Ski Apache is the southernmost major destination ski area in North America, only 120 miles north of the Mexican border. The region with the town and the resort occupies an oasis of pine-covered mountains surrounded by the sprawling New Mexican desert. From the Lookout Snack Bar, at the top of the gondola, the panorama is one of the most expansive to be found at any ski resort in North America. The view takes in the White Sands National Monument, the site of the first atom bomb explosion, the forest where Smokey Bear was rescued and the Old West towns where Billy the Kid roamed.

Trail names echo the Apache heritage—Geronimo, Screaming Eagle, Chino and Ambush. Skiers from Texas, Germans from nearby Holloman Air Force Base, and Mexican visitors all mix with the Mescalero Indians who make the resort work. You'll find no condo developments and no ski-in/ski-out hotels at the ski area—this is a pure ski resort. The elevation between 9,600 and 11,500 feet guarantees snow and the location in southern New Mexico tempers the weather and favors plenty of sunny days.

This is an intermediate's playground, but advanced levels won't be disappointed. Beginners will be pushed for all they're worth—the shift from mellow terrain to more significant steeps is a big one. Sometimes it's hard to tell the blues from blacks. They're both tough.

Twelve miles from the snowfields of Ski Apache and about 3,000 feet below the sacred Sierra Blanca peak, the town of Ruidoso spreads along a valley floor surrounded by gentle pines. This town is mainly a summer resort with the focus on Ruidoso Downs—home of quarter-horse racing, five golf courses and a full May-to-October program of music and cultural events. This makes winter the bargain time for most B&Bs, motels and hotels.

Ski Apache Ski Resort Facts:

Summit elevation: 11,400 feet
Vertical drop: 1,800 feet
Base elevation: 9,600 feet

Expert: ++
Advanced: ++++
Intermediate: +++
Beginner: +
First-timer: ++

Dining: + (on mountain), +++ (in Ruidoso)
Apres-ski/nightlife: +++
Other activities: +++

Address: P.O. Box 220
Ruidoso, NM 88355
Area code: 575
Ski area phone: 336-4356
Snow report: 257-9001
Lodging information: (800) 253-2255 (Riudoso Chamber)
Fax: 336-8327
Internet: www.skiapache.com (resort)
or www.ruidoso.net (town)

Number of lifts: 11–1 gondola, 2 quads, 5 triples, 1 double, 2 surface lifts
Skiable acreage: 750 acres
Snowmaking: 35 percent
Uphill capacity: 16,500 per hour
Parks & pipes: 1 park
Bed Base: 4,000+ in Ruidoso area
Nearest lodging: 12 miles away in Ruidoso
Resort child care: None
Adult ticket, per day: $51 (08/09)