Pajarito’s Opening Day

Pajarito Mountain Ski Area’s scheduled November 27 Opening Day has been postponed. As we’ve said all along, skiing and snowboarding are our first priority, and this decision has been a difficult one – and it is subject to weather change and snowfall. We are monitoring both daily as we assess conditions and plan for a new projected Opening Day date (which has not yet been scheduled).

I’d like to use this opportunity to thank everyone who attended the Los Alamos Ski Club membership meeting last week. As always, the Ski Club membership came with thoughtful questions, and I’ve shared a few of those Q&As, especially those that relate to the upcoming winter and our Opening Day:

What is the status of the pipeline?

Our team has investigated several options to secure water for snowmaking (and also fire mitigation in the summer) including adding new water collection points, drilling a test well and installing the temporary pipeline. Out of all of these options, the temporary pipeline was our best option at the time, and we were preparing to install it back in September. We experienced a series of setbacks as we worked to attain the final approval on this project, and we are still working toward that final approval.

Will the pipeline be installed this year?

While we wait on the final approval, we are evaluating this decision everyday. As ski season approaches (and temperatures continue to drop), the likelihood of us being able to install the pipeline diminishes. At this point, our chances of launching this temporary project before ski season are minimal.

What’s going on with Arizona Snowbowl and Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort?

On October 30, Arizona Snowbowl and Purgatory announced that James Coleman, Sipapu and Pajarito’s managing partner, and his investment group have entered into an agreement to purchase 100% of those ski areas. Select season passholders will enjoy benefits to all four mountains this winter: Power Pass Plus passholders receive 3 free days at Purgatory, 3 free days at Snowbowl and $50 lift tickets to both mountains thereafter. Power Pass passholders receive 3 free days at Arizona Snowbowl and $50 lift tickets to both Snowbowl and Purgatory. Of course, both Power Pass Plus and Power Pass guests have unlimited access to Sipapu and Pajarito, too.

What is the Future of the Los Alamos Ski Club?