Nearest/best driveable ski spot to Austin (county, different)

[unsmicck]

Originally Posted by atxcio

Closest would be Ruidoso, NM (Ski Apache in Ruidoso, New Mexico the best Ruidoso and New Mexico Skiing and Snowboarding). I've driven there a few times, and it's about 10-12 hours total. Fun little town, good ski area when there is snow (usually late in the season, Jan-Feb, is the best snow there)... the drive up to the ski mountain is twisty and steep, and sometimes requires chains, which you can buy in town. The lifts are a little old, and sometimes the service isn't that great at the resort, but overall it's very good. If you are looking for a nice place to stay, the Upper Canyon Inn Upper Canyon Inn and Cabins is nice.

If you are driving 10 hours anyways, why not come up to Monarch, in southern Colorado. great for skiers.

[maadimom]

As long as we've gone into Colorado....

Why not try Winter Park. It's a great place for kids or singles. Rated high for both. Berthoud Pass used to be a scary winding road, but they've rebuilt it and it is 3 lanes now so even in snow conditions, it's not so bad. It's now owned and being further developed by the same guys that run Copper Mountain and Whistler in Canada. Great food. Great fun. Reasonable prices.

Of course I'm biased. We have a townhome there. I go as much as possible. 16 hours is a minimum drive in good conditions. Long, yes, but worth the drive.

[Trainwreck20]

If you are driving 10 hours anyways, why not come up to Monarch, in southern Colorado. great for skiers.

Lol...my boss is from the Monarch Pass area, and he hates it every time another person realizes it exists...he wishes it would stay secret forever .

[mimimomx3]

Colorado seems like about 2 hours too far away...remember 3 kids!

[hound 109]

Originally Posted by mimimomx3

Colorado seems like about 2 hours too far away...remember 3 kids!

I agree.....but more important than the extra 2-6 "hours" to Colorado resorts, is the multiple mountain passes....which are not fun to cross in the winter when driving.

I think Monarch, Vail, the Summit area (& virtually all areas except Wolf Creek & Durango) all cross at least 2 passes if driving from Texas. (Raton & one other) Durango (on the other hand) has no passes to cross....but it IS an extra 4 hours from Alb.

Ruidosa might be your best bet if the extra 4 hours to Santa Fe is too much (or the extra 7 hours to Durango). But i hate the 40 min. drive up & back each day to the ski mountain from the town of Ruidosa.

[atxcio]

Originally Posted by hound 109

Ruidosa might be your best bet if the extra 4 hours to Santa Fe is too much (or the extra 7 hours to Durango). But i hate the 40 min. drive up & back each day to the ski mountain from the town of Ruidosa.

I don't remember it being that long, but I suppose it could be in bad conditions... it's only 12 miles from the town to the ski resort according to google. And only about 4-6 miles are really twisty and steep. I think 20-30 minutes is realistic. I've seen those Ski Apache shuttle buses (basically school buses) blaze up/down the road to the resort very quickly.

[unsmicck]

Originally Posted by mimimomx3

Colorado seems like about 2 hours too far away...remember 3 kids!

Well then if that is the case, go find some large hills around the area, and then buy a block of ice at 7-11 for 1.30 or so, and then go 'ice-blocking'. You can even stay in shorts if you want.

[mimimomx3]

Originally Posted by unsmicck

Well then if that is the case, go find some large hills around the area, and then buy a block of ice at 7-11 for 1.30 or so, and then go 'ice-blocking'. You can even stay in shorts if you want.

Umm.. ok, thanks for the idea. Helpful.

[hound 109]

Originally Posted by atxcio

I don't remember it being that long, but I suppose it could be in bad conditions... it's only 12 miles from the town to the ski resort according to google. And only about 4-6 miles are really twisty and steep. I think 20-30 minutes is realistic. I've seen those Ski Apache shuttle buses (basically school buses) blaze up/down the road to the resort very quickly.

Maybe i'm embellishing the time it took to drive up (& down) as the years go by, atx. But i do remember it was twisty & when snowing.....made for white knuckle driving for this flat-lander. Good to hear they have buses.

To contrast the drive from the town of Ruidoso to the Riudoso ski mountain,..... i remember the drive up to Taos Ski Mtn. (from the town) & to the Santa Fe Ski mountain (from the town) to be relatively straight & quick (& both had much cooler towns).

[bizquix]

Originally Posted by mimimomx3

Umm.. ok, thanks for the idea. Helpful.

Thank your making me laugh. This is so hilarious a comment.