Taos, New Mexico – If you’ve eagerly awaited news on Taos Ski Valley’s proposed gondola, you’ll have to wait a little longer.
Back in July, Taos News reported that a decision on various Taos Ski Valley projects by the Carson National Forest could be delayed until this fall. An email from the Taos Mountain Alliance in late June informed its subscribers that they were told that a decision wouldn’t come until October. However, the Carson National Forest informed Taos News that they believe a decision will come later this summer. The Carson National Forest lists the estimated final decision date as November 1, 2024, which would follow an objection period.
In 2023, Taos Ski Valley submitted a proposal to implement various projects from its 2021 Master Development Plan. Here are some of the most notable plans from the proposal:
- Build a base-to-base gondola. Each cabin would fit eight people, and the gondola could carry a maximum of 1,800 people an hour. The 7300-foot-long gondola would run year-round. The lift would connect the Frontside base area and the Kachina Basin.
- Replace Lifts 2 and 8. Both fixed-grip quad chairlifts were built in the 1990s, meaning they’re nearing the end of their operational lives. These two could be replaced by faster and higher-capacity chairlifts.
- Snowmaking Improvements. Taos wants to install a new booster station, water tank, and additional snowmaking pipes. This will help improve snowmaking capabilities for the frontside and Lift 2. This project will not increase the amount of water currently used for snowmaking from the Rio Hondo.
- Develop a Nordic and snowshoe trail network. The 33-acre expansion would give Taos a cross-country ski center. Currently, the closest cross-country ski facility to Taos, Enchanted Forest, is around a forty-five minute to an hour drive away.
- Build a mid-mountain lodge near the top of Lift 7. This 7000-square-foot facility would add food options and restrooms to mid-mountain.
- Replace the Whistlestop Café. The new facility would be double the size of the current Whistlestop Café and add more bathrooms. It would be moved to an adjacent location but would not disrupt the skier flow.
- Construct a hiking trail around Lift 4. The two-mile long trail would be of intermediate difficulty, follow the existing Hunziker ski trail, and connect to the Kachina Basin base area.
Due to the magnitude of the proposals, opponents want to see an environmental impact statement produced rather than the less detailed environmental assessment they released in 2023. A primary concern is the environmental impact on the Rio Hondo, which passes through the two base areas. In addition, backcountry skiers fear that during gondola construction, they would be blocked off users from accessing a Williams Lake trailhead. An alternative route has been proposed by Taos Ski Valley, but backcountry skiers believe this is less user friendly.
Image Credits: Taos Ski Valley
