The Big Hill

Jamie and I had a "date" day today. We hiked the La Luz trail in the Sandias, at my request. Jamie has done it before, and wants to do the La Luz race one year. It's probably the most popular hike in the Sandias, but at 9 miles one way, and 3000+ ft elevation gain, you better be ready. I was up for the challenge, given that we go up on foot, but take the tram down. Nothing tears up my body more than hiking down steep hills. That proved a good decision.

The hike was awesome, covering the most beautiful scenery I've seen in Albuquerque. You go through high desert, granite fields, pine forests, aspens, and huge towers of bare granite "teeth". We had perfect weather, with cool misty clouds shrouding the peak early on. And as luck would have it, we timed the trail just right to stay in the shade most of the way. The one part that sucked was miles 6-8, which were almost pure granite fields. I don't like scrambling over rocks. It's really slow and really dangerous for ankles. We hiked to the tram house at the top, ate our PB&J's (the best hiking lunch invented), and rode the tram down. And just in time, too. By the end of the ride, the top of the mountain was under clouds, some very very black.

So the one snafu? Why no pictures? This genius remembered the little point and shoot, but not the memory card. I guess we'll just have to do it again.