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Photos by Jack Affleck
Snowboarding Zone - Angel Fire Resort, New Mexico:
Riders Guide - Angel Fire Resort is a great New Mexico destination and playland with a total of 7 lifts, comprising of 2 Carpet, 3 Double Chairs and 2 HiSpeed Quads that take you up to 70 trails where you can snowboard on their longest run of 16,900 feet atop 210 inches of powder. Their trails are rated 26% for Beginners, 50% for Intermediates, and 24% for Advanced.
Parks and Pipes - Angel Fire Resort has become a bit of a cause celebre among New Mexico snowboarders who want to show their support of this resort vs. nearby Taos Ski Valley which maintains a ban on the slopes. That's just one of the reasons why Angel Fire is a great place for snowboarders to play and meet other snowboarders. Angel Fire's natural features are definitely worth the price of admission. Snowboarders who are looking for really fun challenges in the powder head directly to Hell's Bells, Hully Gully, Baa-da-bing, Nitro, Detonator, Prospector, Jasper's, Mother Lode, Fat City, Fire Escape, and Arriba. Angel Fire offers two terrain parks to the snowboarding seekers of artificial thrills. Liberation Park is the expert's choice with an awesome selection of serious spines, funboxes, rails, tabletops, and jumps and best of all, the one and only halfpipe in the entire state of New Mexico. Lowrider Park is the beginner's park with fairly short rails, funboxes, rollers and jumps.
Out of Bounds - The Angel Fire area is set in the Carson National Forest which is a unique wilderness area that really comes to life in the wintertime. Make sure to take some time out and visit some of the ancient pre-Columbian native American towns in the area to get a whole new perspective on the history of the nation. You can choose from an absolutely magnificent number of thrilling outdoor activities such as hot air ballooning, ice skating, jeeping and off-road driving, snowcatting, cross country skiing, rock and ice climbing, sledding, horseback riding, and snow tubing.
Hangout & Hookup - If you really want to find some action in the Angel Fire area, you're going to need some wheels. The Lucky Shoe Saloon and Sportsbar is one of the places where a lot of Angel Fire snowboarders hang out, but its seven miles away from the mountain in Eagle Nest. If you're headed Cimarron way, check out the Colfax Tavern for some good time and good brews. Of course, if you want to take the 15 mile drive to Taos, you'll be swamped by the choices of phenomenal bars, great pubs, and some hot night clubs.
The Deal - Fly into Albuquerque which is served by most major U.S. airlines, and you'll find yourself about a three hour drive from Angel Fire. All of the major rental car agencies can be found at 'Querque airport. Faust's Transportation or Pride of Taos can get you to the resort but you will probably save money by renting a car. If you're driving in, get to Santa Fe, then take New Mexico Hwys. 285, 84 and 68 to Taos. Then go east on New Mexico Hwy. 64 for about 15 miles until you run into Angel Fire.
