Powder Compass

Atlas · Southwest · NM

Pajarito Mountain

10,440′ summit · 1,240′ vert · 300 acres · avg 140″/yr

Coin flip — Jan 1–15

Delivered 24″+ in 4 of the last 10 seasons

Over 20 winters: 4 of 20 · typical 9", most land 2"–20"

Before you book

This bet missed 6 of the last 10.

4 of the last 10 came in under 8″ — a bust, under a third of the bet.

Odds count natural snowfall only. At snowmaking-dependent resorts, early-season cover can be fine in a low-natural-snow year.

The season, window by window

The bet: 12″ of new snow per week, scaled to each window. Counted from real seasons — how our odds work.

Pajarito Mountain · the shape of a typical winter

Typical new snow, window by window

The middle season — median new snow per window, counted from the last 20 winters. A picture of timing, not a forecast. Snow is streaky; hover any window for the usual range.

0 10 20 30" NovDecJanFebMarApr
Window Bet Delivered Verdict Typical Biggest Leanest
Nov 1–15 24″+ 1 of 10 · 9 busts Long shot 4" 46" 2024 0" 2025 · 3 of 20
Nov 16–30 24″+ 1 of 10 · 5 busts Long shot 6" 37" 2019 0" 2012
Dec 1–15 24″+ 0 of 10 · 5 busts Long shot 12" 28" 2011 0" 2024
Dec 16–31 30″+ 1 of 10 · 4 busts Long shot 14" 43" 2008 0" 2017
Jan 1–15 24″+ 4 of 10 · 4 busts Coin flip 9" 49" 2017 1" 2014
Jan 16–31 30″+ 0 of 10 · 5 busts Long shot 11" 40" 2010 2" 2009
Feb 1–15 24″+ 2 of 10 · 1 bust Long shot 12" 30" 2024 3" 2015
Feb 16–28/29 24″+ 1 of 10 · 4 busts Long shot 9" 33" 2015 1" 2009
Mar 1–15 24″+ 2 of 10 · 3 busts Long shot 10" 65" 2019 0" 2017
Mar 16–31 30″+ 1 of 10 · 2 busts Long shot 9" 36" 2023 0" 2026
Apr 1–15 24″+ 1 of 10 · 4 busts Long shot 8" 28" 2017 0" 2015
Apr 16–30 24″+ 3 of 10 · 3 busts Long shot 6" 35" 2019 0" 2012

Biggest and leanest are the two ends of the same 20 winters Typical is counted from — the year is when it happened, most recent first where more than one season ties.

At the snow sensor

Reading the snow sensor…

Field notes

Los Alamos' scientists' hill — short, sharp, and steeper than its stats suggest, with tight trees and moguls that punish lazy technique. No frills, no crowds, little snowmaking to speak of; it's nearly all-natural and skis honest.

Operations have historically centered on weekends — verify open days before routing through. When Taos is tracked out by mid-morning, Pajarito's leftovers can last for days.

Watch this window

We'll email you when Pajarito Mountain's odds move on the Jan 1–15 window — and the quote gets recorded as it stands today, so we can be graded on it later.

Planning a whole season? See the season outlook.

These are historical odds from the last 20 winters — not a forecast. Inside 16 days of a trip, a forecast is the better instrument; beyond that, counting real seasons is the honest play. Every number on this page is quoted under methodology v1.2.0, the same math we grade ourselves against in public.