Dadou Mayer hasbeen teaching skiing in the United States for more than 60 years, most of them at Taos Ski Valley. Except for stints at Santa Fe, Red River, Sundance in Utah and Snowmass in Colorado, he has led ski classes in the Taos mountains for longer than many of his fellow instructors have been alive.

He said he teaches skiing

‘because it is my passion.’

It’s the time of year when the leaves fall, snow hits the ground and many folks start to think about the colder climes ahead – with snow sports in mind. 

Given the uncertainty of the 2020-2021 season, physically distanced winter sports for skiers, hikers and general nature lovers may be just the ticket.

There isn’t any season that’s not perfect for a stroll along historic Kit Carson Road, but, as the winter chill sets in, the shops along this charming stretch are particularly inviting.

Just across the way from Taos Plaza, Kit Carson Road is a nostalgic visit to the frontier roots of the town, anchored by the Kit Carson Home and Museum and the Couse-Sharp Historic Site and Lunder Research Center farther to the east. In between these classic examples of Spanish Colonial architecture is a lineup of fine art ateliers and showrooms, funky studios, quaint boutiques and the finest of historical and contemporary art.

Adventuring in New Mexico during the winter has its own magic and chile-spiced flavor. Although the COVID virus is changing how we adventure, the sights and tastes of New Mexico are still available through Heritage Inspirations tours.

For 40 years, the Taos Ski Valley Ski Patrol has had the assistance of specially trained dogs to help them rescue people trapped in avalanches. Taos was an early innovator in using canine assistance in the United States, after ski patrollers on an exchange to a resort in Utah brought the idea back home.  

“Rescue dogs are a faster way to find people buried in an avalanche than searching with a pole,” says Leland Thompson, head of the TSV Ski Patrol dog department. He notes that if a skier is carrying a beacon, they might be found more quickly than the dog could locate them – but not everyone carries a beacon.

THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT (BLM) oversees thousands of acres of public land across Northern New Mexico.

ROOM 102 IN THE HISTORIC TAOS INN, on 125 Paseo del Pueblo Norte, is special. One of 45 unique guest rooms, this one room has a silver Nambé star on its door. It was the room reserved for Washington, D.C., writer Dee Strasberg every spring and fall, starting in 1951, until failing health kept her away.

The state-owned trout-stocked hatchery pond is only for children, seniors and the physically challenged.

FISHING IS ONE OF THOSE SPORTS that is just as satisfying when shared with friends and family as it is all by yourself.

Most fisherfolk even secretly hold the belief it’s almost as fun whether you catch anything or not — although some will never admit that. And, with catch-and-release becoming more prevalent these days, there is no longer the onus of feeling bad about killing a creature of the wild.

WHEN VISITING YOUR CHOICE of a place to stay can be just a pillow to rest your head or an engaging part of your experience. Taos offers a plethora of sophisticated choices close to town, the Taos Ski Valley or favorite hiking trails, all at appealing price points – a charming inn, a B&B, an historic building, an Airstream or an Earthship. 

Signature must-do drinks around Historic Taos Plaza

COME, TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES, take some deep breaths, sigh them out, move a little, wiggle.

TAOS SEEMS TO THRIVE on breaking the norm. Its roots run deep in history, its culture is as distinct as its landscape. From adobe abodes dotting the mesa to chic chalets peppering the mountain side, one thing is for sure – this place isn’t average, and neither are its dwellings. 

Safe, serene and healing — Ojo Caliente lodging reopens at 50 percent capacity as COVID-19 lockdown eases. 

Taos Pueblo has been closed to visitors due to coronavirus precautions since March 11, 2020. For more information, check the website at taospueblo.com or call (575) 758-1028.

A world, a culture apart, no visitor should miss seeing the ancient pueblo — perhaps the  world’s oldest apartment building. Here, life goes on much the same as it has for approximately 1,000 years. You may notice a shiny pickup truck parked nearby or see modern cell phones, but the customs and the unwritten Tiwa (pronounced TEE-wah) language have changed little over the centuries.

A RIVER RUNS THROUGH Arroyo Seco – at elevation 7,634 feet. As legend would have it, Taos Valley is flanked by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains on the east, a desert guarded by the plumed serpent on the west and by the ruined houses of La Llorona on the south.

THE VAST, RUGGED terrain and generous, free-spirited community call out to mountain lovers with a passion for outdoor thrills and cultural diversity.

RED RIVER IS ONE OF THE SMALL TOWNS  on the Enchanted Circle with more than its fair share of entertainment options, great food and fun events.

ANGEL FIRE SITS  on the other side of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains from Taos, in the Moreno Valley.

THIS HISTORIC COMMUNITY is almost fully surrounded by protected wilderness, including the Río Grande del Norte National Monument and the Carson National Forest, all of which offer some of the best hiking and camping in Northern New Mexico.