You’re right to suspect the veracity of anything said by guys who live on your floor. But in this case, they’re right. Mostly.
There’s no skiing in Las Vegas, but there is skiing surprisingly close. The Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort, affectionately known as "Ski Lee," is less than 50 miles northwest (driving time: approximately one hour) of downtown Las Vegas. You get on US 95 heading north toward Reno and drive 30 miles or so to NV 156, which climbs up Lee Canyon on the east side of Mount Charleston (at just under 12,000 feet, the highest peak in southern Nevada). You continue up Lee Canyon 17 miles till the highway dead-ends at the ski resort, the base of which sits at 8,500 feet.
The resort gets an average of 120 inches of snow annually. There are 11 total runs: 20% beginner, 60% intermediate, and 20% advanced, serviced by two double-chair lifts, one triple-chair lift, and one surface lift. The highest point is just under 9,400 feet, with a vertical drop of 860 feet and a 3,000-foot longest run. There’s also a typical snack bar, bar, and pro shop.
Lift tickets for the 2005-06 season are: adults $25 half-day, $35 full; 12 and under and 60 and over $15/$22. Rentals are $35.
Check out the ski conditions, weather forecast, and tips on handling the extremely high altitude at the Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort’s Web site: www.skilasvegas.com/winter/index.html.
