fall area and Alberta Peak are open along with Knife Ridge and Horshoe Bowl. Lift tickets are at regular rates. $91 for Adults, $60 for Seniors, and $45 for Children. Monday, December 9th through Thursday, December 12th are Local Appreciation Days! Lift tickets will be $68 for adults, $49 for seniors and $34 for children. Everyone is considered a local!

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Arizona Snowbowl (Flagstaff):

New: 0

Storm: 0

Base: 13

Season: 28

Runs: 17/61

Lifts: 5/8

Notes: Open with the Arizona Gondola and Grand Canyon Express going up to the top. Hart Prairie Chairlift is now open with beginner terrain. And the Sunset Chairlift and 4 trails off of ridge side now open.

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Cross Country Areas:

Here are the links to some other resorts of interest in New Mexico, Southern Colorado and Arizona. Click on the resort name to get all the details.

Enchanted Forest XC

Chama Cross Country

Valles Caldera National Preserve

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Report Legend:

Snowfall amounts are listed in inches. Surface conditions are noted as follows: P=Powder, PP=Packed Powder, TP=Tracked Powder, MG=Machine Groomed Snow, HP=Hard Packed, SP=Spring Conditions, VC=Variable Conditions, NR=No Report From Ski Area, N/A=Not Applicable, T=Trace.

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More Information:

Here are some links that you may find helpful:

Ski New Mexico

Colorado Ski Country

Ski Utah

New Mexico National Weather Service

Colorado National Weather Service

Colorado Mtn Weather & Avalanche Report

Detailed Ski Area Forecast From SnowForecast

Warren Miller Films & Info

National Forest Service (has fall color info and more)

Colorado Ski History Web Site (includes info on closed NM/CO areas)

New Mexico Road Conditions

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Road Condition Phone Numbers:

New Mexico 800-432-4269, Colorado 303-639-1111, Utah 866-511-8824, Arizona 888-411-7623.