<\/p>\n
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has spoken, and the outlook for winter 2015-16 has powder written all over it. Many forecasters believe this winter could bring the strongest El Ni\u00f1o in 50 years.<\/p>\n
To get you psyched, we picked some out the best places to ride in the southwest, so get those boards waxed and grab your snorkel. This winter is going to be good.<\/p>\n
Purgatory Resort<\/p>\n
This mountain north of Durango is ranked among the best of the southwest for experience and setting. Ample sunshine and big storms keep locals happy, and visitors are amazed at the variety of terrain. A new mile-long high speed quad on the infamous backside of the mountain will zip skiers up to new gladed runs.<\/p>\n
Base Elevation: 8,793 feet<\/p>\n
Summit Elevation: 10,822 feet<\/p>\n
Vertical Drop: 2,029 feet<\/p>\n
Skiable acres: 1,360 Acres<\/p>\n
Lifts: 10 Lifts capable of moving 15,050 skiers per hour<\/p>\n
Average snowfall: 260 inches<\/p>\n
Terrain: 20% Beginner; 45% Intermediate; 35% Advanced\/Expert<\/p>\n
Parks: Five terrain parks- and numerous features throughout the mountain<\/p>\n
Wolf Creek<\/p>\n
Known for the most snow in the state, this family owned ski area outside Pagosa Springs is legendary for one thing: powder. Wolf Creek sits smack dab in the middle of a swath of the Rockies that gets all the snow. With a base elevation at 10,300 feet, it\u2019s also easy to find powder long after the storms clear.<\/p>\n
Base Elevation: 10,300 feet<\/p>\n
Summit Elevation: 11,904 feet<\/p>\n
Vertical Drop: 1,604 feet<\/p>\n
Skiable acres: 1,600<\/p>\n
Lifts: Five, Capacity: 11,000\/hr<\/p>\n
Average snowfall: 430 inches<\/p>\n
Terrain: 20% Beginner; 35% Intermediate; 25% Advanced; 20% Expert<\/p>\n
Telluride Ski Resort<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a reason Telluride is voted the No. 1 ski resort in the country. With 2,000-plus skiable acres and 41 percent expert terrain, you can hike to some of the best inbound skiing in the world and eat a chef prepared cuisine for lunch at this giant posh Colorado resort. Two gondolas and seven high speed quads are just half of its 18 chairlifts.<\/p>\n
Base Elevation: 8,725 feet<\/p>\n
Maximum: 13,150 feet<\/p>\n
Vertical Drop: 4,425 feet<\/p>\n
Lift-Served Vertical Drop: 3,845 feet<\/p>\n
Skiable acres: 2,000-plus<\/p>\n
Lifts: 18,<\/p>\n
Capacity: 22,386+ skiers per hour<\/p>\n
Average snowfall: 309 inches<\/p>\n
Terrain: 23% Beginner; 36% Intermediate; 41% Advanced\/Expert<\/p>\n
Parks: Three terrain parks<\/p>\n
Silverton Mountain<\/p>\n
North America\u2019s only expert-only lift served extreme skiing, just to get on the chair you need avalanche gear, available to rent with a day pass. With an average of less than 80 skiers on the mountain, a team of patrollers on the ground and in the air manages avalanche mitigation. Peak season is guided skiing only.<\/p>\n
Base elevation: 10,400 feet<\/p>\n
Summit of elevation: 13,487 feet<\/p>\n
Summit of chair: 12,300 feet<\/p>\n
Lift Served Vertical Drop: 1,900 feet<\/p>\n
Hike-To & Helicopter Accessible Vertical Drop: 3,087 feet<\/p>\n
Skiable acres: 1,819. Plus 22,000-plus acres of heli and hike-to terrain<\/p>\n
Average snowfall: 400 inches<\/p>\n
Lifts: One<\/p>\n
Terrain: 100% Expert<\/p>\n
Arizona Snowbowl<\/p>\n
This mountain just outside Flagstaff, Arizona, is the western slope of Mount Humphreys, the tallest point in the state. With a good vertical drop, this mountain can dish out some amazing skiing, and the Upper Bowl has surprising and challenging terrain.<\/p>\n
Base elevation: 9200 feet<\/p>\n
Peak elevation: 11,500 feet<\/p>\n
Vertical drop: 2,300 feet<\/p>\n
Skiable acres: 777<\/p>\n
Lifts: Seven<\/p>\n
Terrain: 37% beginner 42% intermediate 21% advanced<\/p>\n
Parks: Three terrain parks<\/p>\n
Taos Ski Valley<\/p>\n
An iconic and unique skiing experience, this mountain blends world-class terrain and southwestern culture. A new game changing Kachina Peak lift accesses previous hike-to terrain at 12,480 feet with a five minute chair ride. Always hammered by storms, at Taos you can log some serious vertical while knee deep in pow.<\/p>\n
Base elevation: 9,200 feet<\/p>\n
Summit elevation: 12,481 feet<\/p>\n
Vertical drop: 3,281 feet<\/p>\n
Skiable acres: 1,294 acres<\/p>\n
Average snowfall: 305 inches<\/p>\n
Lifts: 15<\/p>\n
Lift capacity: 15,000 skiers per hour<\/p>\n
Terrain: 24% beginner; 25% intermediate; 51% expert<\/p>\n
Parks: Two terrain parks<\/p>\n
Angle Fire<\/p>\n
Stunning Rocky Mountains views abound at this southwestern gem. With 560 acres of rolling terrain, fantastic glade skiing and a nice vertical drop, Angle Fire provides worthy skiing close to Albuquerque, and some of New Mexico\u2019s best skiing and snowboarding and nice gladed terrain.<\/p>\n
Base Elevation: 8,600 feet<\/p>\n
Summit Elevation: 10,677 feet<\/p>\n
Vertical Drop: 2,077 feet<\/p>\n
Average snowfall: 210 inches<\/p>\n
Lifts: Five<\/p>\n
Terrain: 18% Beginner; 46% Intermediate; 36% Advanced<\/p>\n
Parks: Two terrain parks<\/p>\n
Ski Santa Fe<\/p>\n
Part of what makes Ski Santa Fe so fantastic is how good it skis just 16 miles from all the culture, shopping, dining and nightlife you could want in New Mexico\u2019s capital city. With a base area at 10,300 and rising, it gets enough of Mother Nature\u2019s winter loving, plus there is snowmaking on over half the mountain.<\/p>\n
Base elevation: 10,350 feet<\/p>\n
Summit elevation: 12,075 feet<\/p>\n
Vertical drop: 1,725 feet<\/p>\n
Skiable acres: 660 feet<\/p>\n
Average snowfall: 225 inches<\/p>\n
Terrain: 20% beginner; 40% intermediate; 40% expert<\/p>\n
Parks: One terrain park<\/p>\n