I got back from West TX earlier in the week. We have family in Midland, TX and it appears Ski Apache is the closest ski area to Midland, TX. It looks to be about a 5 hour drive.
I know there are much better places to go out west but my daughter, son in law and brand spankin new grand daughter are in Midland. There is no way in _____ that my wife is going to go anywhere west of the Mississippi unless it involves a trip to Midland to see the baby.
Has anyone been there?
Is it worth a 5 hour drive to ski a day or 2 at Apache while I'm out there?
Thanks in advance.
I skied it one Spring Break WAY back when it was called Sierra Blanca. It was a fun little place with a decent sized but not too steep bowl to ski. I'd ski there again, but I'm not too picky. I don't recall finding anything really challenging there when I went. It was great for our purposes though as most of our group was of the advanced intermediate ability. That easy back bowl would be a blast on a powder day.
Have never been to Ski Apache, but would definitely encourage you to check it out if you can on a side trip from Midland, 55 trails, 1800' vertical. It's supposed to have a kind of funky atmosphere and operated in a mellow manner by the Mescalero Apache Tribe. Sounds like the Timberline of NM. The slopes are set at an elevation around 10,000', but since it is one of the most southern ski areas in the US conditions can sometimes be an issue. The nearby mountain resort town of Ruidoso is supposed to be a pretty interesting place with a long history of vacationers and a good amount of accommodations. People from around the Southwest go there in the summer to escape the desert heat.
I have been to Ski Santa Fe and Taos. Believe they are an hour or two further from Midland. If Ski Apache is anything like Ski Santa Fe (approx. 70 trails/1700' vertical) it would be a beautiful spot for a few days of skiing. Ski Santa Fe has some amazing mtn/desert scenery and is short, but steep climb from the very interesting city of Santa Fe. Definitely and interesting and artsy place for non-skiers to hang out while others are hitting the slopes. I did a trip report on a recent visit to Taos (approx. 115 trails/2600 vertical): http://dcski.com/articles/1339 While the base village is not as glitzy as some places, if you hit it right Taos has some of the best advanced skiing in the US. Absolutely top notch. Perhaps you're going to need to make several visits to the new grandchild!!
Here's a website with stats and info on NM ski areas:
http://www.skinewmexico.com/snow-report/
Thanks guys.
Based on your comments and links to more info, it looks like something that fits my skill set. I'm hoping to try it in Feb / Mar.
Unless the oil and gas industry completely falls apart, it looks like I'll be heading out that way for years to come.
A friend who lived in Midland belonged to this club,
http://www.texastwistersskiclub.com/about/about.htm
it was quite active with bus trips to NM and southern CO areas. Many of the country's most active ski clubs and most passionate skiers are in the south. I've lost touch with my friend. Your post is a great reminder that I should correct this.
Thanks Denis. Those folks do not mess around - tons of trips planned.
Definitely go!
It's been 20 years since I last visited, but I don't think it has changed much. It's the southernmost ski area in the US - if just for that!
My high school and college years were spent in Texas and as you comment, this was the closest drive. It's a solitary mountain overlooking White Sands Nuclear Missile Range. It requires a long, winding drive uphill to get to the base (New Mexico's version of Blue Knob) which being on Mescalero Apache land, is staffed by a lot of Natives. It's a decent hill. Lots of sun. The parking lot abuts the base and made for convenient tailgating at lunch and apres. The town of Ruidoso is nearby and where most stay. It's a cool town.
Whenever I invariably run into someone else who's an avid skier, but also got dumped in Texas for a period of their life, I invariably ask if they hit Ski Apache. Usually, there's a hearty 'Yes!' and ensuing chat about it. It's a small club. Join it!
FreshPow wrote:
It's a solitary mountain overlooking White Sands Nuclear Missile Range. It requires a long, winding drive uphill to get to the base (New Mexico's version of Blue Knob) which being on Mescalero Apache land, is staffed by a lot of Natives. It's a decent hill.
There's a sunken patio picnic table all the way at the top a ways up past the top bullwheel. There's a plaque that mentions the nuclear tests of yesteryear. Totally worth the little hike to hang out there for a few minutes.
The above avatar got my curiosity. Found this,
http://www.skinet.com/skiing/2004/12/believing-in-buck-hill
Little places often have great race programs.
Lindsey Vonn came off this hill, but at the time this was written she would have been just another kid in the junior race program.
I lived in Lubbock, Texas a few decades back. Never visited Sierra Blanca during winter, but did a lot of times during the summer.
The Mescalero Apache tribe runs the area. It includes a nice hotel/casino. In the winter it also is fairly pricey. Hotel in Ruidoso to save a few bucks. There are lots of lodging options. Ruidoso is a touirist trap kind of town during the summer. If you visit during the summer, be sure to hit the horse track. It is the location for the biggest quarter horse race in North America. And if you've never been to a track in the mountains, you'll enjoy it.
My recollection:(weather dependent)
Midland/Ruidoso (driving hours) 4.5 - 5 hours
for other ophions with better skiing:
Midland/Albuquerque (Sandia Peak is not a very good ski area. No real black terrain to speak of. VERY weather dependent, but it does have a spectacular tram ride). Geat Views from the top 6 hours
Midland/Santa Fe 6.5 hours Great views from the top.
Midland/Los Alamos (Pajarito Mountain - I think it's the 2nd best in NM behind Taos) 7 hours
Midland/Taos 7.5 hours (it doesn't get better than Taos in good snow years).
There used to be another ski area called Cloudcroft (near the town of the same name). It was/is the southern most ski area in the US. I don't know if it's still in operation. It's pretty small.
Also, if you get out there I highly recommend one spectacular drive: Cloudcroft west to White Sands/Alamagordo. In the space of about 25 miles you drive thru 4 different climate zones from desert to mountain alpine and everything in between.
I have skied Sandia, Santa Fe, Pajarito, and Taos.
Well, I'll be .. Cloudcroft "Ski Palace" ski area still seem to be there and opeating in the winter. It's maybe 40 miles south of Sierra Blanca.
It's a real mega resort (LOL!) with 74 skiable acres, 27 runs and three lifts. It's been in operation since 1963.
http://www.tripcart.com/usa-regions/Western-Texas-Southern-New-Mexico/ski/Ski-Cloudcroft.html
http://www.cloudcroftskipalace.com/
The trail map will make you feel like you are back east...
Another thumbs up to Pajarito. Again, like Apache, not really any gnar but a fun place with a deep and fascinating history that you take in when visiting there.
As for my avatar, I worked there from 1981-1983 while in high school. I skied for their freestyle team in hish school. We were occasionally fighting with Sailer's kids over the rope tow access but other than that great memories. Friom what I hear from folks still there the race program still rocks by the way...
You are right about the Pajarito history. It was constructed by the scientists who built "the bomb" at Los Alamos National labs. I think that it's still operated by a not-for profit ski club. The good news is that I hear that they finally installed snowmaking. About a decade back they were having a bad snow year and I checked their website mid February. I checked snow condtions and saw a picture of the bottom of a lift with mostly grass showing accompanied by the words "not enough to open." It was pretty sad.
Anyone that want's gnar terrain just needs to head a few miles north to Taos.There's plenty of terrain there to scare most skiers.
crgildart wrote:
Another thumbs up to Pajarito. Again, like Apache, not really any gnar but a fun place with a deep and You fascinating history that you take in when visiting there.
