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JCHIL

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Posts posted by JCHIL

  1. 13 hours ago, texasdago said:

    All that snow and they shut down 

    Yeah...I think TSV has a public use agreement with Carson National Forest that sets a limit on the amount of user days in a ski season so since Taos chooses to open on Thanksgiving weekend every year, the days run out by first week in April every year.  I have seen them extend the season on some years by a week when the snow is good and this year it would seem like they would,,,,,

  2. Taos is getting a serious dumping!  Glorious powder skiing yesterday - I was maybe 30th person in lift line at 9 am for fresh tracks and I made fresh track runs on backside blues and easy access blacks for over an hour before those runs got tracked out….Snowed all day yesterday (too bad I had to leave) and all night - too bad it’s only open 2 more weeks ….

    image.thumb.jpeg.0a9494d7b7eb17a1044f9e07416b36a3.jpeg4D85A02E-9AFD-4484-9CE0-1858790E562B.thumb.png.1b97c468d8d7002fd183b9dc253671fd.png

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  3. A86DFCEE-3480-46A1-81B4-94285F74328C.thumb.png.071dfca45e715937b94e497c8495324d.png

    Classic spring skiing in Taos this week- higher elevation runs still holding up well. Lower trails turning to mash potatoes after lunch …..strong and cold storm supposedly headed to Rockies on Sunday 

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  4. 4 hours ago, texasdago said:

    So, I've only been once and when I was there, Kachina was not open but man, main street looks really really straightforward.  Truth?

     

    What time do you land and where is your dinner relative to Loveland?  I know today is the big dump.  Is it supposed to still be snowing tomorrow?  Not sure if a lot of people are going to be "sick" tomorrow trying to get to the mountains.  

    I have never been there but is farting around at Echo Mountain an option?  https://echomtn.com/mountain-conditions 

    Yes.  Main Street is most straightforward run on Kachina and less steep for most of the run than the other ridge runs...As always, photo doesnt show how steep it really is...There are a couple of choke points at midway point and lower part of run where it gets steeper where you cannot traverse out of it and  if you fail to execute several tough turns, you will slide for awhile - that is what makes it double black for the most part - those 2-3 choke points...otherwise, like skiing Al's Run....

  5. Yeah it was windy - bummed that I lost my last ski day of this trip but after 4 beautiful springlike days, yesterday would have been a beating even if not windy as it was overcast and the hard pack would not have softened up like last few days with the sun….on positive note, several waves of storms coming in March !  Main Street off of Kachina:

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    Sunny springlike conditions in Taos - snow still holding up well considering no snow in last 10 days but def needs a refill.  Looking like Monday thru Wed another much needed  storm is coming !

    Photo 1 - Signage at entrance to Kachina Lift which was open today.

    Photo 2 - Hunziker Bowl 

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  7. 774915C2-9DB4-4703-ABD9-F9F26BFEF19F.thumb.jpeg.cc7079061206353ce8dc6cfbf7c557fc.jpeg
    This is back of Snakedance Condos - the back door is a ski locker room where you keep your skis boots etc.  Boot up in the locker room and walk out this door and ski or walk 30 yards to Lift #1 (see new construction of St Bernard Hotel on right…soon to be the most luxurious lodging in TSV with the best location)

  8. 41 minutes ago, ballrific said:

    Thanks.  Sounds like if you want to avoid a little less hassle and overpay a bit more, staying in TSV right off the slopes can be fine.  Sounds like alot of ski resorts, ha.  Does TSV have legit ski in/ski out or is it something like unclick from your boots and then you're within 500-1,000 yards of your condo?

    A few Legit Ski In/Ski Out starting with more affordable to more expensive :

    Kandahar - Located on kids slopes, all individually owned, some nice units, some not so much....

    Snowbear - dont know much other than ski in/out

    Powderhorn - condos - dont know much about

    Sierra del Sol - not technically ski in/out but very close - basic looking condos - nothing special but close

    Snakedance Condos - Legit ski in/out - Solid 3 star property with 5 star location - maybe best value in TSV

    Alpine Suites - not technically ski in/out but very good location - 50 yds from "beach"

    Edelweiss Condos - Legit ski in/out - very nice, expensive

    The Blake Hotel - owned by TSV Inc. - nicest place in TSV - 5 star - 25 yards from "beach", expensive with many amenities like outdoor heated pool/hot tub, spa etc.

    Other options - several VRBO houses with access to the Rubezal connector ski trail in TSV

    A very good compromise are the rental homes in "Los Altos" neighborhood located just off the hwy 150 after passing thru the tiny enclave of Arroyo Seco going up to TSV at base/foothills of mountain about halfway between town and ski valley - very cool adobe homes about 9-10 miles away from both the Town and Ski Valley

     

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  9. 5 hours ago, LonghornJones said:

    Heading to Montana tomorrow. Definitely the coldest weather I will have experienced. Gonna need more Fireball and toe warmers.

    image.thumb.png.04b2ca0cb46d6924c9fa51a9beb4fb10.png

    Big Sky is great but damn it can be frigid!  I skied there on New Year's day three years ago or so and it was -8 - the coldest temp Ive ever skied in - I could ski about 1.5 hours before having to take a break to warm up.   25" base is thin for there but I think more snow is on the way.  I have skied there 4-5 times and love the mountain - still havent even covered half of the mtn it is such an expansive resort - have fun and post pics!  

  10. On 1/3/2024 at 1:45 PM, Hornbeliever said:

    Update in case anyone is helped by data...We bought our ranchito right before covid.  It has been awesome for our family and time with friends.  A little less than 1.5 hours away and I can't understate how important that short drive is.  It's in country so once we are there, you don't see anyone.

    Also, I had never thought of difference but there is a second home and a vacation home.  We bought a second home, not a vacation home.  

    Costs for all stupid shit you don't want to own two of but now do, like ladders and pots and cheese graters and waffle makers :  $6,000. (Does not include furniture which is a shit ton more)

    Insurance plus all utilities/fiber:  $600/month

    About $4,000 per year on repairs of some kind (freeze burst all pipes, metal roof rescrew, etc)

    Days stay (easy to calc because of utility usage on days there)

    2020 = 107 (covid)

    2021 = 47

    2022 = 54

    2023 = 50

    Taking into account mortgage plus taxes plus bills plus furniture, daily rate of stay is a crazy $500 +/night.

    That makes you think "fuck that" as it almost does me.

    But then equity we've built if we sold would make that number likely go negative per night (lucky timing).  Also, the mental health component is invaluable.  Covid was fun for us rather than miserable.  And the amount of time we spend with our family and friends actually has gone up since we constantly host people.  And we are more relaxed in country than when in city where we are going from one birthday party to the next or some store to buy some useless thing.

    Added bonus:  the amount of electronic time for our daughters plummets when in the country versus when in Houston so we actually do way more random stuff together like board games and campfire time

    Negative:  Constantly having a set of errands to do like a leaky toilet or some fencing issue or some other bullshit chore.  And for my wife, we are lucky enough to have a housekeeper in Houston but she is back to cleaning toilets and showers (great problems to have so I feel bad writing the negatives).  If you feel stressed with more on your to-do list, I wouldn't buy a second home.

    We could air bnb house, especially because of proximity to Round Top during their festival weekends, but we love our stuff being our stuff so not worth it at this point for us.  That could change if we stop going as much but hopefully not soon.

    Hope this helps inform a future decision for one of yall.

    In a nutshell, if you like your family, this is a fantastic life choice.....but make sure it isn't too far away.

     

     

     

     

    Very well put - especially the distinction between vacation homes and second homes! Having owned both second homes and vacation homes, distance is key but not a deal breaker for me because my vacation home is easily reached by airlines and is in a managed rental pool and maintained by a management company.   This relieves the distance factor for me because I am not actively having to maintain it but the trade off is obviously not being able to go as often and someone else is using it when you are not there.  I have found if you are super passionate about the location/activities to be had where your second home/vacation home is located, it is easier to overlook the slightly imperfect situations you may encounter or certain nagging costs that come with ownership.   In the case of my vacation home, a slope side ski property carries the intangibles of having Owner closets  to keep your personal items, alcohol, dry goods/foods, guns, ski gear and fishing gear, hiking gear, camping gear so you do not have to lug it around on planes or in your car or have to go shopping as soon as you arrive there.   The rental income roughly covers 2/3 of the bottom line costs each year.  In all cases of vacation/second home properties I have bought, the appreciation has been off the charts after 7 years of ownership which ultimately makes the bottom line work if you have the extra cash available to sustain and keep them afloat long enough to allow appreciation to build.  Again, my approach has always been my passion for the place/activities and I never went into it with high expectations of profit margins, appreciation or financial gain - if any of these happen, which fortunately for me a few of these have ...well great!  I have always taken the approach that they would just break even at best and the number of days I stayed and enjoyed the place with friends and family was my profit.  

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  11. 1 hour ago, texasdago said:

    Copper Mountain really does have a great layout... haven't been back in decades (!) but always remembered you could easily stay away from the madness. Purgatory has that to some extent with the backside with lift 8 and to some extent 5.

    Ooooffff... winds in Taos look brutal.  Webcam shows lifts are not running and there doesn't appear to be any effort to get them up and spinning.

    https://www.skitaos.com/lifts-trails#weather-forecast

    Wow! Winds are crazy and brutal temps - negative mornings and single digit highs the next several days - Ouch.  I'm headed back to TSV in two weeks so hopefully gets some snow and more normal temps/winds by then....

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  12. 10 hours ago, texasdago said:

    Enjoy the skiing today... looks like it might get a tad breezy soon...

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    Well, the wind must be the reason our JSX flight cancelled this afternoon.  JSX is really convenient until it isn’t as they really have no options if they cancel- you are basically on your own. Sitting in ABQ now, got a SW flight to Dallas (I hope we make it out - high winds in Dallas too?). Anyway we did have some fun skiing this am until noon when the wind picked up and we headed to ABQ.  Just like I thought, they did not open the ridge or backside until almost noon.  They did open Al’s, Longhorn, and Jeans glade up again on the front side….Still not too crowded , They were lined up for the ridge…CB05FCEA-704B-4C65-9FE0-F72F212BCD06.thumb.jpeg.762e160c43f0f107402adc95a99e8dfd.jpeg

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  13. 1 hour ago, texasdago said:

    Good for you!  That looks awesome.  Highline is going to be killer when it lets up 

    My strategy on major pow days like tomorrow morn will be to ski the frontside blacks first, early and often until they get carved up (for some reason everyone heads to backside or ridge first thing and the touristas stay in the greens and blues which leaves frontside blacks (arguably some of the best runs on the mtn.) wide open - this is a locals strategy.   They will probably be dropping some ropes on frontside tomorrow as well so will be on lookout for new openings then head up higher - ridge will be afternoon.  Ridge and backside might be closed for a few hours anyway since it is still puking at 6 pm here which is pretty common when they have dumps overnight and don’t have time to safety check them 

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