In about 2 hours, you can trade the desert for the cool, piney woods and take an exciting leap off a 12,000 foot mountain.

Ruidoso, New Mexico lies 140 miles north of El Paso and is easily accessible via 2 different routes. West-siders and Upper Valley residents can take I-10 to Las Cruces, and then Highway 70 to Alamogordo.

El Pasoans east of the Franklin Mountains can get to Alamogordo via US-54. From there, all follow highway 70 the rest of the way into Ruidoso.

Once you're there, it's on to Ski Apache, located at 1286 Ski Run Road Alto, New Mexico 88312. Once there, you will find a ton of things to do depending on the season.

Skiing, horseback riding, gambling, golfing, fishing ... they have it all. Including what they claim to be one of the longest and highest zip lines in the world.

The Windrider Zip Line can certainly hold that "highest Zip Line" bragging right as it begins, or you "release" as they say, at an amazing 11,489 feet. Watch this video of a "rider" dropping from inside a cloud bank into the sunny valley below.

Once you're moving, or soaring might be a better way to put it, you will travel almost 9,000 feet. 8,890 to be exact and you can reach speeds of up to 60mph.

The Windrider Zip Line is a seasonal activity and not always open. When it is in operation, it could still be closed unexpectedly for safety or weather related reasons.

For more info, click here or call (575) 464 - 3600.

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