A few years ago I came on a family trip to Albuquerque. I had only just enough time to gaze at the Sandia Mountains and wonder what it would be like to hike up there. So when Joern listed a thorough backpacking hike of the Sandia crest, I knew I had to go.
View from near the southern end of the trail, the city of Albuquerque NM in the distance.
The plan was a 2 night 3 day through hike. We would have to spend 2 nights high up along the ridge. But the ranger warned us of the deep snow still lingering up there, so we changed plans and opted to do 2 day hikes. Taking the road to the summit area and leaving a second car at the lower trailhead. It means driving the summit road twice each day.
Looking south towards Albuquerque, The trail is very rocky in the beginning.
While we actually hiked from the summit down, I think the descriptions and photos make more sense describing as if we were going from south to north. So here it is.
Starting from the southern terminus is (would have been) a laborious climb up 3,000 ft. or so up rocky and dry trail, but views down to the valley to the east and occasionally to the west towards the city of Albuquerque would have made it worthwhile. Once one reaches the ridge at around 9,000 of elevation the scenery changes dramatically.
A grassy meadow surrounded by pine forest. There are still some patches of snow here at around 9,000 ft.
It looks like any other mountain region with pine forest and grassy meadows.
It is hard to tell, but this is actually a wide angle panorama view. The big mountain in the center right is the Sandia summit. The Sandia ridge extends both sides of the image. The urban area below is the city of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Occasionally a window opens to the west offering a vast view of the Albuquerque area. While there is not much total elevation gain along the ridge, it does go up and down quite a bit. This becomes apparent looking back at it from near the tram terminal as in the image below.
Looking back at the Sandia Crest from around the upper tram terminal
The snow coverage was quite complete, making route finding somewhat difficult, but that is what GPS are for.
Above 10,000 ft of elevation the snow coverage under the trees was still quite complete
Finally the Summit is clearly identified by the huge building and the antennas on top.
The summit house from the trail. This is the high point.
The north side is a continuation of the pine forest and the almost complete coverage of snow. The snow was quite packed making hiking reasonable. It was worse in the afternoon when the snow was softer.
A pine forest and a solid snow coverage on the summit, and a dry desert just 3,000 ft below.
And again, dramatic views mostly to the west.
Joern inspecting the view of the city down below. The antennas mark the summit high point.
And finally it started dropping, gradually in the beginning, but quite steeply later on.
Joern making his way down towards the northern terminus. The background is north west.
Finally, the northern terminal.
View from the northern terminus. My truck is waiting.
The views make this one terrific trip.
We are planning to go back next April to through hike it.