Pajarito Mountain Ski Area announced today that after picking up 7″ of snow on Wednesday, the Los Alamos ski area will open most of its mountain this Saturday and Sunday.

Mountain officials are reporting a 26″ base on powder and packed powder conditions. General manager Tom Long says he expects to open four lifts (Mother, Aspen, Beginner and the Mighty Mite) along with 32 of the mountain’s 44 trails, including 8 beginner trails, 8 intermediate trails and 16 expert trails.

The lifts will turn this Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and all mountain facilities will be open, including ski school and the ski area’s rental shop. Pajarito’s cafe will be open for breakfast and lunch this weekend.

Long said that the management team will determine and announce additional dates of operation after this weekend.

Lift tickets are $49 for adults (ages 21-59), $42 for students (ages 13-20), $34 for kids (ages 7-12) and $42 for seniors (ages 60-69). Kids ages 6 and younger and guests ages 70 and older receive a free lift ticket everyday.

Last spring, the Los Alamos Ski Club – which previously owned and operated Pajarito – voted and approved to transfer Pajarito Mountain Ski Area to Los Alamos County and Pajarito Recreation LP, a new partnership formed by the management group that operates Sipapu Ski and Summer Resort. Skiing in the Pajarito area dates at least to the 1930s, and a ski club was first organized in 1943.

Today, the area has six lifts — a quad, a triple, three doubles and one rope tow — 40 trails on 751 acres and a peak elevation of 10,440 feet.

Come enjoy the great snow!