Pajarito Mountain ski patrol seeks volunteers ahead of season upgrades

Pajarito Mountain Ski Patrol is looking for more volunteers and paid patrollers before the next ski season, a staffing push with direct consequences for safety on the slopes above Los Alamos. The patrol already has more than 70 dedicated members working Wednesday through Sunday, but the mountain is trying to keep that public-service backbone strong as major upgrades reshape how Pajarito operates.

The call is aimed at people who love skiing or snowboarding and want to serve the skiing public. Every patroller is trained in the National Ski Patrol’s Outdoor Emergency Care, the medical standard that prepares members to respond to injuries and other incidents on the mountain. The patrol also reflects a deep local connection: a Los Alamos National Laboratory publication said about 40 Lab employees volunteer with Pajarito Mountain Ski Patrol, and local coverage noted that the patrol marked its 75th anniversary.

The hiring push comes as Pajarito Mountain and Los Alamos County move ahead with a pipeline project that is part of the Jemez Mountain Fire Protection Project. The line is meant to deliver consistent water for snowmaking, a major change for a ski area that has relied on runoff and rainwater collected in a 10-million-gallon reservoir at the top of the mountain. Earlier reporting said the system would also feed a 250,000-gallon tank at the base of the ski area.

County-related reporting said the broader project was ahead of schedule and aimed to bring water, internet and electrical infrastructure improvements by fall 2026. Pajarito’s own update said the work is paving the way for winter 2026/27 operations, with plans for a 50% increase in overall snowmaking coverage and contracts signed to triple the snowgun fleet over time.

For Los Alamos County skiers and snowboarders, those changes mean more dependable mountain operations and a stronger safety net when winter weather returns. Pajarito’s patrol is not just a volunteer club tucked into the background of the ski season. It is part of the system that keeps the mountain open, responsive and safe as the ski area prepares for a more reliable future.