Many members of the biking community gathered Aug. 2 to honor the life of Josiah Mandonado, a firefighter who died on December 7, 2024, with a daylong memorial motorcycle ride through northern New Mexico and southern Colorado.
The event was organized by Mandonado’s brother, DJ Mandonado, who said he wanted to keep his brother’s memory alive. Funds raised through the ride will go toward improving Josiah’s gravesite memorial.

The route began in Questa, where local firefighters and first responders led the riders out of town where the group did a bubble release in Josiah’s honor. The ride continued through Costilla, Manassa, Antonito, Chama and Taos before returning to Questa. Riders joined and left at different towns throughout the day, with the ride beginning at 10 a.m. and lasting until the evening.

“Josiah loved his motorcycle and doing this in his honor is a way to keep his memory alive,” DJ Mandonado said. He added that the ride will become an annual tradition, though organizers are planning a new route for next year.