Ski Apache

Ski Apache
Ski Apache
Location	Lincoln County, New Mexico, USA
Nearest major city	Ruidoso, New Mexico
Skiable area	750 acres
Trails	55 total ; 20% beginner ; 60% intermediate ; 20% advanced
Longest run	"Sierra Blanca Trail" ~ 2.5 miles

Ski Apache is a ski resort in southern New Mexico, on the slopes of Sierra Blanca. It is owned and operated, since 1963, by the Mescalero Apache Tribe. Ski Apache is the only ski resort in New Mexico with its own gondola lift. Popular runs include Apache Bowl, an intermediate run on the upper west side of the mountain known for its wide, open space, and breathtaking views from the top of Chairlift 6, Capitan, A steep, challenging pitch that drops 475 feet known for its intimidation, and the Gondola Liftline, a steep and narrow advanced run that runs from the top of the mountain to the main lodge. The Resort has 9 lifts, 1 gondola lift, 3 Quad Chairlifts, and 4 triple chairlifts. The resort gets an average annual snowfall of 15 feet.

Little Bear Fire

In the summer of 2012, the most destructive wildfire to ever affect the area burned through the Sacramento Mountains, devastating the resort. The fire severly damaged the lower west area of the resort damaging the capitan triple chairlift, Gondola, and the Lincoln double chairlift beyond repair. Several ski runs were also destroyed as a result of downed trees. As a result of the fire, the number of skiable runs went down from 55, to 37 for the 2012 ski season, and 3 lifts needed to be replaced, including the gondola. The fire also burned down several homes in the nearby community of Ruidoso, and a fraction of the population was forced to evacuate.