US-87 N and US-380 & US-70 W should work well. No hard grades, very good hwy in NM. 580 mi, 9 hours 10 mins.
Might have snow that time of the year. The Mountain is Sierra Blanca. The drive up to the ski area would be a pretty steep climb even for an auto.
Snow Report http://ruidosowinterpark.com/Perhaps you could still find snow in the Cloudcroft area. Roads to it are no problem as well, perhaps a little more steep going down to the Alamogordo area. But might not need to go there anyway. Route: US-87 N to US 180 W to US 82 W; 573 mi, 9 hours 9 mins.
http://www.cloudcroft.net/recreation/ http://www.cloudcroftskipalace.com/ http://www.epparent.com/blog/family-winter-fun-in-cloudcroft-nm.htmlOther Than Snow to See/Do:
White Sands Nat'l Monument & Alamogordo Area. This site also has info on Carlsbad......I believe I would stay at Brantley State Park to base to see the area by Carlsbad.
US 380 West at Roswell:
:C West of Roswell US 70/US 380 to US 54 - - - - - -> US 380 runs from Roswell to Carrizozo to San Antonio, between Carrizozo & US 70 one passes
Billy the Kid Country &
Lincoln &
Smokey Bear in
Capitan all in
Lincoln County & the neat
Valley of Fire BLM Campground is near Carrizozo, then take US 54 south to Alamogordo. Or US 380 to San Antonio, NM & I-25. Or US 54 N to Santa Fe.
:C A really neat place is the Valley of Fires BLM Campground (near Carrizozo) is a first rate campground with electric & water hookups, good dump station and a fine shower house. Pics & description can be found:
Campground . . and . .
Cloudcroft, Lincoln/Capitan, Carrizozo/White Oaks.
I would think most if not all forest services campground would still be closed at that time. There are some private campgrounds around.
