Latest Report Updated: Sunday, November 29, 2020 7:24 AM

Ski season is underway for the 2020-2021 season, with Purgatory and Wolf Creek open daily now. New Mexico areas are making slow like crazy and are awaiting the updated health order for when they can open. There was a little fresh snow out of the Friday/Saturday storm. Check out the numbers below.

Ski areas in our region will be operating for the season, but with a reduced capacity. In NM, the allowed capacity is 25% of the uphill capacity of the lifts running for that day. For example, at Santa Fe, if all lifts were normally running, the uphill capacity is 7683. The COVID uphill capacity is 1930. So that means only 1920 tickets could be sold for that day. When there is less terrain open, there are fewer tickets sold.

The only way ski areas can fairly manage this is to sell all tickets on line for a particular day. All areas are selling tickets in advance. So to ski or ride this season, you will need to plan ahead and buy tickets to your favorite spot in advance. It’s expected that weekend days will sell out quickly so you might need to go weekdays if you can.

Under each ski area there is a link to their COVID-19 plan, as each area’s processes are slightly different. There is also a link to purchase tickets online (some are not available yet until opening dates are set).

A few other changes:

·Masks required in all common areas; masks don’t need to be worn when actively skiing or riding.

·You will be asked to hold your lift/pass out away from your body as far as possible so it can be scanned.

·Only ride the lift with only people in your visiting party.

·Lift lines will be spaced further apart than normal.

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Sandia Peak:

New:

Storm: 2

This Week: 2

Base:

Season: 10

Runs: 0/35

Lifts: 0/4

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Santa Fe:

New: 0

Storm: 4

This Week: 6

Base:

Season: 15

Runs: 0/87

Lifts: 0/7

Winter Operations Plan

Online Ticket Purchase (Available when opening date determined).

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Taos Ski Valley:

New: 0

Storm: 2

This Week: 15

Base: 26

Season:

Runs:

Lifts:

Winter Operations Plan

Online Ticket Purchase (can be purchased now)

The resort will be cashless, meaning payment for all dining, rentals, ticketing, and retail will be via credit, debit, or prepaid card only.

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Pajarito:

New:

Storm:

This Week:

Base:

Season:

Runs:

Lifts:

Winter Operations Plan

Online Ticket Purchase (Available when opening date determined)

The brand new Pajarito Card provides a contactless ticket, rental, and ski school experience, designed to deliver more time on the snow. You can add lift tickets, rental reservations, lessons and resort credits to one single, reloadable card that can be used again and again. The best news? It’s direct to lift! Can’t make it to the mountain on your selected date? This card has flexibility – you can use your resort credit towards another day.

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Angel Fire:

New:

Storm: 2

This Week: 16

Base: 14

Season: 31

Runs: 0/81

Lifts: 0/7

Winter Operations Plan

Online Ticket Purchase

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Sipapu:

New:

Storm:

This Week:

Base:

Season:

Runs:

Lifts:

Winter Operations Plan

Online Ticket Purchase (Available when opening date determined).

Lift tickets, rentals, and lessons will now be loaded onto our new reusable, reloadable Sipapu Card. LEARN MORE

Tickets will be changeable – if you change your mind, you can use your resort credits towards a different day on the mountain LEARN MORE

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Red River:

New:

Storm:

This Week:

Base:

Season:

Runs: 0/63

Lifts: 0/7

Winter Operations Plan

Online Ticket Purchase (Available when opening date determined).

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Ski Apache:

New:

Storm:

This Week:

Base:

Season:

Runs:

Lifts:

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Purgatory:

New: 0

Storm: 0

This Week: 4

Base: 16

Season: 35

Runs: 12/105

Lifts: 3/12 (Lifts 1 6-pack and beginner lifts 7 & 9)

Open with top to bottom skiing on the front side under the 6-pack. The beginner area has now opened too with lifts 7 and 9 running.

Winter Operations Plan

Online Ticket Purchase

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Wolf Creek:

New: 0

Storm: 0

This Week: 16

Base: 51

This Season: 99

Lifts: 8

Runs: 98% of terrain including Waterfall area, Knife Ridge, Horseshoe Bowl

Winter Operations Plan

Online Ticket Purchase (Online ticket purchase approved. Must be done by 8p the day before arrival. Pre-purchased tickets will be picked up at Will Call the morning of. The Will Call is located next to the Ticket Office.)

At this time here is what’s available: lifts, restrooms, private lessons and rentals. No indoor lodging/seating areas or food service is available. Treasure and Noel Sports will open Sunday, November 29th, 2020. Skiers and boarders should bring their own water, snacks and lunch.

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Arizona Snowbowl (Flagstaff):

New:

Storm:

This Week: 3

Base: 18

Season: 19

Runs: 6/55

Lifts: 3

Winter Operations Plan

Online Ticket Purchase

To get capacity and other mountain updates on your phone, follow @AZSBUpdates on Twitter and turn on notifications.

The new lift, Arizona Gondola, is scheduled to open in early December.

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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

Road Condition Phone Numbers:

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

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