Sandia Crest (La Luz Trail) - 4.11.2014
From the junction of I-25 and NM-556... the La Luz Trailhead is 6.5 miles east of Albuquerque using NM-556 and Forest Service Road 333.
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The La Luz Trail is in the Sandia Mountain Wilderness of the Cibola National Forest.
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No idea on this one... but it is one of my favorite colors.
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This trail has been adopted by the Albuquerque Road Runners Club... for me it is hard to imagine running uphill to the Sandia Crest... a run of 7.5 miles that gains 3775 feet of elevation... then 7.5 miles back down to the trailhead.
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A person could head over to a tram that goes up near the summit... but I will continue for the crest on trail.
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High enough now to look back on Albuquerque.
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Lots of Evening Primrose on this hike.
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Looking back on Albuquerque... and down on part of the La Luz Trail.
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Steadily gaining elevation.
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The Thumb.
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Canyon walls.
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Looking down on the La Luz Trail below as I gain elevation... Albuquerque in the distance.
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Still gaining elevation.
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After hiking 7 miles I have reached a decision point... left is a half-mile to the Sandia Crest... right is a mile over to the top of the tram. I'm heading for the crest.
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I didn't see this coming... but I'm glad it was there.
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Almost to the crest... looking down on one of the many switchbacks on the La Luz Trail.
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At last... the Crest House.
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Lots of communication towers on Sandia Crest (10, 678').
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Albuquerque from Sandia Crest.
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The tram from near Sandia Crest... hey I still have a 7.5 mile hike back down to the car... ugh!... too bad the tram wasn't operating.
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