Legend of Taos Ski Valley

Rhoda Blake played an essential role in the development and enduring legacy of Taos Ski Valley alongside her husband, legendary ski pioneer Ernie Blake. While Ernie worked to build the mountain, Rhoda built much of what ran underneath it.

Unlike Ernie, Rhoda was a mechanical whiz, having served as a wartime mechanic at the Alameda Naval Air Station. She put those skills to work at Taos, attaching bindings to the early Head skis and filling the holes in surplus U.S. Army skis so they could be repainted and used as rentals. She also became the resort’s explosives expert, handling the blasting of stumps and rocks to clear terrain for new trails. An accomplished driver—Ernie was notoriously unreliable behind the wheel—she did much of the on-mountain driving herself and taught their children to drive.

While Ernie traveled to promote Taos and New Mexico skiing, Rhoda set up and ran the resort’s rental and retail shops for many years. On the mountain, she laid out many of the early roads and trails, work that helped shape Taos Ski Valley into the legendary ski area it is today.

Rhoda’s dedication, resilience and behind-the-scenes leadership helped guide the resort through its formative years and establish a legacy that continues to influence Taos Ski Valley today. The New Mexico Ski Hall of Fame first recognized her as an Honorary Member in 2004; she now joins as an official inductee, a recognition of not only her contributions to one of New Mexico’s most celebrated ski areas, but her place in the history of skiing in New Mexico. Rhoda passed away in 2015.