EVERY YEAR WHEN WINTER rolls around, I feel a pang that’s like a sharp chill in the air. Growing up in Ohio, I played all kinds of sports, but I somehow never learned how to ski—not that there weren’t opportunities. There was a small ski hill less than an hour away, and snow was rarely an issue. Lots of friends headed to Pennsylvania or New York resorts each winter. 

Not being able to ski never really bothered me in the Midwest. But here in New Mexico, when the powder days hit, my FOMO builds in deep drifts. I’ve skied once—a single run in a mix of sleet and rain for a magazine story—so I don’t really know what I’m missing. But the mountains and the bluebird skies—and the promise of après fun—seem to beckon.

Still, I’ve discovered ways to make do. I love winter hikes, where the snow creates a stillness that accentuates the gurgling of a stream, the rustling of wind through the trees, and the call of a bird. (Santa Fe’s 3.7-mile Big Tesuque Trail loop is a favorite that’s made even more fun with snowshoes.) I’ve even found tiny pockets of open water on the mostly frozen Pecos River for some January fly-fishing.  

Bring the whole gang to Angel Fire Resort, which receives an average of 210 inches of snow annually. Photograph courtesy of Angel Fire Resort.

As Elizabeth Miller points out in the introduction to this month’s “Let It Snow (Please!)” cover feature, the 20-year trend line for snowpack in the southern Rocky Mountains is on the decline. But her 70 days on the slopes last year are a prime example of just how dedicated and resilient our skiers, snowboarders, and ski resorts can be in the face of a changing climate.

New Mexicans don’t need much encouragement to get out and take in the joys of the season. But there’s plenty of incentive to enjoy whatever moves you this month, whether that means a sleigh ride in the mountains, tubing with the kids, ice fishing on a frozen lake, or strolling through farolitos on Christmas Eve. We’ve also got some recommendations for spots to get your sensory fix of piñon-scented smoke. (It’s hard to beat a cocktail by the Dragon Room’s fireplace.)      

While you might not find me on the slopes, I’m still hoping for plenty of fresh powder this year. But I also know those of us who enjoy winter will make the most of whatever flakes we get.

For more winter fun across the state, see the full guide to tubing in Ruidoso, one of New Mexico's most popular snow-play destinations.