There is so much that goes into a ski trip…clothing, equipment, lift tickets, accommodations…it is no wonder that you are broke by the time the trip is over. Although areas like Vail have given the sport notoriety for being only for the wealthy…there are still places that make the sport accessible to the masses…one such place is Red River, just 36 miles from Taos.  

When you first arrive in this miniscule town, you will feel as though you walked on the set of a John Wayne film.  The whole town has a western feel and up until recently the center of town featured a hitching post, left over from when the town boomed due to the gold rush.

Accommodations in this town hover around basic, at best…but for the price you can’t really complain. I ended up at The Lodge at Red River…at first it was a little too mountain rustic for me…built in the 1940s, this old lodge invoked images of Jack Nicholson’s face busting through the door and screaming “redrum, redrum”…but in the end the place turned out to be quite fabulous for only $69 a night. The Lodge is set in the center of town and is home to the most popular restaurant in Red River, Texas Reds Steakhouse.  Once the image of Jack Nicholson’s face wore away I had the most comfortable nights sleep I had in a long time in the remarkably comfortable bed.

Now on to the mountain…visiting Red River Ski Area is like going back in time.  This mountain has old-school style lifts and even a mining town replica on a beginner slope to entertain the kiddies.  The mountain has 57 runs and is almost equally divided between expert, intermediate and beginner terrain…so as is the case with Ski Santa Fe, there is something for everyone…and with multi day lift tickets costing $51 per day, you get a lot of mountain for the low price.

For those that want to ski but also be pampered, I would suggest making your way to El Monte Sagrado in Taos. This luxury resort boasts one of the top rated spas in New Mexico, while only being a short 30-minute shuttle ride from Taos Ski Valley.

Taos Mountain has a reputation of being one of the most challenging ski areas in the US and when you arrive at the mountain you will be met by the most vertical lift you’ll ever see…but don’t be afraid.  Upon riding that first lift you are dropped into one of the most beautiful ski valleys in the world, surrounded by peaks providing almost 12,000 feet of vertical skiing.  The valley offers skiing for all levels, even beginners, while the hike accessible peaks are best kept for extreme experts. As I am a snowboarder, riding this mountain was extremely exciting as my kind was only allowed on this mountain for the first time last year.

After a day of being whipped by the mountain, there is nothing more relaxing to come home to than the Spa at El Monte.  A stunning spa drenched with natural light and filled with tropical flora and soothing waterfalls…it is impossible not to relax here.  Although the spa offers all the traditional treatments you could think of, the spa menu is perfectly in line with the mystical vibe of Taos…with non-traditional treatments like: Vibrational Therapy, Egyptian Anointing and Spiritual Cleansing with Native American healer, Grandmother Jean.  I chose to go with the Muscle and Joint Massage, which was the perfect cure for my poor battered body, which had endured a week of hard riding.

Rooms at the resort start at $229, which is not high considering this hotel received the four-diamond AAA rating.  www.elmontesagrado.com

When starting my New Mexico ski odyssey I decided to start in Santa Fe.  Known for its artist colonies and classic New Mexican cuisine, most people don’t think of it as a ski town. Just 16 miles from the heart of the city lies a local ski haven tucked away in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Ski Santa Fe. 

The mountain has a decent mix of terrain, with enough to keep any level of skier busy for the day. Since it is not a well known mountain, the crowds are small and lift tickets are reasonably priced at $58 per day for adults.

While in Santa Fe I stayed at the golden adobe treasure known as the Inn on the Alameda, a lovely affordable luxury find. This Inn offers the ambiance of a bed-and-breakfast while providing the amenities of a full-service hotel. Their deluxe rooms ($180 – $305 per night) come with a private balcony or patio along with a traditional Native American style Kiva fireplace. For about $80 more you can splurge on one of their casita style rooms with a living room and private entrance. This hotel loves to brag about how peaceful it is…and I have to say they really have earned their bragging rights…while there I never heard another living soul, and the hotel did have guests. The hotel provides a bountiful and complimentary breakfast buffet, along with an afternoon wine and cheese tasting.

The Inn is centrally located within walking distance to the town center, or the Plaza as the locals call it.  While in Santa Fe, make sure to check out Maria’s New Mexican Kitchen…offering up great New Mexican cuisine, and best of all a Margarita menu with over 100 different varieties of this classic drink.

A very New Mexico-esque ski run at Red River Ski Area.

This week I am on the road in New Mexico…tonight I am checking out the Inn on the Alameda in Santa Fe…above is the cozy lobby….stay tuned for more New Mexico tidbits…

You can also follow my adventures on twitter at www.twitter.com/HipCompass