SKI APACHE WILL OPEN ON SCHEDULE WITH THREE NEW CHAIR LIFTS AND $15 MILLION IN IMPROVEMENTS

Rendering of the new gondola at Ski Apache.

Ski Apache, the United States’ southernmost ski area known for epic warm-weather skiing and unbelievable views of the surrounding Lincoln National Forest, returns for its 51st year on Sierra Blanca with three new chair lifts for the 2012 season. The new season boasts a brand new Doppelmayr Gondola. Home to the first and only passenger gondola in the state of New Mexico, the new eight-passenger Gondola climbs 1,646 feet to the mountain’s peak in just eight minutes, almost twice as fast as its predecessor. The 2012-2013 ski season is anticipated to open Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 22, and season passes are on sale now.

As the new gondola carries nearly 2,000 skiers and snowboarders up the ski resort per hour, two new Doppelmayr chair lifts, one triple and one quad, help Ski Apache achieve the highest lift capacity in the state with another 3,600 guests ascending the mountain per hour. Combined with its already immense snowmaking capabilities and an annual snowfall over 180 inches, Ski Apache is prepared to serve up another memorable winter to visitors from throughout the region.

“We are happy to invest in something that has proven such a valuable asset not just to the tribe but to the surrounding communities as well, particularly considering the effects on the region from the Little Bear Fire,” said The President of the Mescalero Apache Tribe Frederick Chino Sr. “During the 2011-2012 season, more than 130,000 people visited Ski Apache, and we look forward to seeing that number continue to climb with the addition of these new lifts. Not only do they expand our capacity for winter visitors but the new Gondola also enhances our summer recreation offerings with mountain biking and hiking. This considerable enhancement allows us to attract visitors to the area throughout the year. The Tribe recognizes the economic impact Ski Apache has on our neighbors and we are happy to make the investment to continue to grow our local economy.”

The Mescalero Apache Tribe has dedicated $15 million to the new chair lifts, and continues its ongoing commitment to such popular events as the Dummy Gelunde, Warren Miller movie premiere, Sisters on Snow, and terrain park competitions.

“We are proud of the investment our Tribe has made in Ski Apache for the upcoming season,” said Frizzell Frizzell Jr., chief operating officer for Ski Apache, Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino and Casino Apache Travel Center. “Last year was a record-breaking year on the mountain and the effects of the Little Bear Fire will not stop us from having another strong season. The new chair lifts and gondola will reduce lines and will give our guests the ability to spend more time skiing and snowboarding and less time waiting for a chair lift.”

Adding to the new amenities at Ski Apache, favorite events including the Torchlight Parade, Music on the Mountain, terrain park competitions, and the Dummy Gelunde Downhill Race return to the mountain, creating a winter wonderland full of fun and entertainment. New events for the 2013 season include Sisters on Snow, which appeals to women looking to improve slope-side skills from intensive instruction, and the Big Mountain Challenge for two-person teams of intermediate skiers and boarders, with prizes to the top six finishers.

Ski Apache is located in Mescalero, N.M. just 85 miles southwest of Roswell and two hours north of El Paso, Texas. Situated high in the picturesque mountains of Mescalero and resting at 11,500 feet with a vertical drop of 1,900 feet, Ski Apache’s dry, arid climate makes for optimal snow conditions for skiers and snowboarders of all levels. Fifty-five trails are served by 11 lifts, including New Mexico’s only gondola. After a full day on the slopes, skiers can visit the main ski lodge for an afternoon snack, play a hand of poker at one of 12 video poker machines, or head down the mountain to the resort’s award-winning accommodations at Inn of the Mountain Gods. Featuring both fine and casual dining options, a sports bar, live entertainment, indoor pool, hot tub, and saunas, the Inn is a welcome retreat for skiers looking to rejuvenate.

Starting Thanksgiving Day the mountain is open seven days per week from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. All lifts and the gondola will be open by Christmas 2012 along with Ski Apache’s two terrain parks featuring five standard and one rainbow box, three flat rails, one battleship rail, one flat-down-flat rail and one A-frame rail. Lift tickets are $54 for adults, $47 for seniors (60 years and older), $43 for military personnel, $45 for teens (13-17 years) and $34 for children under 13. Group ticket discounts are also available in addition to individual ski and snowboard equipment rentals, $20 for adults and $12 for children. Lifts run daily including holidays and more than 100 instructors are available for lessons, along with Flaik GPS systems making it possible to locate children and guests on the mountain in real time, while also providing a chance to track the day on the mountain, recording information such as lifts used and runs explored.

For those who just can’t wait to see the fresh powder in all its glory, Ski Apache offers a live web cam, along with an interactive trail map, up-to-the-minute weather conditions and snow reports, also available via RSS feed and text alerts.

For more details on Ski Apache call 575-464-3600. For more information on Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino or its associated enterprises, visit

Honey, It’s Cold Outside!

Brrrr!!! New Mexico temps are down, but it never stays gray for long. Blue skies over pure white snow is the norm. Looks like there’s more snow on the way, so get ready to break out the snowshoes and the snowmobiles!

Here’s a look at a fresh fall at Swingle Canyon… (Photo courtesy of Kelly Gatlin / La Luz Photography)

Annual Los Ranchos Art Studio Tour Benefits Art Education

The Village of Los Ranchos is hosting the second annual the Los Ranchos Art Studio Tour Saturday and Sunday (November 5-6, 2011), 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days.

The inaugural tour in 2010 featured 33 artists from around the Los Ranchos area who opened their homes and studios to thousands of visitors during the tour weekend. It was awarded an Honorable Mention as the Best New Event in New Mexico by the Tourism Association of New Mexico.

Participating artists will be working with Art Has Heart, a local foundation dedicated to providing fine arts educational programs and scholarships to students in Albuquerque and throughout the southwest. A portion of the sales at the preview gallery, as well as artists selling from their studios, will be donated to the Foundation, which has awarded more than 300 college scholarships and made financial contributions to art programs in schools and museums for the past 13 years.

Stop by the Los Ranchos Argi-Nature Center, 4920 Rio Grande Blvd., before you begin your tour for maps, information, and a tour preview.

275 LATE-SEASON ARCHERY ELK LICENSES AVAILABLE NOV. 2 IN ONLINE SALE

 

SANTA FE – Two hundred seventy-five late-season archery elk hunting licenses will be available Nov. 2 in a first-come, first-served sale on the Department of Game and Fish website.

Only hunters who did not hold a 2011-2012 elk license are eligible to purchase the late-season licenses, which will be available only on the Department website, www.wildlife.state.nm.us. Hunters of all ages can purchase licenses beginning at 10 a.m. Nov. 2.

Hunters are strongly advised to obtain an online customer account or review their existing account, user name and password before the sales begin. The sale is first-come, first-served and popular hunts sell out quickly. Available late-season elk licenses include:

Archery hunts, trophy bull elk APRE/6 (six-point antlers or more on one side):

  • Unit 12 — Nov. 19-23, 25 licenses.
  • Unit 34 — Dec. 17-21, 200 licenses.
  • Unit 37 — Dec. 3-7, 50 licenses.

The Department makes late-season elk licenses available as biologists continue to assess annual population and harvest information, regional herd management objectives and additional harvest needs. Because these assessments require information gathered during fall aerial surveys and regular fall hunts, the licenses are made available via an online, first-come, first-served sale.

Ride the Centennial Balloon Sweepstakes Giveaway

Imagine that you have a bird’s-eye view of New Mexico’s breathtaking landscapes rolling beneath you. Imagine you are part of a serene blue sky, a quiet observer from above.

 

balloon

 

Now imagine that you are the winner of the “Ride the Centennial Balloon Sweepstakes,” floating among 600 hot-air balloons as a guest of the New Mexico Tourism Department and Rainbow Ryders at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta the largest the most photographed ballooning event on earth.

This year’s celebration, October 1-9, 2011, marks the events 40th Anniversary and to celebrate the New Mexico Tourism Department has teamed up with Scott Appelman of Rainbow Ryders to give the winner of the “Ride the Centennial Balloon Sweepstakes” a balloon ride for two aboard the official New Mexico Centennial Balloon, which makes its inaugural appearance at Balloon Fiesta. The winner will also enjoy free parking and free entry passes for two into Balloon Fiesta Park, located north of Alameda Boulevard, one mile west of I-25.

Please Note: This sweepstakes is valid only for the 2011 International Balloon Fiesta taking place in Albuquerque New Mexico from October 1st through October 9th 2011, the winner must be present to accept and use this prize. The dates available for the ride are Wednesday (October 4), Thursday (October 5) and Sunday (October 9). If you are not available on one of these days, please do not enter the sweepstakes.

Scott Appelman of Rainbow Ryders is a Founding Sponsor of the New Mexico Statehood Centennial celebration 1912-2012 by donating the official New Mexico Centennial hot air balloon, which will be used to identify and promote the Centennial of New Mexico’s statehood over the next two years. Rainbow Ryders is the authorized hot air balloon company for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

Rainbow Ryders, Inc.
5601 Eagle Rock Avenue NE
Albuquerque, NM 87113
800-725-2477
505-823-1111

http://rainbowryders.com/

Enter the “Ride the Centennial Balloon Sweepstakes Giveaway” today by filling out the short form on this page.

Entry in the “Ride the Centennial Balloon Sweepstakes Giveaway” ends September 23, 2011 at 2:00pm MDT.

Winner will be notified by email.

One entry per household. You must be 21 years of age or older to enter. Employees of NMTD, prize sponsors and their immediate family members are not eligible for entry.

Simply fill out the form below and click “Enter Now”. Just that quickly, you may be on your way to experiencing some of New Mexico’s finest tourist attractions.

Read the official contest rules here

This contest is now open for entries!

A Lucky Winner Will Celebrate the 40th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta With a Free Vacation in October

This and other spectacular views await you at the 40th celebration of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta(R) October 1-9, 2011. One lucky winner will get a $2,650 trip to Albuquerque during this fall's event including admission passes, balloon flights, VIP treatment, hotel, souvenir jackets and more. Enter at www.ItsATrip.org/BalloonContest. This year, "The Greatest Show Off Earth" will capture the imagination of visitors far and wide with nine days of festivities to celebrate 40 years. (PRNewsFoto/Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau)

 

Have you ever wondered what 500 hot air balloons look like in the sky? Always wanted to fly in a hot air balloon? Well, now is your chance! You could win a trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico this October for the 40th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta celebration.

The 2011 theme, “The Greatest Show Off Earth,” captures the magic of one of the most photographed events in the world. What began as a radio promotion in 1972, with 13 balloons in attendance, has grown to more than 500 balloons each year flying for nine days and takes place October 1-9, 2011.

As summer comes to a close, now is the time to plan a fall getaway to the awe-inspiring Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®. Better yet, enter to win a trip for two October 5-8, 2011. The getaway is valued at more than $2,650 including:

  • Three nights at Albuquerque Sheraton Uptown
  • Hot air balloon rides with Rainbow Ryders Hot Air Balloon Company on October 6, 2011
  • Three days admission to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® with Gondola Club Hospitality Suite VIP access
  • Admission to the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum
  • Two official Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® jackets
  • $200 Visa Card to be used toward airfare, gas or shopping

Visit www.ItsATrip.org/ballooncontest to enter the sweepstakes by August 25th.

For nine days each October, the skies above Albuquerque are filled with color as 500+ balloons float over the city’s high desert landscape. Besides enjoying the spectacle of Mass Ascensions, Balloon Glows, Special Shapes, and exciting hot air and gas balloon competitions, hundreds of booths offer a taste of local cuisine, arts and crafts from across the country. The event is action-packed and so is the city. Festivities and special events take place throughout Albuquerque, so plan extra time to take it all in.

Learn more about Visiting Albuquerque on Facebook (www.facebook.com/visitAlbuquerque) or Twitter: @see_albuquerque or @balloonfiesta.

The mission of the Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau is to stimulate economic growth by marketing Albuquerque as a visitor and convention destination. For information, call 505.842.9918, visit www.ItsATrip.org , Facebook http://www.facebook.com/visitAlbuquerque or Twitter http://twitter.com/see_albuquerque .

Ruidoso Art Festival July

Arte en la Charreria

The Hubbard Museum of the American West in Ruidoso Downs is hosting “Arte en la Charrería: The Artisanship of Mexican Equestrian Culture,” through September 23, 2011.

The very essence of the Mexican experience is exemplified by the culture of the charro, or Mexican cowboy. It is a rich legacy of tradition and valor, of honor and custom, of war and peace. To be a charro means to identify with a nearly 500-year-old heritage dating back to the introduction of horses and cattle to the New World.

The Hubbard Museum of the American West is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  Admission is $6 for adults, and reduced admission is available for senior citizens, military personnel, and youth.

Lincoln National Forest to reopen, with restrictions

Recent precipitation along with higher humidity and increased fuel moisture have lowered the fire danger and allowed Robert Trujillo, Lincoln National Forest Supervisor, to reopen the Smokey Bear and Sacramento Ranger Districts for public access and use effective Thursday, July 21.

“The Guadalupe Ranger District will remain closed to public access and use as part of the Stage III Fire Restriction Closure Order until the District receives sufficient moisture to decrease the fire danger,” he said in announcing the change for the other two districts Friday. The partial closure does not affect federal, state, or county highways that lead into the mountain community of Queen, in southeastern New Mexico. Property owners and their guests will continue to have access to private lands within the Guadalupe Ranger District.

Fire restrictions remaining in place until rescinded include prohibition of:

 

  • Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire or stove fire, including charcoal fires.
  • Smoking is limited to an enclosed vehicle or a smoking approved building.
  • Welding, or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame.
  • Operating or using any internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained, and in effective working order meeting either the Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Standard or Appropriate Society of Automotive Engineers.
  • Chainsaw use will not be allowed between the hours of 10 a.m. through midnight.People are allowed to use pressurized liquid or gas stoves, lanterns, or space-heating devices provided such devices meet the Underwriters Laboratory specifications for safety on the Smokey Bear and Sacramento Ranger Districts.As always, fireworks are prohibited on all National Forest System lands.

    Forest Service officials reminded visitors that while the fire danger has decreased, it is not completely gone as rain showers have been scattered throughout the Forest. Public safety tops the Forest Service’s priority list.

    “We believe the elevated fire restrictions and partial closure of the Forest reduces the risk of human-caused fires,” Trujillo said.

    For more information about the Fire Closure Order or fire restrictions on the Lincoln National Forest, contact the Supervisor’s Office at 575-434-7200, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or call the Smokey Bear Ranger District at 575-257-4095 on Cedar Creek Road off Mechem Drive.

    Visit the Lincoln National Forest website at www.fs.usda.gov/lincoln, for the most current information and follow on Twitter at lincolnsmokey@twitter.com. For more information on current fire restrictions on public lands in the Southwest, call 1-877-864-6985, a toll-free hotline sponsored by natural resource agencies in the Southwest.

  • Vera Cruz Mountain Ranch borders the Lincoln National Forest with remarkable views of the Sierra Blanca Peak and is located just 22 miles north of Ruidoso, New Mexico.