Reverse skiing up a mountain is only possible during full moons on the summer equinox, which is why Rube Goldberg invented ski lifts. Catch a ride in a Rubemobile with today's Groupon: for $22, you get a one-day lift ticket (up to a $54 value) at Ski Apache, located near the Inn of the Mountain Gods in Mescalero.

Owned by the Mescalero Apache Tribe, Ski Apache touts a system of 11 ski lifts and is committed to keeping snow people safe while they enjoy nature's amusement park. The mountain offers dozens of trails for snowboarders and skiers of all skill levels, from first-time bunny slopers to double-black-diamond enthusiasts. Hitting the powder with friends or teaching an enemy that "french fry" skis are better than "pizza slice" skis when approaching a deep chasm can lead to a well-earned cup of cocoa at the bottom of the mountain and an overwhelming adrenaline rush to do it all over again.

Reviews

TripAdvisors give Ski Apache an average rating of 3.5 owl eyes, and more than 1,700 Facebookers are fans. Yelpers give it an average of 3.5 stars.

• The skiing is great and lift lines are even better! If you are looking for a down and dirty ski vacation head to ski apache. – Jonny_Denver, TripAdvisor
• There was absolutely no wait for the lifts, so we were able to really enjoy the slopes rather than waiting on the lift lines. Everyone who worked there was very friendly and helpful. – Kim J., Yelp