Taos Ski Valley Altitude: Complete Guide & 5 Tips
Most are surprised to discover Taos Ski Valley to be one of the highest ski resorts in all of America. Our comprehensive guide unveils what you need to know about Taos Ski Valley altitude and the best tips to avoiding altitude sickness.
Taos Ski Valley Altitude
Nestled in the mountains of New Mexico, Taos Ski Valley altitude sits at a base of 9,200 feet and reaches much higher on the slopes.
Taos Ski Valley Altitude:
- Taos Ski Valley base altitude - 9,200 feet (2,804 m)
- Taos Ski Valley summit altitude - 12,481 feet (3,804 m)
There’s very few ski resorts in the United States at these heights, most notably Breckenridge Colorado is comparable to Taos at a base altitude of 9600 feet.
Is Taos Ski Valley Considered High Altitude?
Yes, Taos Ski Valley is considered high altitude.
Mountain Medicine recognizes high altitude starting at 4,900. Taos well exceeds this height and even hits very high altitude at the summit.
Many don’t realize, in addition to Taos a lot of areas of New Mexico are considered high altitude including Albuquerque at 5,312 feet and Santa Fe at 7,199 feet.
How High Are The Mountains In Taos?
While the town of Taos is 6,969 feet above sea level, the mountains consisting of the Sangre de Cristo range reach much higher heights.
The summit of Taos Ski Valley hits 12,481 feet, and other mountains rise even above that surpassing 13,000 feet.
Here’s some of highest mountains in Taos:
- Wheeler Peak altitude - 13,161 feet (4,011 m)
- Pueblo Peak altitude - 12,305 feet (3,751 m)
- Latir Peak altitude - 12,708 feet (3,873 m)
- Taos Ski Valley altitude - 12,481 feet (3,804 m)
These Taos heights are nearly as high as Colorado’s, which all are a part of the Rocky Mountains.
What Is The Highest Peak At Taos Ski Valley?
The highest peak at Taos Ski Valley is 12,481 feet (3,804 m) above sea level.
Can You Get Altitude Sickness At Taos Ski Valley?
Yes absolutely, the potential for altitude sickness at Taos Ski Valley is a real consideration due to its very high elevations.
Julian Klapowitz, MD estimates altitude sickness can occur as low as 4000 - 5000 feet.⁶ Heights like Leadville Colorado past 10,000 feet, which are similar to Taos Ski Valley elevations, are estimates to cause altitude sickness in 40% to 50% of people.⁷
These statistics confirm that altitude sickness in Taos Ski Valley is a high risk. Follow our top tips below.
Taos Ski Valley Altitude Sickness
Taos Ski Valley altitude sickness is a genuine concern due to the resort's high elevations containing less oxygen.
This can affect visitors from the rapid climb in altitude, especially coming from sea level. The body can’t acclimate fast enough and it leads to all sorts of stresses on the body including oxidative stress. This typically leads to symptoms such as headache, extreme fatigue, and issues breathing normally.
Taos Ski Valley altitude sickness symptoms may include:
- Headaches
- Fatigue, tiredness, or weakness
- Trouble breathing, rapid breathing, or shortness of breath
- Dizziness or disorientation
- Sleeping issues or insomnia
- Feeling ill or malaise
Pay attention to how you feel when arriving in Taos, especially the first 6-24 hours when symptoms are most likely to pop up. Read below our top tips to avoid a setback to your Taos ski trip.
6 Tips To Avoid Taos Ski Valley Altitude Sickness
At the majestic heights of Taos Ski Valley, it will be an unforgettable trip as long as you can avoid the misery of altitude sickness.
As a Colorado-based company with over a decade of elevation experience, we’ll dive into the top tips for high altitudes.
6 Tips To Avoid Taos Ski Valley Altitude Sickness:
1. Start Slow
Going too hard, too fast can easily stress your body out on top of the struggle to acclimate. Skiing, hiking or any strenuous activity can put you in jeopardy to exacerbate any issues.
Instead, ease into your skiing adventure by taking it slow during the first few days or until you feel acclimated. Some may take 1-2 full days upon arrival until they ski, or ski very mildly to start.
2. Hydrate Better
Dehydration can be a problem from the dry air and increase in elevation. The Wilderness Medical Society notes that you can lose water twice as fast from high altitudes than at sea level.⁸
Stay well-hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids before and during your Taos stay. Preferably, drinking at least half a gallon a day of water.
3. Acclimate Gradually
When visiting Taos from out of town, if you immediately go to Taos Ski Valley at 9,200 feet you’ll likely have high altitude troubles. One of the best ways to avoid a setback on your trip is to gradually acclimate so your body can adjust to the different oxygen levels.
You can do this best by staying in Santa Fe (7,199 ft) or the town of Taos (6,969 ft) for a night or two first. Get yourself acclimated before moving onto the very high heights of Taos Ski Valley.
4. Avoid Alcohol
While it may be tempting to indulge in après-ski drinks at Taos Ski Valley, alcohol can dehydrate your body and worsen all sorts of other problems like headaches, nausea, and sleep quality.⁹
Opt for non-alcoholic beverages on your first few days, and only entertain drinks when you know you show no signs of altitude sickness.
5. Get Plenty Of Sleep
Many say that sleep is the secret to recovery. Quality rest will help your body adjust better, it’s also known to help with blood flow and oxygen.¹⁰
Get plenty of sleep, aim for 7-9 hours per night. One way to potentially boost your sleep quality is to get natural sunlight during the day, which can help stimulate melatonin production at night.
6. Boost Your Antioxidants
Oxidative stress is known to be substantially increased from high altitude exposure. [¹¹] So much that a study proved glutathione, the body’s master antioxidant, to decline by 45%. [¹²]
Antioxidants can help combat the oxidative stress and free radicals. [¹³] You can boost your antioxidants by taking supplements, such as one with glutathione.
To summarize, start slow, hydrate better, acclimate gradually, avoid alcohol, get plenty of sleep, and boost your antioxidants. These six tips are needed to conquer the altitude in Taos Ski Valley, so you can savor the slopes in this alpine haven.
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SOURCES:
1. USA: highest ski resorts
https://www.skiresort.info/ski-resorts/usa/sorted/mountain-altitude/
2. Taos Ski Valley New Mexico Elevation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taos_Ski_Valley,_New_Mexico
3. Effects of high altitude on humans
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_high_altitude_on_humans
4. Taos Elevation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taos,_New_Mexico
5. Sangre de Cristo Mountains Elevation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sangre_de_Cristo_Mountains
6. High Altitude Illness
https://www.travelsurenyc.com/high-altitude-illness/
7. Patient education: High-altitude illness (including mountain sickness)
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/high-altitude-illness-including-mountain-sickness-beyond-the-basics/print#
8. The Importance Of Drinking Water At High Altitude
https://summitoxygen.net/drinking-at-high-altitude/
9. Effects of Alcohol
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/01.HYP.29.6.1278#
10. Sleep: The Secret Ingredient of Injury Recovery
https://www.orthocarolina.com/media/sleep-the-secret-ingredient-of-injury-recovery
11. High altitude and oxidative stress
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17482529/
12. Effect of high altitude (7,620 m) exposure on glutathione
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11320641/
13. Oxidative Stress and Diseases Associated with High-Altitude Exposure
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8868315/
