30 Sep 2013
Scenes from Ullr Fest and the uber burly freeride trails at Pajarito Mountain Ski Area
It’s been ten years since Neal Pederson and a group of volunteers began building freeride trails at the non-profit-owned Pajarito Mountain Ski Area in northern New Mexico.
Lots of people enjoying good beer, food and friends at Ullr Fest at Pajarito Mountain.
Throughout the summers volunteers work to clear fallen trees off the trails following storms, maintain what trails and features that they’ve already built, and scope out areas for new features to add when and where they would make sense.
Today what Pajarito Mountain has is a mix of about thirteen lift-served black-diamond freeride and downhill mountain bike trails in addition to a healthy variety of cross country trails for bikers and hikers to choose from thanks to those hard-working volunteers.
For people from Durango, Colorado, such as myself, having lift-served freeride mountain bike trails to choose from is a luxury, even if it is only offered every other weekend during the summer.
Hey that same guy is tailgating the other guy! Actually, it’s just a masterpiece Photoshop stitch of this blogger shot from a continuous burst. Photo by Jack Lenier. Photos of Adam Howell edited by Adam Howell.
On Saturday, Pajarito Mountain Ski Area and it’s clients celebrated the Norweigan snow god Ullr with a festival having more live music and brewery vendors than a straight edge homemaker could shake a stick at. It was also the last day of the season that Pajarito would be offering lift service for hikers and bikers wanting to ride up the Aspen lift.
During the four runs that I made that day, I could hear the mellow tones of the ska, reggae and dance hall tunes of The Blue Hornets band that was playing on the deck at the lodge.
The lifts ran from 9:00 til 3:00, whereupon the party at the lodge picked up and a healthy-sized crowd was hanging out drinking beers from one of the nine craft breweries on site and dancing on the deck. It was a hell of a party!
Lift tickets at Pajarito are $25 a day for bikers and $10 for hikers.
For more information see the Pajarito Mountain Facebook Page, or see the Tuff Riders website.
The Blue Hornets playing reggae and ska at the lodge.
Around nine craft breweries were serving their finest at Ullr Fest 2013.
Ben Katko of UNM’s Engineers Without Borders was getting the word out about the organization’s goal of installing water infrastructure in third world countries while trying to raise funds for materials that would be used. Katco and two other alumni from Fort Lewis College were found at Ullr Fest supporting the cause. Chive on!
A teeter totter on Mother’s Milk Trail at Pajarito Mountain.
Photo by Jack Lenier. Rider Adam Howell hits a winding trestle bridge to a log ride, then a drop on Red Dog.
A cork screw on Red Dog Trail at Pajarito Mountain Ski Area.
A volunteer staff of about 4 or five people provide emergency medical assistance to those at Pajarito Mountain in need.
Nice write-up. Glad you enjoyed your weekend here. Come back for the skiing!
Pajarito Mountain
September 30th, 2013 at 6:57 pmpermalink
If Ullr brings the deep pow I’ll have my snowboard waxed and ready to go!
Adam Howell
September 30th, 2013 at 8:07 pmpermalink
Terrific post however I was wondering if you could write a litte
more on this topic? I’d be very thankful if you could elaborate a little bit more.
Bless you!
google plus account for business
April 18th, 2014 at 1:42 pmpermalink