From: hkelly@edsr.eds.com (Kelly Shuldberg)
Newsgroups: rec.skiing
Subject: Re: The Colorado Skier - Trivia 4
Date: 9 Nov 92 20:26:58 GMT
Organization: EDS Research


"I've Got The Money, I Want to Know Where to Live"

As you pointed out, SLC would about have to be first choice for all things
considered.  However, let me say a few words in support of Albuquerqu, NM.

Albuquerque's population is around 500,000 total.  Because it is bordered
on the north and south by Indian reservations, by the Sandia mountains on
the east, and the Rio Grande river on the west, it cannot grow and spread
like SLC has, and therefore, the population tends to remain about where it
is, with some growth spots on the west side of the river (cheap
real-estate, but the commute to the city across the river is a *bitch*),
and, if you don't mind the drive, on the east side of the mountains.  This
is where I live, and it's very private and quiet, lots of pines, lots of
acreage, but it's a 50-mile-plus commute to work and back every day.  There
are a number of engineering/CS jobs available, but with the change in the
emphasis of nuclear weapons research, it's not clear what the status of a
lot of those jobs are right now.

Albuquerque has a university (University of New Mexico), and 200 miles to
the south, there is Las Cruces with New Mexico State (a great AI/Natural
language CS lab is there, directed by Yorik Wilks).  There is a L.A. Dodger
farm team in Alb., and the UNM basketball team has been known to be pretty
good at times (forget the football team).  There is a symphony orchestera,
a light opera company, and a couple of theater groups.  Santa Fe, with its
own classical opera, plus many other cultural amenities, is only 50 miles
to the north.  On the negative side, public education is pretty poor in NM
in general (there are private schools, however), and the city has a serious
problem with gang-related crime.

One thing that I find attractive and interesting about Albuquerque, indeed,
about NM in general, is its history and how that has lead to a cultural
diversity unlike any other in the US.  While we can't claim to have a
white-bread, religious-cult-dominated cultural/political environment like
some other places I could mention, there are about 25 different native
tribes in NM, several of them located close to the major cities, and more
than half of them living where they have for thousands of years.  The
result is that, not having been displaced from their homelands as were many
Native American tribes, their native cultures have remained much less
disrupted.  Evidence of these cultures appears everywhere in New Mexico.
Also, New Mexico was settled by the Spaniards centuries before it was taken
from Mexico in 1846, and much of the Spanish influence is still in
evidence.  Many people speak Spanish, and some even speak English with a
thick Spanish accent.  Architecture and cuisine is of a definite Mexican
style (only better).  If you don't like Native Americans or Mexicans, then
this is not the place for you.

Now, about the skiing: There are several areas in New Mexico, but I'll
touch on only four.  In the Sandias directly east of Alb., there is an area
called Sandia Peak.  While it isn't especially small, it isn't especially
challenging, either.  It's a good beginner area, and there are a number of
programs available for handicapped skiers.  It's within minutes of the
city, and makes for a nice ski if you don't want to drive far and would be
satisfied with long, smooth cruise runs.  Santa Fe is only 50 miles north
of Alb.  The Santa Fe ski basin is about 20 miles north-east of SF.  It
offers more challenging terrain than Sandia, but can get quite crowded.
North-west of Santa Fe is Los Alamos with its own litle ski area, Pajarito
("Little Bird" in Spanish).  The area offers much more challenging skiing
that either SF or Sandia, but there are few amenities to go along with it.
There is one lodge with no food service or the like.  The area is run by
the local boy scout troop (so I'm told), and is open only on Wednesday,
Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  I understand they are making improvements to
the area, expanding the number of runs and amount of lift service, but I
don't know the details.  Then there is Taos.  The village of Taos is about
2-1/2 hours north of Albuquerque, the ski area another 19 miles beyond the
village.  All I can say about Taos is that it is terrific!  If you like it
steep and nasty, then Taos is for you.

So, while I may be doing myself and other New Mexicans a disservice by
spreading the word, there you have it.  I suppose if I'm truly honest, I
don't really expect any of you to actually move here, but I enjoy making
you jealous!

h. kelly shuldberg
hkelly@edsr.eds.com
Albuquerque, NM