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A west-facing line to check out after a deep snow event, awesome during the sunset when alpenglow lights up the snow.


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Map Key

0.5

Miles

0.8

KM

Ski Line

12,926' 3,940 m

High

11,832' 3,606 m

Low

0' 0 m

Up

1,095' 334 m

Down

44%

Avg Slope (24°)

77%

Max Slope (38°)
Type: Backcountry or Sidecountry
Wilderness area, no mechanized vehicles, drones etc.

Description

The lines on Wheeler Peak's west side are usually wind scoured by strong westerly winds that move snow over the ridge to the east side and into the Middle Fork, Lost Lake, and Horseshoe Lake basins. A large cornice develops on that side, and the west side is often left with bare rocks and grasses exposed. The bighorn sheep love it; for riders and skiers it makes for easy hiking across the tundra to access the chutes and alpine faces that hold snow.

When a big storm comes through the region, especially during a heavy spring, these westerly slopes provide some awesome big mountain riding. When the snow is deep enough this is a moderate line down a sub-ridge, then contouring down a glacial moraine deposit above treeline. Follow the flow of the terrain past some small trees to the right, into a short northwest facing gully that drops into the Hidden Chute. These terrain features below treeline act as a sluice and catch snow when winds scour the upper slopes of the line.

Contacts

Shared By:

J. Bella

Trail Ratings

  3.0 from 1 vote

#743

Overall
  3.0 from 1 vote
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Ski Line Rankings

#52

in New Mexico

#743

Overall
2 Views Last Month
163 Since Jan 10, 2018
Difficult Difficult

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Photos

March 7, 2018 ~ thin snowpack in the Taos range
Mar 7, 2018 near Taos Sk…, NM
Dog Peak's west face, March 22, 2015 after a series of Spring storms brought heavy snow to the area
Jan 10, 2018 near Taos Sk…, NM
Near the top of Hidden Chute 2019
Jan 8, 2019 near Taos Sk…, NM
Snowboard tracks on the mountain known locally as Dog Peak after a rare Spring storm left a deep snowpack on the west side of Wheeler's north ridge, which is usually windblown and scoured down to the rocks.
Jan 19, 2019 near Taos Sk…, NM

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