Since moving to Red River in 1963, Judy and John Miller have made skiing their life’s work — from their ownership of Powder Puff Mountain to the founding of Enchanted Forest Cross Country Ski Area in winter 1985-86. They were led by optimism and love, along with so many of their dear friends, customers and customer/friends (is there a difference?). Drought, and the ups and downs of business have made it hard to get by. “Snow farming” is not for the timid!

In 2010 Geoff Goins and Ellen Miller bought the business and, in subsequent years, tried different ways to expand. Some — yurt camping —worked really well. Others — a retail shop — left the business in debt. It’s debt Enchanted Forest could have weathered without… well… the weather. Since the 2014-15 ski season the business has operated at a deficit it was oh so close to erasing — until this year. We call it “snow farming” but when drought years hit hard — and this year has hit especially hard — it can be devastating.

This year’s dry weather could mean with end of Enchanted Forest. So we are asking for your help. We need to bring our payments to the USDA Forest Service up to date. We need to pay for liability and workers’ comp insurance. We need to repair our ancient Chevy Suburban to use as a shuttle and snowplow. We have other expenses, too. If we were able to take care of these, we would be able to carry forward this season — and beyond (see our plans below).

Our fundraising goal represents our best estimate of what it will take to bring the business back from the precipice, yes, even during this drought year.

We are already blessed to have American Music Legend Michael Martin Murphey as a longtime friend and customer and now this multiple Grammy nominee has generously offered to host a family friendly "Michael Martin Murphey and Friends Bootstraps Benefit" at The Motherlode, 7 p.m., Saturday, January 6, 2018, here in Red River. We know with his help — and yours — we can weather this disaster.

We truly believe that Enchanted Forest belongs to everyone and we will re-open. By pledging to help, you'll not only be investing in our future, but also investing in the future of cross country skiing, snowshoeing, trail running, mountain biking — outdoor sports in Northern New Mexico.

With much love and gratitude,

Ellen, Geoff, Judy, John, Mike, Linda, Larry, Bob, Harry, Martha and Anna

We have plans!

With the help of our dear friend Bob Walsh, Lead Environmental Designer for Roothouse Studio in Boulder, Colorado, and the guidance of our partners at the USDA Forest Service, Questa Ranger District, we have a 10-year Master Development Plan with proposed plans (awaiting USFS approval) that include:

• Improving current trails;
• New trails — ski, snowshoe and dog friendly;
• Expanded mountain biking and hiking trails (essentially this would be summer use of newly expanded snowshoe trails;

• More overnight yurts, including the addition of two to three yurt “pods” (three small yurts) to accommodate groups and large families;

• Glade skiing (for telemark or Randonnee/Alpine Tour backcountry ski touring and mountaineering gear);

• Mountain bike and/or fat bike rentals for year-round biking;

• Tree canopy tours with aerial bridges, platforms and zip lines;

• Camping platforms for tent camping;

• Snow-play area for families with young children to go sledding;
• New base lodge with dining and heated restrooms with indoor plumbing.

Other plans could include disc golf, outdoor summer concerts, yoga retreats, trail running, nature hikes, photography workshops, "summer camps" for adults with in-house activities as well as river rafting, rock climbing, paddleboarding and other excursions.

Links:

John and Judy Miller: Blazing paths for New Mexico skiing

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