Blazing New Trails

Imagine a ski area where the words “lift line” are rarely used, the terrain is plentiful, and proceeds support green energy.

A gem exists in northern New Mexico, where the sun shines 300 days a year and you can often ski sans jacket. Pajarito Mountain has a base elevation of 9,200 feet above sea level, and top elevation of 10,400 feet. The resort is located on the eastern slopes of the Jemez Mountains near Los Alamos.

Only a two-hour drive from Albuquerque and 45 minutes from Santa Fe, Pajarito has 40 trails, 300 skiable acres, not including the tree skiing, and 1,200 feet of vertical drop — plenty to keep skiers and boarders busy. It boasts five chairlifts including three doubles, one triple and a quad.  Pajarito’s terrain includes miles of groomed trails, bump runs and glade skiing.  

Pajarito is unique because it’s owned by the Los Alamos Ski Club Inc., a non-profit organization. The ski area is also helping redefine environmental stewardship in the local ski industry. Ten percent of its power comes from renewable sources of energy. Pajarito is one of several ground-breaking ski areas that recently launched a “green tag” program where visitors can opt to pay a fee to offset carbon emissions and support alternative energy strategies such as wind and solar.

The Pajarito Mountain Snowsports School has Professional Ski Instructors of America-certified teachers. Group classes are available for riders six and older, and privates are offered for ages three and up.

A wildfire this past summer briefly suspended hike-and-bike activities, but by the time the first flakes fall, Pajarito will be fully operational and open for business.

With its Rio Grande valley views, well-known tree skiing and bump runs, fabulous terrain park, lack of lift lines and fabulous weather, Pajarito may be New Mexico’s best-kept skiing secret.

---

Moving Mountains

Pajarito began as a winter activity for the young men attending the Los Alamos Ranch School (LARS) for boys in 1938. Over time, the sport became so popular in the area that a ski club was organized to help design, build and maintain facilities for the exciting new pastime.

In December 1944, with a rope tow made from a Chrysler engine and a rope from a defunct circus, the club opened its ski area at Sawyers Hill, the original ski hill at Los Alamos. Dues for the season were $7.50 per person.

In 1957, the club moved to nearby Pajarito Mountain. With double the vertical drop of Sawyers Hill, excellent snow conditions and plenty of room for expansion, the move to Pajarito more than paid off. Los Alamos Ski Club Inc. — a non-profit, volunteer-run organization  — still operates Pajarito. It’s easy to see why Los Alamos area residents have made playing at Pajarito a true family tradition.

New Mexico

Red River

Angel Fire

Pajarito

Sandia Peak

Ski Santa Fe

Sipapu

Ski Apache

Taos Ski Valley

©2009 Copyright Ski New Mexico. All Rights Reserved. Site Design & Development: Vincent Thome. Hosting provided by BrownRice.com in Taos, NM. | View webstats