here was a look of horror on his face. I easily had 30 pounds on him, and probably the same in years. A collision would certainly be of greater harm to him than to me. For just a fraction of a second our eyes met. He then made a perfect Stem Christie to the safety of the hill on my left. I had no choice but to ski to the bottom of the slope, my only option taking an embarrassing fall. As I caught my breath, I looked up at the towering mountain of skiers above me. I remembered the local’s line that ‘Taos is another word for vertical.’ I also remembered what a friend had told me earlier, “If it’s been that long since you last skied, then a beginner’s ski class is advised.” That beginner’s class would begin tomorrow.

At a base elevation of 9,207 feet, The Taos Ski Valley is considered a skier’s ski resort. Back Story Located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of Northern New Mexico, the Taos Ski Valley is nestled 15 miles northeast of Taos. Originally a mining community, the resort was the dream of German native Ernie Blake to create a Bavarian style ski resort. He moved his family to a camper there in 1955 and the building of the world-class resort began. To this day it remains one of the few family owned and operated ski resorts in North America, with Blake’s children and grandchildren now running the operation. At a base elevation of 9,207 feet, it is considered a skier’s ski resort.

Yellowbird Beginner's Ski Program

As I joined the ranks of seven beginning skiers, ranging in ages thirteen to seventy, the monkey wrench tightening in my gut made me wonder if I had make the right decision. I was never good at group instruction and the boot camp sequences from Full Metal Jacket came to mind. Before I could duck out, we were approached by a gentile Englishman by the name of Neal King. After formal introductions, he proceeded to tell us a couple of self-deprecating stories and we were immediately in laughter – and, most importantly, relaxed. Neal started with the most basic of instructions - learning to take our skis off and on. We did it a couple of times until he was completely sure that everyone got it right. With a strong emphasis on safety, Neal made us understand that we were always in control of our actions. An hour later we were taking baby runs down the hill.

Neal - the Mayor King Neal is one of those rare individuals who guides you with seamless instruction, but makes you feel as if you were doing it on your own. I wanted to please him as much as I wanted to improve my skiing. During break, I chatted with Neal and asked him about his life. As a life-long skier, he has a deep passion for the Taos Ski Valley. This passion transcends skiing; for Neal is also the mayor of the community. Much of his time is spent promoting the TSV as a summer resort. At the end of the day it was obvious why the ski school is consistently rated one of the finest in North America. Not only did it offer 4 1/2 hours of world-class lessons, but great value with beginner lift ticket, skis and boot rentals included in the rate. TSV also offers popular Ski Weeks, designed for skiers of all abilities, to help them learn to be better skiers.

I couldn’t wait to hit the slopes the next morning. But first it was important that I get an objective overview of the TSV’s après-ski pleasures, represented in seven different bars, many offering live entertainment.

The Other Taos

Just down the mountain from the TSV is Taos - a fascinating mosaic of different cultures, architecture, museums, galleries, shopping and regional New Mexican cuisine. It makes for a great break from skiing and is worth visiting regardless of the season.

The Taos Pueblo is a UNESCO World Heritage site, continuously inhabited for over 1,000 years by the Tiwa-speaking Native American Pueblo people. With a population of approximately 2000 people, the Pueblo is multi-leveled homes made of adobe, built side-by-side. It is open to visitors, except during tribal rituals.

Ranchos de Taos consists primarily of a Latino population who has been in the area for over 400 years. The centerpiece of the community is the adobe mission, San Francisco de Asis Church. It has been the source of paintings by Georgia O'Keefe and photographed numerous times by Ansel Adams.

The Kit Carson Home and Museum is located one block from the Taos Plaza.

The Taos Plaza is where Taos’ modern Anglo history as an artist colony began in the late-eighteenth century. It has attracted the likes of D.H. Lawrence, Aldous Huxley, Carl Jung and Thomas Wolfe. With its shops, galleries and restaurants, it is also Taos’ business district.

The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge is the second highest suspension bridge in the U.S.

The Enchanted Circle is an 86-mile road trip through the southern Rocky Mountains. With Taos at its center, highlights include Angel Fire Resort, the Vietnam Veterans National Memorial, Eagle Nest, Red River and the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge.

Santa Fe is located between Taos and the Albuquerque Airport. World-famous, it is America’s oldest capital city and home to the nation’s third largest art market.