A New Mexico Winter Wonderland: With a forecast of above average precipitation, state ski areas are optimistic for season

There is at least a sense of cautious optimism that Albuquerque residents will be able to hit the slopes close to home for the upcoming ski and snowboarding season.

Sandia Peak Ski Area is the only ski location in the Duke City, but it hasn’t opened the past two years due to a combination of limited snowfall and a lack of staffing. While nothing is set in stone as of yet, Sandia Peak has partnered with Mountain Capital Partners (MCP) — a ski area management company — with designs on opening for the 2023-24 season. Exactly when that will be is still unknown.

“The expectations are that we are putting all of our best efforts to get things moving in a manner where we can reopen as quickly as possible,” said Scott Leigh, lead advisor for MCP and integrating the Sandia Peak Ski Area. “We just don’t know what that looks like quite yet. At this point we’re just working through the processes with the team and the current owners to really get things moving … Once we get that going, we’ll have a better idea of what things might look like and when we might be able to get things running.”

MCP serves 14 destinations worldwide, many in the Southwest, and has overseen more than $75 million in on-mountain improvements to its ski resorts, according to its website.

In New Mexico, MCP has already partnered with the likes of Sipapu Ski & Summer Resort and Pajarito Mountain. This year, MCP announced a joint venture with Sandia Peak Ski Company for the operation of Sandia Peak Ski Area.

“We’re just really thrilled to bring Albuquerque’s hometown ski hill back online here in the future,” Leigh said. “We’re excited about that opportunity, and we’re really looking forward to welcoming everybody back up there to ski and snowboard and enjoy the recreation.”

According to Leigh, tasks such as mowing the ski runs can help the area to open even with less than ideal snowfall. However, a more significant hope may lie with the upcoming season, which forecasts an El Niño winter in New Mexico.

According to the National Weather Services, that projects for at least slightly above average precipitation in the Land of Enchantment from December through February.

Though El Niño is no guarantee, it is a source of positive vibes for other ski resorts in the state, as well.

“We are always optimistic about winter around here,” said Christiana Hudson, who is marketing director for Pajarito Mountain and Sipapu Ski Resort. “The possibility of an El Niño generally means more moisture, which is always good for New Mexico, and we’re hoping that means lots of snow across all three of our New Mexico resorts. We just need to see those temperatures dropping for that moisture to be snow.”

For both Sipapu and Pajarito, there are more concrete launch dates in place for the season. Sipapu plans to be open on Nov. 17, which would be the earliest date in New Mexico. Lift tickets, lessons and rentals are currently available for purchase, and guests can receive the best price by purchasing lift tickets two weeks in advance on the resort’s website. There are also various deals and resort credits offered throughout the season.

Sipapu also has a new addition for its visitors.

“A double black trail has been cut into the mountain, called Dysfunction,” Hudson said. “A tree line that starts out chill, but ends up gnarly, this is our newest trail since 2015.”

The ski area isn’t the only portion of the resort to have been upgraded. The bathrooms in the hotel have new tile, floor and fixtures, and the Sipapu casitas now include new flooring, bedding and fixtures.

Meanwhile, backed by “a fleet of new snowguns and a robust snowmaking plan,” Pajarito is targeting Dec. 22 as its opening date. Lift tickets, rentals and lessons are currently on sale, with a new feature, “Learn to Ski Thursday,” offering a free lesson to those age 13 and older with the purchase of a lift ticket and rentals. Pajarito caters to the younger crowd with Camp Bluebird, a four-week Saturday only course that gives ski and snowboard lessons to kids ages 7-12.

Meanwhile, Pajarito has partnered with the county and state of New Mexico to build a pipeline to the mountain, which will, among other things, “provide consistent water for snowmaking,” according to the its website. That project is expected to be completed next year and will further bolster the ski season at Pajarito.

“Under new leadership, Pajarito has been renovating and upgrading throughout the mountain,” Hudson said.

Finally, Ski Santa Fe, which features seven lifts, 86 runs and 660 acres, is tentatively targeting Nov. 23, for its opening date. Lift tickets, lessons and rentals are currently on sale.