So I wound up running the two loops with wp_reset_query and using a PHP Session variable to navigate between years as the pages advanced or receded. So, not true pagination, but sufficient for my purposes.
Oh, I wanted to note, it is not the Ajax that is breaking it, as it also does not work when it is disabled.
-J
A very late reply, but thanks vanrithysok, that worked!
I’m sorry, but i am having the same issue, but i don’t understand which file you are suggesting editing… if you could give me a bit more direction it would be much appreciated. thanks