Clear Channel Media & Entertainment Snow Report
Updated: Friday, April 05, 2013 07:54 AM
Next Update: As conditions require...

It's the final weekend of the season for everyone except Sipapu (they will re-open next weekend too). Here some highlights for this week: Santa Fe closes Sunday and don't forget about the road construction, so allow extra time for the detour... Taos has a sledding competition on Saturday and pond skimming Sunday to close the season... Sipapu re-opens this weekend and next and has $25 tickets this weekend... Wolf Creek has College Day on Saturday and Local Appreciation Day on Sunday to close the season.

Sponsor: This report sponsored by Red River, where summer events start in May with chairlift rides, the motorcycle Rally the Hunting and Fishing Expo, and more. Book your vacation now at RedRiver.org. You can also get ski area information from RedRiverSkiArea.com.

Sandia Peak: Closed for the season.

Santa Fe: 0 New. 0 Storm. 0 New This Week. 34 Inch Base. 155 Inches This Season. 70/77 Runs Open. 6/7 Chairs Running (Sierra Double runs on weekends). 29 Runs Groomed. PP/MG/SP Surface Conditions. The Boneyard Terrain Park is open. Closing day is April 7. Lifts now run from from 9:30-4:30 with the upper mountain chairs closing at 4:15. Special note about getting to the ski area: there is road construction at Paseo de Peralta and Bishops Lodge Road. Allow some extra time for follow the well-marked detour, which is: Paseo De Peralta to Old Taos Hwy, left on Old Taos Hwy to Murales, right on Murales to Bishops Lodge Rd, right on Bishops Lodge Rd to Artist Rd, left on Artist and follow it to the end.

Taos Ski Valley: 0 New. 0 Storm. 0 New This Week. 53 Inch Base. 102/111 Runs Open. 12/14 Chairs Running (Chairs 5 & 6 only run on busy days and peak periods). Chair 8 has closed for the season. 30 Runs Groomed (all greens and blues groomed nightly). PP/MG/SP Surface Conditions. Kachina Peak, Highline and West Basin Ridges are open. Maxie's Terrain Park is open top to bottom. Closing day is Sunday. Please be aware that due to spring conditions, some terrain may open or close during the day at irregular times. Please check the white board at the top of lift two for updated information on what is opening/closing. Schlittentag is the German word for "Sledding Day" and you can do it on Strawberry Hill, on April 6. Registration is free and you have to building your own sled and any cost involved. Arrival time: 11 a.m. Craft Build: 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Craft Inspection: 1:30 p.m. Event Starts at 2 p.m. Participants must be 18 and older. And then on Sunday April 7 it's the Bud Light Pond Skimming Championships. Laugh until your sides hurt at this must see event at the base of Strawberry Hill starting at 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. competitors will use any means necessary to skim across an 80 foot pool of ice cold water (best costume earns points). Registration at the TSV, Inc. Administration Offices and there is a $20 entry fee.

Angel Fire: Closed for the season. Summer events start May 17.

Pajarito: Closed for the season.

Red River: Closed for the season. Summer events begin in May.

Sipapu: 0 New. 0 Storm. 0 New This Week. 29-36 Inch Base. 12/41 Runs Open. 2/5 Lifts Running. PP/MG/SP Surface Conditions. Re-open this Saturday and Sunday with lifts turning from 9:30-4:30. Will also re-open for one final weekend, next weekend, April 13-14. 2013-2014 season passes are now on sale with a limited number of adult passes are available for $299, and all passes include 2013 spring benefits. All lift tickets are on now sale too: adult and teen lift tickets are $25, kid and senior lift tickets are just $10.

Enchanted Forest XC: Closed for the season.

Valles Caldera National Preserve: Closed for the season.

Ski Apache: Closed for the season.

Durango Mountain Resort (Purgatory): 0 New. 0 Storm. 0 New This Week. 49 Inch Base. 191 Inches This Season. 80/88 Runs Open. 4/10 Lifts Running. 33 Runs Groomed. PP/MG/SP Surface Conditions. Open through Sunday with lifts running from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are reduced to $59. This is the final weekend of the season.

Wolf Creek: 0 New. 0 Storm. T New This Week. 63 Inch Mid-Mountain Base. 336 Inches This Season. 77/77 Runs Open. 6/7 chairs running. Alberta Peak, Montezuma Bowl, the Waterfall area, Knife Ridge, and Horseshoe Bowl all open. Closing Day is this Sunday. Saturday is College Day where college students with a valid photo current college ID get tickets for $35. Sunday is Local Appreciation Day with tickets $35 for everyone.

Silverton Mountain: 0 New. 0 Storm. 0 New This Week. 80-120 Inch Base. Open Thursday through Sunday.

Telluride Resort: 0 New. 0 Storm. 0 New This Week. 49 Inch Base. 211 Inches This Season. 92/127 Trails. 16/18 Lifts. All 3 terrain parks are open. Closing day is this Sunday, April 7. Ute Park Lift 11 & Lynx Lift 13 are now closed for the season. Oak Street Lift 8 will operate until 1:30.

Report Legend:
Snowfall amounts are listed in inches. Surface conditions are noted as follows: P=Powder, PP=Packed 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.

Great Deals:
Learn Freestyle at Sipapu: With Sipapu's four terrain parks, including the new Don Diego terrain park (Sipapu's biggest park to date), Sipapu is now offering Freestyle Ski and Snowboard Lessons. Available to everyone (even first-time skiers and snowboarders), these lessons are taught by PSIA Freestyle Certified instructors and cover park basics, including how to ride boxes, rails and even natural features. Classes are $33 (lift ticket and rentals not included, and a minimum of 3 students must be in each class) - to make a reservation, call 800-587-2240 or e-mail skisue@SipapuNM.com.

Get Angel Fire Tickets At Costco: You can save money on your lift tickets by purchasing them at Costco. A 2-pack of tickets is $94.99, saving you 28% off the normal ticket price ($66 per adult ticket).

Taos Ski Valley Taos Card: Save money with the Taos Card . The card is $60, but you save $17 off the regular season daily rate, plus every 7th ski day is FREE! You save if you plan on skiing 2 or more days this year, this card is a good deal. Ski direct to the lift with your card – no waiting in line to purchase lift tickets. Last years’ Taos Card holders can reactivate for $30 at any time.  

Stay FREE at Sipapu: During Sipapu's popular FREE Lodging Days, up to four guests stay slopeside for FREE with the purchase of one $44 lift ticket. This offer is available nearly everyday for the 2012-2013 season. For complete details, visit www.SipapuNM.com. Stay FREE in Taos, Santa Fe and Las Vegas: When you purchase your lift ticket at a partner hotel in Taos (El Pueblo Lodge, Sagebrush Inn, Indian Hills Inn or Quality Inn), Santa Fe (Sage Inn) or Las Vegas (Super 8), your lodging is FREE. Based on double occupancy, blackout dates apply. For more information, visit www.SipapuNM.com.

Durango Mountain Ticket Deals:  You can save money on lift tickets by buying your tickets at Costco locations in Albuquerque. The lift ticket voucher packet includes 5 transferable lift tickets, plus 20% off lodging, 20% off ski or snowboard rental or demo for $279.99.

Military Discount At Durango Mountain: As a way of saying “THANK YOU!” to the service men and women of the United States, Durango Mountain Resort is offering an exclusive Military Lift Ticket and Lodging Package with a 25% savings. The lodging and lift ticket package starts at $64 per person/ per night. To book, simply call 800-525-0892 and mention the Military Package. Some restrictions apply.

Ski News: 
What Does It Take To Open Steeps At Taos: Here is part the story from Taos' Facebook page: A number of steps must occur for an expert run to open at TSV. Every square foot of TSV’s 1200 plus acres is monitored by the Snow Safety Department of the Ski Patrol. The mountain is then divided into six routes with a route leader keeping an eye on that portion of the mountain. Once there appears to be enough snow to ski in that area, generally more than 18 inches, the route leader will assess the trail by touring and digging snow pits. If the snow, in its various layers, seems stable or can be made stable with avalanche mitigation techniques (these include the use of various explosives and/or ski cutting), the run may be fine to open or be a candidate for foot packing. Foot packing is done by side stepping down the slope. This crushes and compacts the snow, making it denser, and with additional snow has a better chance of supporting skiers. The patrol leader must prioritize the work invested into a trail. He will pick the area that has the best chance of opening and concentrate resources there. He must also insure the trails adhere to the requirements of the New Mexico Ski Safety Act. These include proper roping and marking of obstacles as well as proper signage. Once all this has occurred, the Patrol as a whole discusses the possibility of opening. This insures that everyone has a voice in the safety of the public and the safety of the rescuers if a sled is required to be taken down the trail. After a trail is opened, the skiing tends to stabilize the trail making it easier to open in the future. Frequently in the early season trails will have limited opening or may be rotated in order to preserve the snow.

Durango Mountain Resort: Durango Mountain Resort was recently named as the “Top Value Ski Resort in North America” by TripAdvisor, which compared costs of hotels, lift tickets, ski equipment rentals and meals at 25 popular ski destinations for this ski season. Durango’s most for a ski vacation came in at nearly half of the average of all the destinations listed by Trip Advisor. The resort continually strives to provide guests with an incredible value without breaking the bank on a ski getaway. For incredible stay and ski deals, visit http://www.durangomountainresort.com/lodging/winter-packages/ or call 800-525-0892.

What's New This Season?There is plenty new at your favorite snow sports area for the 2012-2013 season. Click here to check all that's new and improved from last season.

More links:
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)
Road Conditions: New Mexico 800-432-4269, Colorado 303-639-1111, Utah 866-511-8824, Arizona 888-411-7623.

Summer Season Info: 
New Mexico Rafting Companies:
Kokopelli Rafting Adventures, (800) 879-9035
Los Rios River Runners, (800) 544-1181
New Wave Rafting Co., (800) 984-1444
Far Flung Adventures, (800) 359-2627
Known World Rafting Adventures, (800) 983-7756
Native Sons Adventures, (800) 753-7559
Santa Fe Rafting Co., (888) 988-4914