New Mexico: Sandia Peak

Back to our New Mexico trip…

I must say that my favorite part of the trip was our visit to Cibola National Forest, but specifically the Sandia Peak. I was a little nervious of the cable car ride, but I really didn’t have a problem with it once it got going. Actually, I don’t think that I had any feeling of vertigo the whole time that we were there. I guess I am not a true acrophobe, its just the falling that freaks me out. But I digress…

Just the car ride to there was nice. It was one of the first times that I felt that I was in a desert. It was the first time for me in that sort of environment. The weather was perfect. Clear skys, warm with a cool breeze. When we approached the mountains we actually started to feel a queezy since the scale of them really messes with your sense of perspective. Upon arival, Bionca had to go to the restroom, and right after she enters, they anounce last call for all boarders for the cable car and that the next car would be leaving in aproximately 30 minutes. After a few anxious minutes, Bionca returned and we were able to just buy tickets and get on in time.

It has been years since I have ridden a cable car. I’m talking since my childhood. I was terribly nervious at first, but I quickly got over that and really enjoyed the ride. Even the swaying didn’t bother me. The best part was the sights. We had such a clear view of Alburquerque, although at the altitude and distance that we were at, the only way to see cars moving was from the reflection of the sun off their windshields.

From there we walked around the trails there were up there. The views were magnificent, and the air smelled so nicely of pine. It was a bit chilly, since neither of us thought to take a jacket with us, and we were inside of the passing clouds. It was a rather exciting hike, since some of the trails are very narrow, and there is a cliff just off to the side. One false step, and you will be having a very bad day. We hiked about 2 miles down one trail, but we were getting a bit tired from navigating the rough terrain, so instead of continuing on, we turned around. Later, I found out that we were almost to the bend, and back to the return trail. Once back, we took a short break and hiked the other main trail going in the other direction. This one didn’t have the cliff beside us so we felt more confident, but it had been a long day, the wind was picking up, and the temprature was rapidly approaching 50F. We came back to the cable car, and went home.

It may not sound like much, but that one day was worth the trip for me.