Experience an Eco-Friendly Ski Vacation in New Mexico

Ski resorts worldwide are grappling with an existential threat—compared to three decades ago, winters are now an average of one month shorter, and climate change has many resorts questioning their future amid shorter ski seasons and dwindling snowfall. In the U.S., where skiing generates a $50 billion industry, many resorts are increasingly relying on artificial snow (which is less appealing to skiers since it's denser than fresh powder and not particularly eco-friendly) due to unprecedented drought and rising temperatures.

In response to the growing impacts of climate change, ski resorts are implementing more eco-friendly practices aimed at lowering their carbon footprints. One ski resort in New Mexico, Taos Ski Valley, is making significant efforts to embed environmentalism into its core operations.

In 2017, Taos Ski Valley gained attention for becoming the first ski resort globally to earn B-Corporation certification, recognizing its commitment to reducing water consumption, managing waste, engaging with the broader Taos community, and responsibly managing the land within the Carson National Forest. For some, experiencing the valley’s eco-conscious ethos begins even before their arrival. In 2018, Taos Ski Valley introduced Taos Air, a private airline providing a nonstop, carbon-offset route to Taos for residents of cities serviced by the airline, including Los Angeles, San Diego, Dallas, or Austin.

Before Taos Air, reaching Taos Ski Valley was somewhat challenging—ski enthusiasts typically faced a 155-mile, three-hour drive from Albuquerque International Sunport.

“You’d hear from skiers, ‘I’ve heard of Taos and always wanted to visit, but getting there is such a hassle,’” says David Norden, CEO of Taos Ski Valley. “So, we began exploring transportation options and asked, ‘How can we secure air service?’”

Taos Air operates as a completely carbon-neutral airline since its inception. It collaborates with B Corporation Native Energy, which accurately calculates Taos Air's carbon emissions and ensures the airline invests sufficiently in carbon-offset initiatives (like the May Ranch Avoided Grassland Conversion Project, aimed at conserving 14,546 acres of native prairie in Colorado) to balance its operations.

In March 2022, I traveled to Taos Ski Valley via Taos Air from my home in Los Angeles—this would be my first experience with snow and my debut in skiing. With Taos Air being a private airline, the check-in process was wonderfully straightforward: I simply presented my driver’s license to the attendant at the ticket counter and I was set. After checking my bags (Taos Air allows two checked bags along with one carry-on per ticket), I enjoyed complimentary coffee and browsed through the snacks offered—treats typically reserved for lounge guests. Taos Air operates two Dornier 328 jets, each seating 30 passengers. Since I traveled near the end of ski season, the flight was only half full.

After landing, I boarded a 40-minute bus ride from Taos Regional Airport to Taos Ski Valley. Renowned for its annual snowfall of 300 inches and its challenging black diamond runs, I watched snowboarders perform ollies off the mountainside from my safe spot at the base near the café.

Taos Ski Valley was founded in 1955 by the ski-enthusiast couple Ernie and Rhoda Blake, and it remains one of the few ski resorts in the country that is still independently owned. In 2014, the resort was purchased by investor and conservationist Louis Bacon, who has invested over $300 million in revitalizing the property, according to the New York Times. Since the renovation began, new additions include an ice rink, a plaza, the Blake Hotel (which opened in 2017), and four new ski lifts, with plans for a gondola and hiking trail being proposed this year.

The choice to sell to an independent owner instead of a corporate investment group was a deliberate decision by the Blake family, as they believed it was vital to preserve their original vision of an intimate, responsibly managed resort in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Since the sale, the resort has achieved several significant milestones beyond receiving the B-Corp seal of approval. In 2017, the Blake Hotel was awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification for its sustainability initiatives, which included reducing single-use plastics through water bottle refilling stations and utilizing geothermal energy for heating. Moreover, the resort was recently certified carbon neutral in August 2022 and shortly thereafter committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2030.

Included in the price of a Taos Air ticket are four days of ski rentals at Taos Ski Valley, and I quickly set out to (carefully) tackle those slopes. The mountains, located at the southernmost point of the majestic Rockies, contrast sharply with the high desert of Taos and are so stunning that it felt as if I were wandering through a real-life version of Red Dead Redemption 2. With guidance from a ski instructor (who reassured me that I wouldn't fly off the mountain), I progressed from cautiously pizza-ing down the bunny slopes to joyfully descending intermediate hills—no black diamonds were on my agenda. As I rode the ski lift among snow-covered aspens, with powder falling like magic from the sky, it was hard to believe that this idyllic winter wonderland might one day vanish.

For Taos Ski Valley, maintaining the splendor of the New Mexican mountain landscape for future generations has always been a priority. This commitment is why every aspect of the resort, from its accommodations to its airline, strives to be more environmentally friendly—after all, Taos Ski Valley relies on snow.

“How can we blend a resort, recreational activities, and running a business while also benefiting our community and our planet?” Norden wonders. “We’re genuinely seeking that balance—it’s crucial, and the moment is right.”

Taos Air currently operates flights to four different airports: Dallas–Love Field, Austin–Executive Airport, Carlsbad–San Diego, and Hawthorne–Los Angeles. It's important to note that, as a small airline, Taos Air does not provide daily service to each city. Flights from Austin and Carlsbad–San Diego are available on Thursdays and Sundays, Dallas on Mondays and Fridays, and Los Angeles on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. This year, the winter schedule runs from December 15, 2022, to April 3, 2023.