I just got back from Taos and loved it, but the lift experience I felt left some to be desired. They’re currently going through a revitalization (Ski the Change I think) which hopefully will help but they haven’t released any new lift replacements or additions since the new base lifts and lift 1 a few years ago. Here are some of my thoughts.
I think the West Basin area could be rethought. Lifts 8 and 2 are some of the longest and serve some very popular intermediate runs which are hard to come by here. I was thinking maybe lengthening lift 2 down to where Whitefeather and Powderhorn Gully meet up and put in a HSQ or even a 6-pack since that is the way to the backside. Lift 8 kind of serves its own pod and the only real improvement I could see is making it high speed. one thing that is a bit weird is it’s impossible to go from anywhere in the basin to the top of lift 1 and any of the frontside blacks, which isn’t much of a problem but was a bit frustrating that the only way out was using chair 2 or Whitefeather.
On the backside, chair 4 should be one of the top priorities for replacement with a high speed, both because of its length and the terrain it serves. The easier loading and unloading would especially be helpful. Either a HSQ or 6-pack would work here, depending on how much Taos is expecting to expand its customer base. Chair 7 is fine but could be upgraded to a quad or even high speed, but I can’t say too much since the Terrain Park wasn’t built this year. I’m usually of the mindset that parks are best served by rope tows but I think I’m in the minority. Lift 7A was really cool and I loved the vibe, but I think the building could use a window or two so people in line can see the coming chairs. That’s just a small nitpick but it was something I noticed while loading. The Kachina Peak chair is really great, but the loading maze is in a weird spot where you need to go uphill from the Easy Trip run, so people had to sidestep up about 20 ft since they missed where to enter.
For entirely new lifts, I’m not sure what is really necessary. There are some places where a transfer lift may help like from the base up to the base of lift 2 or 8, but that isn’t really needed. I saw on an old map that a lift was planned from the Bavarian/bottom of lift 4 to the lift summits of 2 and 7a, but I think 7 covers that mostly. I was thinking there should be better connections between the front and backsides rather than black and double black runs and one green run going each way but I don’t think the terrain suits many new runs around there. Because of that, I was thinking maybe a gondola connecting the two bases could be put in, but that might just be too much. It would make getting people to the restaurants at the base of 4 since the road up is rough and it requires two lifts and a long green run to get there. Also, I believe the mountain biking is served from lift 4 so getting people to park at the main base rather than driving up the partially dirt road could be helpful (same with the Via Ferrata). The gondola would need some angle stations however since it would pass over houses without them. I also saw somewhere a plan for a lift up the West Basin Ridge from near lift 8 and I think that would be a terrible idea. The terrain off Kachina is one thing but West Basin Ridge is on another level. There would be more people downloading than skiing down.
Finally, I think the lifts need actual names. After skiing there a whole day I still had communication problems because none of us could remember the numbers of the lifts. That was honestly one of the most frustrating parts of Taos though.
tldr; I don’t really know what would help, I’m just rambling
The reason for the Kachina Peak lift loading maze location is to prevent non-advanced/expert skiers from getting on the lift. When the lift opened apparently they had issues with non-advanced/expert skiers getting on the lift and requiring assistance skiing down (even with the multiple “Experts Only” signs at the base of the lift), thus the unusual current lift maze.
The lifts used to have names, I’m not sure when they stopped using them.
#1 – Al’s Run
#2 – Reforma
#3 – Rueggli
#4 – Kachina
#5 – High Five
#6 – Winston
#7 – Maxie’s
#7A – Seventh Heaven
#8 – West Basin
I am coming up around Mid-late June and buying a chair from Lift 4 and Pioneer. This way, I will not miss them as much and get to keep something from each one.
By the way there are some things needed to change/add in the spreadsheet:
Lift 1 was built in 1961.
7A was relocated in 1989.
(the original double) Rueggli was relocated from Lift 2.
Strawberry Hill actually had 3 towers since there was a tower labelled “1A”
As of 4/28/23, chairs have been removed from Lift 4 but everything else is still standing. TSV’s Kachina Basin webcam is a good place to watch the progress.
Lift Blog 
You sure lift 6 is gone? I thinks it’s still there serviceable but not used anymore. If it is gone what will happen to it? #SaveTheStadeli
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I went to Taos last year and I saw that Lift 6 is entirely gone.
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You can find photos of some of the old taos lifts (#5 and #6) on here- http://www.coloradoskihistory.com/areapictures/nm/taos.html
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Also, the Remontees Mecaniques page has some great pictures of the old lift 1, the old Rueggli Lift, and Lift 3.
https://www.remontees-mecaniques.net/bdd/station-taos-ski-valley-909.html
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That previous picture was Lift 1 around 1989.
This one is from 1967
https://repository.mines.edu/bitstream/handle/11124/9391/R1148.jpg?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
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I just got back from Taos and loved it, but the lift experience I felt left some to be desired. They’re currently going through a revitalization (Ski the Change I think) which hopefully will help but they haven’t released any new lift replacements or additions since the new base lifts and lift 1 a few years ago. Here are some of my thoughts.
I think the West Basin area could be rethought. Lifts 8 and 2 are some of the longest and serve some very popular intermediate runs which are hard to come by here. I was thinking maybe lengthening lift 2 down to where Whitefeather and Powderhorn Gully meet up and put in a HSQ or even a 6-pack since that is the way to the backside. Lift 8 kind of serves its own pod and the only real improvement I could see is making it high speed. one thing that is a bit weird is it’s impossible to go from anywhere in the basin to the top of lift 1 and any of the frontside blacks, which isn’t much of a problem but was a bit frustrating that the only way out was using chair 2 or Whitefeather.
On the backside, chair 4 should be one of the top priorities for replacement with a high speed, both because of its length and the terrain it serves. The easier loading and unloading would especially be helpful. Either a HSQ or 6-pack would work here, depending on how much Taos is expecting to expand its customer base. Chair 7 is fine but could be upgraded to a quad or even high speed, but I can’t say too much since the Terrain Park wasn’t built this year. I’m usually of the mindset that parks are best served by rope tows but I think I’m in the minority. Lift 7A was really cool and I loved the vibe, but I think the building could use a window or two so people in line can see the coming chairs. That’s just a small nitpick but it was something I noticed while loading. The Kachina Peak chair is really great, but the loading maze is in a weird spot where you need to go uphill from the Easy Trip run, so people had to sidestep up about 20 ft since they missed where to enter.
For entirely new lifts, I’m not sure what is really necessary. There are some places where a transfer lift may help like from the base up to the base of lift 2 or 8, but that isn’t really needed. I saw on an old map that a lift was planned from the Bavarian/bottom of lift 4 to the lift summits of 2 and 7a, but I think 7 covers that mostly. I was thinking there should be better connections between the front and backsides rather than black and double black runs and one green run going each way but I don’t think the terrain suits many new runs around there. Because of that, I was thinking maybe a gondola connecting the two bases could be put in, but that might just be too much. It would make getting people to the restaurants at the base of 4 since the road up is rough and it requires two lifts and a long green run to get there. Also, I believe the mountain biking is served from lift 4 so getting people to park at the main base rather than driving up the partially dirt road could be helpful (same with the Via Ferrata). The gondola would need some angle stations however since it would pass over houses without them. I also saw somewhere a plan for a lift up the West Basin Ridge from near lift 8 and I think that would be a terrible idea. The terrain off Kachina is one thing but West Basin Ridge is on another level. There would be more people downloading than skiing down.
Finally, I think the lifts need actual names. After skiing there a whole day I still had communication problems because none of us could remember the numbers of the lifts. That was honestly one of the most frustrating parts of Taos though.
tldr; I don’t really know what would help, I’m just rambling
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The reason for the Kachina Peak lift loading maze location is to prevent non-advanced/expert skiers from getting on the lift. When the lift opened apparently they had issues with non-advanced/expert skiers getting on the lift and requiring assistance skiing down (even with the multiple “Experts Only” signs at the base of the lift), thus the unusual current lift maze.
The lifts used to have names, I’m not sure when they stopped using them.
#1 – Al’s Run
#2 – Reforma
#3 – Rueggli
#4 – Kachina
#5 – High Five
#6 – Winston
#7 – Maxie’s
#7A – Seventh Heaven
#8 – West Basin
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#3 was Strawberry Hill. #9 is Rueggli
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The former Rueggli was relocated from Lift 2
Lift 1 (7a currently) was built in 1961
Other lift numbers:
#9 – Rueggli
#10 – Pioneer
#11 – Kachina Peak
#12 – Gondolita
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Here are pictures of Lifts 1 and 2 (From 1967) before becoming 7A and Rueggli in 1989 (7A) and 1995 (Rueggli):
Lift 1:
Tower and lift line:
https://repository.mines.edu/bitstream/handle/11124/9391/R1148.jpg?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
Angled view from a tower:
https://repository.mines.edu/bitstream/handle/11124/9475/R1202.jpg?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
Lift 2:
Breakover tower:
https://repository.mines.edu/bitstream/handle/11124/9375/R1129.jpg?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
Return terminal:
https://repository.mines.edu/bitstream/handle/11124/9370/R1124.jpg?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
Tower 1:
https://repository.mines.edu/bitstream/handle/11124/8459/R1260.jpg?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
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I am coming up around Mid-late June and buying a chair from Lift 4 and Pioneer. This way, I will not miss them as much and get to keep something from each one.
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By the way there are some things needed to change/add in the spreadsheet:
Lift 1 was built in 1961.
7A was relocated in 1989.
(the original double) Rueggli was relocated from Lift 2.
Strawberry Hill actually had 3 towers since there was a tower labelled “1A”
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NEW UPDATE FOR 4/18/2023
Pioneer:
Haul rope and chairs gone
Towers and terminals still standing
Haul rope still up on return bullwheel
Lift 4:
Nothing has been removed
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As of 4/28/23, chairs have been removed from Lift 4 but everything else is still standing. TSV’s Kachina Basin webcam is a good place to watch the progress.
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Yeah, I saw that already. Can’t wait to get a chair this summer! :)
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Never mind. Didn’t get one. Another reason is that it is getting relocated to China Peak next year
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Hopefully they replace chair 2 with a Detachable Six Pack 3000 pph. That would really improve skier flow.
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It is one of the most important lifts there.
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What became of the Pullman-Berry after its removal?
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Almost positive it was scrapped. One off lifts like that generally don’t get re-used due to no parts.
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There were a couple out east so parts may have gone there, but I don’t think there are any left running.
https://www.newenglandskihistory.com/lifts/brandpullmanberry.php
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Barker at Sunday River is now Little White Cap, and SkyTrans Mfg has two P-Bs (not this one) in storage.
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Pioneer’s new lift line is slightly off from the old one
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Looks like Taos proposed another gondola and some other upgrades recently:
https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/taos-ski-valley-proposes-new-gondola-among-other-upgrades/article_4bc113e6-bccb-11ec-a385-a7f9dca259eb.html
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Looks similar to what Peter posted a few years back. https://liftblog.com/2021/05/11/taos-eyes-base-to-base-gondola-lift-replacements/
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There’s real footage of Lifts 1, 3, and 5 in the video below. Lift 1 first appears at 1:20 in the video
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Without the weird video thing:
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Here’s another video with the original Lift 1 in it, from 1969
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9Z7H-tBWNo
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The original Rueggli had quite a strange Chair design. Looks like it was a modification from the original center pole chairs
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Original Lift 2 in operation
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