Update at December 13, 2009
I have Skied Ski Apache the last two Sundays. I am excited that the Apache's have added snow making, at last after much discussion over the years, down the Chino trail and Moonshine Gulch which is the return run from north side trails back to the #1 chair. They also seem, to this point to be dedicated to maintaining, like never before parallel northside runs of Screaming Eagle (Black) , Wild Onion (Black), Geronimo (Blue), East of East (Blue) and Meadows (Blue). All of these runs are fun and challenging to strong intermediate and advanced skiers. As most visitors to Ski Apache are Novice level during peak times this gives better skiers the opening to escape the madness at the base of the mountain and enjoy wide open or nearly wide open skiing even at Holiday breaks.

The snow conditions have been very good over the past two weeks. High winds blew down hundreds of trees and a cell phone tower on December 8, 2009. The same storm brought snow to the mountain and town and crippled Cloudcroft for several days without electricity. It resulted in Ski Apache being closed for a couple days saving the great snow for the coming holiday crowds.

If you haven't been to Ski Apache in a few years you are going to be pleasantly surprised with other improvements. Things like asphalt parking, music in the outdoor common areas, a conveniently located ski shop and food menu items that are truly tasty have all been added. And, the lift operators and helpers, in the past notoriously grumpy are giving smiles, chat and customer service a go. I'll keep an eye on this.

There have been questions surrounding whether the Apaches will be operating the only gondola in New Mexico this year. In asking around I have not gotten what I feel is a straight answer. A picture is worth 1000 words.

It is an el nino year the snow is going to be good. Come to Ruidoso and hit the slopes at Ski Apache. And we'll see you on the mountain.

 The 2006-2007 update at 1/30/07
Ruidoso's current skiing and boarding season is underway and we have been the recipient of over 100 inches of snow so far this season. Conditions have been good to excellent for most days this season. Busy days have been a little congested as the mountain's number two chair also known as the Lincoln Lift is down for what looks like the rest of this season. This has made access to the resort's terrain park more difficult but made for great runs on some of the upper mountain's less traveled areas  and great fresh track powder runs after heavy snowfalls. Ski Apache has made some nice improvements over the past couple of years. These include paving the most heavily used portion of their parking lot, ungraded menu's and food service, outdoor musical acts on busy days and updated interior improvements to shopping and the Kiddie area. It is advisable to have chains and cables available to make it around our area in the snow season and with this year's weather pattern even more so.
Tips and Trail Ratings for Ski Apache

Know the Responsibility Code. It is in the Trail Map.
Remember to ski/board within your ability. The information and comments contained herein are the opinion of Bill LeMasters.

Gear- Gear that fits well, keeps the wet and cold out and is properly maintained is important in improving the ski/boarding experience and safety. I recommend everyone wear a helmet while skiing/boarding. If that doesn’t fit your fashion play then make sure the kids are protected. Boarders need wrist protection too. Broken wrists are the most common boarding injury.

More on Health and Safety- Drink lots of water while skiing/boarding. Carry it with you. Most cramps will be a result of dehydration. The mountain is full of challenges. Weather, surface conditions and crowds will change all day long. As changes occur, be prepared to adjust how you ski/board and where you ski/board. Save the alcohol for the cool down party at the house or condo.
Stretch out before and after exercise.

Remember most accidents occur with tired skiers/boarders in the later parts of the day.


Beginner Runs (green)

“Bunny”- A part of the parking lot they forgot to pave, a good place to learn to put your skis or board on. Get out of here quick, during busy times it is so covered with people standing and laying around (some in street clothes) that an advanced skier has to concentrate to weave through the morass. My young son calls it the “dead bunny”.

Easy Street- Actually this run has enough fall to be called a bunny slope and chair #3 that serves it is slammed if there are any crowds at the mountain. A great place to learn to ski or board when crowds are light to moderate.

Lower Moonshine- Served by the #7 chair. Long and flat. Good for beginners that want to spend more time skiing/boarding and less time standing in line. Plan to use your poles here and there. Advanced and intermediate skiers/boarders returning from the north side of the mountain will be flying through here to keep their speed to reach the base. Be aware and listen as they call the side (right or left) in which they will be passing. Don’t make a sudden turn in the direction they call or you may learn what it is like to be a bowling pin.

Novice Runs (green)

Lower Deep Freeze- Take the Capitan # 4 chair and go straight ahead to the bottom of RAMP. Here is where L.Deep Freeze begins. It is narrow at the top and opens up with more room to work after about 300 yards. Good speed can be gained while still having room for those big snowplow turns. It can get icy on the tree-shaded edges. Overall it is a fun run for novice skiers/boarders and a little warm up for those with greater challenges in mind. Lots of merging trails at the bottom so slow down before you get there.

Snow Park (formerly Lower Snow Park)- Served by the Lincoln #2 chair. Get off at the halfway drop. It is our favorite Novice run. The top of this run feels a little like a more challenging Blue, but is plenty wide to execute wide turns and stay out of the trees. It has a slightly narrow bottleneck halfway down as it flattens out into a nice cruise into the base area.

Sierra Blanca Trail- Served by the top drop of the #2 chair. This run is a Cat track that runs from the top to the bottom. It requires that you be able to control your speed and make a stop in a reasonable amount of room. It is scenic and allows Novice skiers/boarders to get away from the base area and see the mountain. It is a very long run from the top and requires that the Novice skier/boarder be in good shape or be ready to take plenty of time. It crosses through the middle of nine advanced and intermediate runs. Pay attention to skiers/boarders coming from above. Many times they won’t be slowing down to cross your trail.

Moonshine Gulch- This is the return feeder to chair #1 and the base on the North side. Eleven trails dump into this freeway along its way. If there are crowds, it is jammed with people of every ability and disposition and the surface can be beat up by mid-day. If crowds are light it can be a fun cruiser.


INTERMEDIATE RUNS (BLUE)

Capitan “Lite” and “Heavy”- Served by the #4 chair. This is the busiest Blue run. It has snowmaking and can be seen from the base area. From the top, you can see most the base area and it allows intermediate and advanced skiers a chance to tackle more advanced terrain while staying close to the less accomplished in their group. From the top move left under the chair for “Heavy” and stay right for “Lite”. Heavy is steeper, narrower and less often groomed. It is for better skiers/boarders and less crowded. Capitan Lite is the scene of some of the day’s best wipeouts as Novice skiers/boarders try to show those below that they are better than they are. It is great entertainment from the lodge decks during lunch and at the end of the day.

Elk Ridge- Served by the #8 chair. This run dumps into Capitan half way to the base. It is the only Blue run down from the Top of the #8 Chair and tends to be crowded with people in over their heads on busy days. A fun run when wide open and a necessary evil to get from the left side of the mountain back to the main base on crowded days.

Bull Run- Served by the # 4 chair and #8 chair via Elk Ridge. A great cruiser with snowmaking. The advanced skier/boarder will also enjoy shooting up into the lower portions of several black runs along the way and working back down. This run takes you to the #8 Elk Chair that serves six black runs, and the Blue Elk Ridge run.

Geronimo and East of East- These parallel runs are served by the Gondola and the #1 chair. Both these runs are great in the late morning and early afternoon when the sun is giving full coverage. They are the perfect width, the snow is generally some of the best on the mountain and they have light glades near the bottom. Take the Sierra Blanca Trail back to chair #1 and stay off Moonshine Gulch. You came up here to get away from the Freeways. The crowds aren’t bad even on heavy days. Don’t tell anyone!

Chino and Meadows- These parallel runs are also served by the Gondola and the #1 chair. These runs generally are fast, hard packed, cruisers. Be ready for ice early, very soft by early afternoon and patchy ice in the shadows late. These runs also get crowded with skiers/boarders of various abilities. Both runs are scenic and challenging for intermediate skiers/boarders.

Ambush- Served by the Gondola and the #1 chair. The run is narrow and fairly tame at the upper portions but you need to be able to ski mild bumps to get back into the lower portion of Chino. Pull off to the side on the upper portions of this run and check out some incredible views of the valleys to the west including White Sands.

Apache Bowl- Served by your hard work polling or walking from the Gondola or #1 chair drop-points. Once you get there the #6 chair can keep you going without the whipping. This area is either the best or the worst of the mountain. There is a reason the Bowl is open the fewest days of any area on the mountain. When it dumps snow the huge open bowl receives large amounts of powder that provides for fabulous wide-open poster skiing/boarding… for a day or two.
Then come the sun, the wind, and the freezing nighttime temperatures. Did I mention the wind? Before you know it the powder is gone and what is left is Sierra Cement and ice. Sierra Cement is a condition where the snow has a thick frozen crust on top and powder below. Want to know what it feels to be a Coast Guard cutter? Head to the bowl. Want to know what ice is? Head to the bowl. Just got to the mountain and it snowed two feet last night. Head to the bowl!

Advanced Runs (black)

When one gets into evaluating ski runs it gets more difficult to reach consensus with other skiers/boarders as the level of challenge increases. In large part, because the types of challenges available expand with difficulty and it becomes a matter of preference for a type of challenge.

The runs on the North face of the resort moving from Wild Onion at the west to Mescalero at the east end all offer a host of challenges depending on snow depth, weather and existing surface conditions. They are steep. They can be bumped out. They can be icy. They can be deep in powder. If you are truly an Advanced or Expert skier/boarder you belong here. If you are not, think twice. These runs are tight, lined with large trees and steep enough that if you fall when it’s a little icy you may learn what it is like to fall down an elevator shaft. I have watched intermediate skiers fall at the top of some of these runs and stop yards above Moonshine gulch. Check the trail map, you don’t want to do this on your back or belly. Remember the trees? You don’t want a tree to be your stopping point.

These runs are best from about 10:00am to around 2:00pm most days. The sun is good and the surface softens up a bit.

The Elk Lift blacks Buckhorn, Oscars, Bear, Cliff and Elk Lift line are a little tamer than the north side as a whole. Depending on recent storms the powder here can be fantastic plus these runs tend to get more grooming attention. Further multiple runs without a bunch of cat tracking is a big plus. Intermediates pushing to improve will enjoy Elk Lift line. Watch for lots of ice where this run meets Cliff. It gets steeper here and lesser skiers/boarders shave the surface down as they struggle to keep under control. I always slow before I get to this point and jet straight ahead through this 50-yard patch looking for the real snow beyond for that first turn. 


 

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