Ski Santa Fe: Discovering Adventure, Music, and the Magic of New Mexico
The first weekend in February, I found myself making the slow climb up New Mexico State Highway 475. It was a beautifully clear morning with little cloud cover that suited the long train of pilgrims on their way to Ski Santa Fe. I had been nervous about the weather conditions as my two partners in crime and I were not hitting the slopes today. We were the live entertainment for Totemoff’s Bar and Grill, a mostly outdoor grab-and-go beer and burger joint halfway up the ski slope that caps out at 12,075 feet. Thankfully, we would not be making the trek all the way to the peak but instead found ourselves nestled just above the bunny slopes around 10,350 feet in elevation.
The views were breathtaking, and I tried to take it all in and just be in the moment, but I was filled with excitement and energy as this was our band’s first gig together. I had been so concerned about the temperatures and what it would be like to sing for four hours at over 10,000 feet in elevation. To our great appreciation, we could not have asked for better weather conditions on the slope, with highs peaking around 40 degrees. It was beautiful and oddly comfortable in the sun. (I actually got a sunburn!) My band, “Midnight Diner,” consists of me on acoustic guitar and vocals, my buddy Pete on banjo, and Rolf, who plays a wicked mandolin. From the outside, we look very much like a bluegrass band, but to most people’s surprise, we cover a wide range of popular rock radio hits throughout the decades. We do a little bit of everything with our own flavor—from Johnny Cash to Pearl Jam, a little Bruce Springsteen, and even Blondie. We have a great time together and find that our music usually offers a little something for everybody, just like a good old-fashioned greasy spoon diner.
As we finally made our way up through the parking lot, I was amazed to see so many out-of-state license plates. My buddy Pete, who is an avid skier, informed me that it was common to see the parking lot full of out-of-state plates. I was really taken aback, and the more I thought about it, the more I realized just how much New Mexico has to offer. Right here in my backyard, only a little over an hour from the heart of Albuquerque, you can find some pretty awesome skiing. And just a little farther north in Taos, you can find what some would consider world-class skiing. When I asked Pete what skiing Taos was like, he paused with dramatic effect and, in a serious and stoic tone, said, “Oh, it’s a big mountain. You can die on that one.” He then went on to explain how the slopes on the Sangre de Cristo Mountains at Ski Santa Fe are not steep enough, generally, to enable avalanches. It turns out that the slopes need to be steeper than 45 degrees to cause avalanches like those that occur on the Taos Mountain ranges. So, it turns out Santa Fe is also a very safe ski slope.
The image of all the out-of-state plates kept playing in my head long after we finished our last set and collected the spoils of our performance. Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, and even our neighbors south of the border, Mexico—people were flocking from neighboring states to enjoy the gorgeous slopes right here in New Mexico. And it hit me: I need to do what I can to spread the word about our great state. As a licensed real estate agent in New Mexico, it is my passion to help people from all over the country and world relocate and find their dream home here in the Land of Enchantment. It is so easy to talk about how great New Mexico is to people because we have so many amazing things going on that make New Mexico a great place to live, work, and play! I could go on and on, but my focus today is to share just one little piece of this great state with you. If you like to ski, appreciate a lower cost of living, and enjoy a vibrant culture, you should really be considering New Mexico for your new home!
I have not skied in decades, and it is not something I regularly think about. As I looked out into the crowd at Totemoff’s and interacted with season lift ticket holders, it all came back to me just how lucky I am to live in a great state with so many things to do only a short drive from my base camp of Albuquerque. Here at Heritage & Haven, we pride ourselves on being the best at helping people relocate to New Mexico from all over the world. Our team is passionate about New Mexico and serving our clients. If you are ready to learn more about our great state or you want us to set up your custom home search, you should reach out to us through any of our online platforms, website, or email! We look forward to telling you more about the hidden gems tucked away throughout this big, beautiful state!
