Santa Fe Skiing Mixes Ideal Conditions With Sante Fe Charm

• 
  SAVE
• 
  SHARE
• 
  TEXT SIZE
• 
  PRINT
• 
  COMMENT
• 
  PDF

. October 14, 2008

JANUARY 30, 2007. It is rare to stand at the summit of Ski Santa Fe, at over 12,000 feet, and see nothing but a white landscape within the 8,000 square mile view. But right now, from the Truchas Peaks in the north to the Sandia Mountains flanking Albuquerque in the south out to Mount Taylor near the Arizona border in the west, it's nothing but snow as far as the eye can see.

And good snow makes for great skiing. This winter Ski Santa Fe already has 95 percent of its terrain open with excellent coverage on everything from the smooth cruisers to the steep bowls to the perfectly spaced trees. The mountain is evenly split between blue and black runs so there are plenty of comfortable trails for intermediates while the steep fall-line runs, glades, and moguls are ideal for experts. Heavy and frequent December and January snowfalls have provided outstanding conditions area-wide.

Ski Santa Fe offers a highly-regarded children's program and ski school, indoor and outdoor dining at the base and mid-mountain, and over 660 acres of Rocky Mountain terrain covered with more than 4 feet of dry, New Mexico snow.

A new lift, the Millennium Lift, began running this season to serve a new, higher summit (12,075 feet) accessing 2 new intermediate and 4 new advanced trails. The new quad (four place) lift adds an extra dimension to the area with faster access to the northern runs and a greater variety of ways to get around the mountain.

For non-skiers and boarders, or at day's end when the lifts close, all the legendary amenities, culture, and comforts of charming Santa Fe are at the end of a short, scenic drive back into town. Winter is Santa Fe's slowest time of year so while museums, shops, restaurants, and attractions are open, the price of lodging is typically less, and town is at its most leisurely. There is still a busy calendar of events throughout this low season and reliable sunshine makes even the chilliest day comfortable. But in the winter, skiers and visitors will feel like they have Santa Fe all to themselves.

A number of Santa Fe properties offer package deals for skiers and snowboarders with combinations of multi-night rates, value priced lift tickets, and ski area services. Which makes any Santa Fe winter getaway a real value for skiers and snowboarders looking to play in the snow and spend a little time in one of America's great small cities.

Sample Packages:

---|Eldorado Hotel & Spa: $255 nightly/double occupancy with lift tickets at Ski Santa Fe for each guest and continental breakfast.

---|La Posada de Santa Fe Resort & Spa: $190 per night per guest for two night stay, spa treatment, two half-day lift tickets each day at Ski Santa Fe, and lunch for two at the property's Fuego restaurant.

---|Hotel St. Francis: $435 for two nights in a deluxe guestroom, 2 all-day lift tickets at Ski Santa Fe, full American breakfast each morning.

The Santa Fe Convention & Visitors Bureau web site, http://www.santafe.org, can help with hotel bookings and general information. Ski Santa Fe's web site, http://www.skisantafe.com , has the latest grooming reports and snowfall totals as well as lift ticket prices, trail maps, and services.