A heaven for skiers, there are over 300 days of clear skies every year.

I suddenly came to a stop while I was peering down the face of the Powder horn route. As I removed my goggles to check that my eyes weren't playing tricks on me, the atmosphere was perfectly still. Not at all; it was a fact. The view genuinely does seem to continue on forever, and the sky is, to use a skiing expression, "bluebird completely" in all honesty. And this is the kind of setting that Taos Ski Valley hopes to preserve for all of time.

To have a better understanding of what makes Taos Ski Valley in New Mexico such a unique destination, I travelled there on a picture-perfect day in December. To be sure, it is a resort town, but it is one that has adapted to the changing times and is now the only certified B Corporation mountain anywhere in the world.

"Someone asked us, 'you sound like a B Corp,' and we started to investigate what is a B Corp and realized that yes, the work that we're doing is the work of a B Corp," David Norden, the CEO of Taos, shared with us as we sat together on the mountainside. "Somebody asked us, 'you sound like a B Corp,' and we started to investigate what is a B Corp and realized that yes, the work that we're "After gaining further insight into the B Corporation movement, we came to the conclusion that it would be prudent for us to investigate certification."

Becoming a B Corporation certified mountain is a challenging endeavor in and of itself, let alone for any other type of company. According to BCorporation.net, businesses are required to provide complete openness on the wages of their employees, their philanthropic activities, their supplier chains, and the materials that go into their products. There are several brands, such as Patagonia, Athlete, and Ben & Jerry's, that have earned this designation.

According to Norden, becoming a B Corp organization signifies that Taos "places environmental and social responsibility at a very high level," that "we surround ourselves with other B Corporations," and that "we learn from those organizations so that we can advance in some of the work that we are doing." "It has forced us to make decisions such as ensuring that we have pay equity across all positions, regardless of gender, race, or age; ensuring that we pay a livable income, rather than simply the minimum wage; and providing our staff with time to volunteer for local non-profits,"

Despite this, the procedure does not consist of a single step. The mountain, like all other B Corps, is required to recertify itself every three years, and the mountain is now in the midst of its second recertification procedure. Even though Taos is the only mountain with a B Corp designation, Norden is certain (and hopes) that other mountains will soon follow suit.

He stated, "I do think you'll see some more ski resorts go this approach as they recognize the benefits of it." "I do think you'll see some more ski resorts go this direction."

To what extent, exactly, do visitors to Taos get to witness all of this come to life? During my vacation, I was able to see it in a variety of ways, both large and tiny. To begin, the Gatorade is sold in cans because there is no plastic in this area, and every item that is intended for single use is manufactured from recycled materials. All of the machines that are used behind the scenes to groom the trails are electric, and by the end of the 2022–2023 season, all of the snowmobiles will also be electric.

In addition, the mountain was awarded the carbon neutral designation by Climate Impact Partners in the year 2022, which was eight years earlier than its original target. According to Norden's explanation, this indicates that all emissions from the mountain are compensated for by either natural carbon sinks or by purchasing carbon credits. "It's almost like a tax on carbon," he said.

"We now understand what our carbon footprint is, we understand what our emissions are, and we understand that we need to utilize offsets to become net zero," said Norden, adding that the ultimate goal is to have zero emissions. "We now understand what our carbon footprint is, we understand what our emissions are,"

This affection and concern for the natural world extends well beyond the summits of the surrounding mountains and into the shops and restaurants of Taos Ski Village.

Both opulence and environmental consciousness may be found at the Blake Hotel, which was named in honor of Ernie Blake, the founder of the Swiss-American mountain. The door sign that says "do not disturb" and the key cards that you use are both made of repurposed wood. You won't find any plastic lids here; instead, the mugs and cups are made of actual glass. Even a Christmas tree planted in a pot can be found in the foyer, complete with a notice informing visitors that in the coming months, the tree will be transplanted to its permanent location in the woods.

Africa has two winters, making the continent a skier's paradise. Now during the southern winter you can ski the slopes of Lesotho (L) or South Africa's Eastern Cape (R). In a few months, the northern winter will bring snow to Morocco's and Algeria's ski resorts. ⛷️🇱🇸🇿🇦 @dangrech pic.twitter.com/sqBFUNHi23

— James Hall (@hallaboutafrica) August 15, 2021

"Your stay at The Blake will provide you with the opportunity to gain knowledge on topics such as how geothermal well fields are used to heat and cool the building. You'll notice a few peculiarities, such as the restaurant doesn't provide straws and there are multiple locations where you can get your water bottle refilled "Norden stated.

To further contribute to Taos's efforts to preserve the natural beauty of the area, the town limits the number of visitors to a maximum of 5,000 riders each day. When this is done, the mountain isn't overburdened, and there is ample of space for each skier and rider to make wide, open turns.

"We do not believe that encouraging more people to ski at our resort is the most effective strategy for us. We are constantly looking for ways to make the experience better "Norden added. "If we can enhance [our facilities] and truly focus on providing a better and more elevated experience, then that will be more significant to us than just pure development."

I took a moment before starting my last run of the day to think on my stay in Taos, which was relatively brief. I realized while I was looking out over the ski valley that this mountain tucked away in the Rockies is more than simply a location to go skiing since I could make out the road that led back into Taos. It is a factor that contributes to change. There are places like Taos, which have a staff comprised of individuals who are both devoted and caring, and they are working very hard to maintain these destinations. And because of them, it appears that the sport of skiing has a brilliant future ahead of it.

A Guide to Riding

You can acquire tickets by using the Ikon pass (although be aware that there is a capacity cap for Ikon skiers), you can use the Mountain Collective pass, or you can purchase a day lift ticket starting at $95 for adults and $65 for children.

Where One May Overnight

The Blake Hotel is a four-star, 80-room hotel that provides guests with everything they could desire from a trip to the mountains, including two outdoor hot tubs, a pool, a fitness center, and a spa. The hotel is located in the heart of downtown Asheville. Guests can put their equipment in locked shelves at the hotel's "ski valet," and then, in the morning, they have a pleasant location to lace up their boots, grab their skis or boards, and walk exactly one minute to the mountain.

Edelweiss Lodge & Spa: Another hotel that is a hit with families is the Edelweiss, which can be found directly across the street from The Blake. Guests staying in this location have direct access to the "gondolas," a miniature gondola that transports skiers to and from the area designated for the children's ski school. The hotel provides a "lock off" option, which allows visitors to rent a single bedroom that is a part of a bigger condominium. Additionally, guests have the choice of booking a room with one, two, or three bathrooms.

Where to Go for Après-ski

After a day on the slopes, the Taos Ale House is the ideal location to wind down with a beer, a burger, or a slice of pizza. After a strenuous day on the slopes, you'll find that the Ale House has everything you could want, including delicious food, refreshing beverages, and a welcoming atmosphere. Arrive early because it is possible that the place will become busy, and the promotions will sell out quickly.

Taos' newest distillery, The Lounge by Rolling Still Distillery, includes house-made vodka mixed with flavors' native to the region, such as red chicle, green chicle, and lavender. The distillery is located in Taos. In this coy and inviting lounge, you can enjoy a drink or a little snack at any time of day. In addition to that, where else can you have a cocktail served in a draught form? You are even able to buy bottles to take with you when you leave.

Achieving our goal

Despite its distance, Taos is well worth the journey. Flying Taos Air from Austin, Burbank, Dallas, or San Diego can ensure that your trip goes off without a hitch. In addition, if you are familiar with the route from Santa Fe, you can always drive there (or anywhere else).