Your Epic Military Passes can get you more bang for your buck by skiing at Taos, NM during their Not Forgotten Outreach Ski week (January 21 to January 26) for $40 and then going on to some of the other Epic mountains such as Vail or Crested Butte.
It wasn’t till Epic bought Peak that it’s now worth skiing out West if you are a Veteran with a Epic Military Pass living outside of the Southwest. If you combine your Epic Military Pass with Taos’ Not Forgotten Outreach you can make your 2020 ski season a Winter Adventure to remember and you won’t be skiing on ice.
Flying into Albuquerque, NM instead of Denver, Co then taking the train from Albuquerque to Santa Fe and renting a car in Santa Fe and drive to Taos is cheaper. Here are the train fares and schedules. If you are a Veteran here is the identification needed to ride for free from Albuquerque to Taos. There are also a lot of additional fare reductions available from Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Taos.
Staying at least a day in Albuquerque helps to get used to the altitude – 5,300 ft and it is easier and cheaper to take the train to Santa Fe rather than rent a car in Albuquerque.
During the day you can see the sights in Albuquerque including riding the Sandia Peak Tram to the Ten 3 restaurant.
Looking down on Albuquerque from Sandia Peak 
The Rio Grande close up the Sandia Mountains in the distance
If you want to go a little more Southwestern try Stripes Biscuit Company where there is a 10% Military and Veterans discount and 15% proceeds go to the VA hospital down the street.
If you want to continue on to Taos via the bus on arrival get off at South Capital.
If you are staying in Santa Fe for a few days get off at the Santa Fe Depot. You are within walking distance of numerous hotels and motels or use Airbnb.
Once you have found lodging in Santa Fe you can walk to most of the sights and are 15 miles away via the Blue Bus from Ski Santa Fe.
This article from Powder Magazine gives you some insight into what makes Santa Fe a town like no other. Your lodging options are much lower in Santa Fe then most pure ski areas.
If one or more people in your party don’t want to ski every day or at all – they will be more than happy to spend the time shopping in Santa Fe or in Taos.
If there is any snow in Santa Fe is gone by noon at the latest.
After skiing in Taos you can drive to either Crested Butte or one of the Epic resorts near Leadville.
One of my “problems” with Taos is it is hard to figure out where you are on the mountain. One of the great things about NFO Ski week is that there are Veterans who have been skiing the mountain for decades that can take you on a tour of all the trails on the mountain. Here is the Taos Trail map
The drive from Taos to Crested Butte is about 4 1/2 hours with some snow.
Old picture looking at Lift 1 
The Rio Grande on the way to Taos 
Driving from Taos to Vail via Leadville can be more difficult. It is easier to drive to Leadville then on to Vail with some heavy snow in one pass. Coming down the mountain from Leadville to Vail can be dangerous if you do not have 4 wheel drive. I can make the drive with my front wheel drive Versa – but it isn’t enjoyable. The drive from Taos to Leadville is about 5 hours. There is one stretch of road near Cleveland Mountain that can be dangerous especially at night.
If you have the time spend a day or so at Ski Cooper on your way to Vail. They added a new lift and the price for the lift tickets is great. This is brand new steep skiing at Cooper! There is some inexpensive lodging and great restaurants in the old mining town of Leadville.
The Old Man and the Mountain 
We should talk – I’m 66 and skied 95 days last year and planning 125 this year – I’m set up to do it cheaply as possible.
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Let me know here is my email address leekniess@hotmail.com and phone and text 614-266-7467 Semper Fi
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I don’t know if you got my reply (I sometimes press the wrong buttons) Let me know here is my email address leekniess@hotmail.com and phone and text 614-266-7467 Semper Fi
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