Dogs Unknown
Features
Drops/Jumps · Views
This trail is currently closed and has been for the past 4 years. Lift access to this trail is also currently closed due to base area development.
Need to Know
There is nothing BLUE about this trail...it is a BLACK, very difficult, steep trail.
The trail is NOT stewarded by TMBA. It is part of the SUP (special use permit) that the Taos Ski Valley has with the Carson National Forest.
Description
For those who have skied Taos, you'll certainly understand the challenge in getting a bicycle trail, with minimal braking, built down this mountain. This place is steep, and through the wonders of science it has been accomplished. While the inside of many of the switchback berms are virtually vertical, there is always a good line around the wall, and most of the jumps are rollable.
A very well designed and thought-out trail, The Berminator combines machine-built flow sections with natural terrain, providing a continuously fun descent for more than 3 miles and 1600 vertical feet down the mountain. The top half of the trail flows through berms and several series of table top and hip jumps, descending Al's Run and Porcupine while it turns through the trees and below the lifts.
This upper section is very flowy and it's obvious this trail was built by riders who love what they do! After about a mile and then a few rocky switchbacks the trail crosses into the North American side of the ski area. This is where it gets more natural feeling with some smooth, flowy and fast curves and a short moderate climb leading into a series of small drops and jumps between some rocky sections.
The trail ends at the bottom of Longhorn where you ride onto the mountain road for a couple hundred feet then climb into Ernie's glade with some bridges and jumps leading back to the road. From here the route drops into the Pioneer trails, a couple easy flowing trails with small jumps and berms and a couple respectable rock drops, then back to the base area and Lift 1.
Though the lifts are not currently providing access to the bike trails due to the ski area's ongoing base area improvements and construction of a new bike park by Lift #4, this trail was a legit beginning to a great bike park and will hopefully reopen in the near future. The trail incorporates modern flow design with naturally contouring downhill trail, and the Pioneer trails are perfect for anyone just getting into gravity riding and for experienced riders to warm up/cool down while riding the upper trail.
Contacts
Shared By:
Peter Lamont
with improvements
by Shari Heier
and 1 other
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