"Poachers" Helped Prevent The Opening Of Popular Chairlift At Taos Ski Valley This Week
Earlier this week, poachers—skiers riding closed terrain—played a role in preventing Taos Ski Valley from opening its popular Kachina Peak Lift during a powder day.
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"Due to overnight wind loading and early morning local poachers delaying avalanche control work, Kachina Peak will not open today," a sign shared to Taos' Instagram story read on Thursday.
The sign was reposted in the above Reddit post, prompting one commenter—a member of the Taos community—to provide additional context. They stated that the poachers were "banned for life from the mountain."
The timing of the closure of Kachina Peak couldn't have been worse. The lift accesses a slew of upper-mountain, expert terrain that, presumably, locals were itching to ski as Taos was amidst a 49-inch snowstorm.
There are things that are frowned upon in skiing, and then there are things that you absolutely shouldn't do. Poaching falls into the latter category.
Not only can it slow the avalanche mitigation process—and prevent popular chairlifts from opening—but it also puts yourself and others at risk. Ropes and closures exist for a reason. The powder can always wait.
Related: Surprise Overnight Powder Alert Issued At Canadian Ski Resort
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