The views at the top of Angel Fire are stunning |
The Hills Are On Fire
Angel Fire Resort is a low key, family-oriented spot, incredibly
inexpensive offering skiing, cross-country skiing, snow-shoeing, tubing, and in
the summer months this year-round resort offers horseback riding, mountain bike
trails, eight tennis courts, golf and disc golf. Situated at 10,000 feet and so
named by the Navajo for the brilliant
sunsets and sunrises, Angel Fire is a two-hour drive from Santa Fe . There are a total of 67 runs and
the top runs start about 10,500 feet. High season gets crowded as people return
regularly because there is literally so much to do here, and it’s a perfect
family getaway with plenty of lodging at the base. There is an indoor pool, hot
tub, free wireless, live music on weekends, and even childcare. Angel Fire is
privately owned and is the only resort in New Mexico to offer night-time skiing and tubing. Each year they also have the Shovel
Race – and I think you can see where this is going: people launch down runs
racing on shovels.
Boarders and Skiers share the slopes in New Mexico |
Seriously. There are six restaurants on site, most with
average fare, but if you want a more upscale feel, their signature restaurant, Elements, will give you a fine dining
experience in a sophisticated environment. For the curious, like me, they offer
Nordic skiing, AKA cross-country. If you ski, you might
think the 10 miles of outdoor trails will be easy to navigate. Yes,
cross-country seems more like walking on skis and looks simple, but the reality
is this offers a strong cardio component, and takes some time to get used to as
Nordic skis are pencil thin. I didn’t fall as much as I thought I would, but
after a brief training I did OK, and so will you. Cross county is also more
serene, you don’t have borders and skiers passing you at breakneck speeds.
Big Mountain – Small Town
Then there is Red River , a
small town of about 500 people whose population explodes during ski season.
What makes Red River desirable is that the
whole mile-long town is fully integrated into the slopes, meaning that about 80
percent of all the lodging is within a five block walk to the dual quads which
take you directly up the mountain. In addition to winter skiing, snowboarding
and tubing, there is summer tubing and an 18-hole disc golf course. The ski
area is a throwback; completely low-tech with old hand written ski forms, but
there is something comforting about the old-school approach. They have the
widest runs for beginners and overall this is a great spot for intermediates.
But Red River is also the only place to get on
a snow mobile and take off to the Kit Carson Wilderness and explore with
a guide on the back of a machine. Snow mobiles are not simple machines either, they
do take some upper body strength to maneuver, but once at the top of the
mountain, they let you loose in an open meadow where you can get your
snowmobile up to about 40 mph – something that was way cool. You ascend in the
late afternoon after the runs shut down, and return in the dark. Prices start
at $70 for a two-hour tour and if you’ve never done it – this is the place for
it.
The Lift House at the base of the Platinum Chair run |
On Saturday evenings in season you will be able to watch the Torchlight Parade which begins around
7:15 p.m. Skiers holding flares ski down the lower slope of the Platinum Chair
circling back and forth creating an orange colored light show – a weaving
graceful ballet of amber lights. It’s brief but fun and occurs only here. There
are plenty of hotels and condos to stay at: I stayed at the Ponderosa Lodge, a three block walk to
the lifts, and I have to say, though Ponderosa is not a spanking new property,
it has a rustic feel with a stone fireplace and full kitchenette. The Lift House (at the base of the run) has
fine bar food, and Capo’s is a
family run Italian place with large portions and friendly staff. Texas Red’s Steakhouse is just that –
lots of meat; all good places to satisfy your hunger after a long day.
Wide runs at beautiful scenery at Red River |
The unique part of
skiing in New Mexico
is the friendly people, the lack of pretentiousness and the genuinely terrific
runs and views. Lift tickets are routinely 20 percent cheaper in New Mexico than most
other areas, and the diversity of these ski spots, and their reasonable
proximity to each other, means you can visit all four in a week. They may be slopes
less traveled, but are worth checking out.
WHEN YOU GO
www.AngelFireResort.com, (800)
633-7463
www.RedRiverSkiArea.com, (800)
331-7669
For my 2 Minute Travel Video recorded at Angel Fire Resort, Click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WO3cLCJW3Y0&feature=plcp
For my 2 Minute Travel Video recorded at Angel Fire Resort, Click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WO3cLCJW3Y0&feature=plcp
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