Following Oxbow takes you to an intersection where a left turn will go to Evershine Ridge ski run, the eastern boundary of the Pajarito Mountain Ski Area. Once there, Oxbow ends and you're forced to walk steeply up the ski run. There are stupendous views to enjoy but the footing is not wonderful - very stony and hiking sticks are a necessity unless you are a mountain goat.
I took Oxbow's right fork which took me over to Zero East Road anyway (I knew it would!). Instead of stolidly tramping up the switchbacks of the jeep road to the back side of the mountain (which, by the way, is a perfectly wonderful route with stunning views!), I opted for a combination of bike trails and side roads. The bike trails were empty and I enjoyed the shade in the woods.
When I got to the 4 way intersection (see Craig Martin's book, Los Alamos Trails, Pajarito Mountain Ski Area Trails, page 70, mile 1.5), I continued on a bike trail to the top of Lone Spruce lift. Then, onward and upward to Aspen lift and my final destination, the snowmaking water storage pond on the back side (south) of the mountain. I turned around there and followed the jeep roads to my car since they gave more sure-footing for the downhill. I'll keep going back to Pajarito Mountain and trying new ways of going up to the top but up to the top I must always go. I am in love with this mountain!
The whole time on the mountain, I had an earworm but an entirely pleasant one. I had recently seen Cats at Popejoy Hall in Albuquerque, NM. Afterward, I checked out from the library the Andrew Lloyd Webber Broadway Favorites Collection. The disc with the Royal Albert Hall Celebration (1998) featured Elaine Paige singing Memory which she absolutely owns! Listening to it more than a few times (and forcing family members to listen too!) implanted it into my mind! Who needs an iPod!!
Tschicoma Peak from top of Aspen Lift
Monument to our dependence on electronics
Snowmaking water storage pond on south side of Pajarito Mountain
From snowmaking pond fence, Sandia Peak on horizon
