This is the time of year that ski areas in the region start prepping for the season. They hire staff, but they also have to plan to start making snow in the next few weeks.
Ski areas have a plan from the State of New Mexico to open, but they have to do it with only 25% of their max capacity. To manage the number of people on the mountain, it looks like lift ticket sales will be online. There are similar restrictions in Southern Colorado.
Here are a few of stories with more info: