> >>>OK, I'm back from pre X-mas skiing in Taos, NM. Here's a short report:
> >...
> >>>The new quad is too short, it doesn't reach up into the steeps of the west
> >>>basin and therefore only serves blues and greens.
>
> >>Good! Quads are the scourge of powder skiing. No single invention
> >>has ruined more good ski slopes.
Very true for detachables. But since Taos doesn't have such hi-tec destruction
lifts, this is not a serious problem. As long as there is more than one run
from the top of the lift, crowds generally disperse. And remember that two
doubles (= 1 quad) take you to the top of the mountain. But the west basin
is no more crowded than any other slope. IMHO, they could have placed the lift
in the upper (right) part of the west basin, or at least they could have extended
it to where the blue run merged into the basin. There are no more trees in that
area anyway.
Of course, they rather want to limit the effects on the national forest. By
having to hike or ski on a narrow trail into the upper basin, you can limit
the number of skiers considerably.
> It looks to me like they put the new chair in the right place. I have heard manypeople mention the traffic problem on white feather trail. This lift should eliminate the traffic problem and decrease the lines on lifts 5 and 1. As if there
> has ever been a long line at Taos compared to Vail, Copper, et al.
This might be very true from the viewpoint of non-expert skiers.
(And it's important that everyone finds a suitable lift in a ski resort.)
It just annoys me that they built a lift which I would never want to use.
All other lifts are in a good place and serve all kinds of runs.
