Update to my comment on Jan 25 2012...
The second ski area at Elmadag is a military training (social?) area. No access for civilians - a shame as the lifts and slopes are groomed, unlike the public ski area.
Snow was okay at the public area today with very few tracks away from the lift-line. The lift is an old T-bar and is not groomed - many beginners coming off the lift and even some idiots trying to toboggan right down the lift line. No real piste to speak of. Tickets are sold in blocks of 5, 10, etc with 5 rides costing 7.5TL. For a Sunday morning I never had to wait more than a couple of minutes for the lift so managed to spend 5-rides in under an hour.
Be aware that the car parking is utter chaos. If you arrive early and end up at the far end of one of the carparks it will be almost impossible to get out before the crowds leave in the afternoon. Parking was 15TL (possible a foreigner price, possibly not as parking is very limited).
As a quick blast, if the snow is good this is a fairly easy option from Ankara, but try to get there early on a Saturday if going on the weekend (opens 9.30 or 10?) and try not to get stuck in the carpark!
Update to my comment on Jan 25 2012...
The second ski area at Elmadag is a military training (social?) area. No access for civilians - a shame as the lifts and slopes are groomed, unlike the public ski area.
Snow was okay at the public area today with very few tracks away from the lift-line. The lift is an old T-bar and is not groomed - many beginners coming off the lift and even some idiots trying to toboggan right down the lift line. No real piste to speak of. Tickets are sold in blocks of 5, 10, etc with 5 rides costing 7.5TL. For a Sunday morning I never had to wait more than a couple of minutes for the lift so managed to spend 5-rides in under an hour.
Be aware that the car parking is utter chaos. If you arrive early and end up at the far end of one of the carparks it will be almost impossible to get out before the crowds leave in the afternoon. Parking was 15TL (possible a foreigner price, possibly not as parking is very limited).
As a quick blast, if the snow is good this is a fairly easy option from Ankara, but try to get there early on a Saturday if going on the weekend (opens 9.30 or 10?) and try not to get stuck in the carpark!