On a clear Sunday afternoon in August, I found myself rising — not too quickly, but with a few bumps along the way — above the trees to the top of the Sandia Mountains in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Onboard the Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway, the longest aerial tram in the U.S., I settled in for the 15-minute ride to Sandia Peak as we passed over the Cibola National Forest and Rio Grande Valley State Park. Our guide began by pointing out juniper, pine and spruce-fir trees, noting their miniscule appearances from afar. Though in reality, he explained, the spruce-firs measure more than 200 feet tall.
Following a brief, lurching motion as the tram passed one of its support towers, our guide continued by pointing out famous rocks that were named for their appearance, such as "Cannon Rock" and "The Needle." Once again, he put size into perspective, noting that many of these boulders and rock stacks were double the size of the tram itself.
As I made my way to the observation deck at Sandia Peak, a cool 10,000 feet up, our guide offered one final warning: "Put on your jackets, if you’ve got ’em."
Indeed, temperatures at the top of Sandia Peak can be up to 30 degrees colder than temperatures at its base. I, for one, was thankful to have brought a sweater, but other travelers weren’t so lucky.
A word to the wise: Bring a jacket. The breeze alone is killer.
As I stepped off the tram, I was greeted with both sweeping winds and sweeping views of the valley below. I was reminded to stay close — as the skies had rapidly darkened and a storm was predicted — as the tram must shuttle everyone down if lightning begins. With a sense of urgency, I ran down the ramp of the observation deck the moment we touched down, eager to see everything before I could be ushered off the mountain.
As I reached the end of the ramp, past several sets of stairs, I paused.
There I stood, peering down the backside of Sandia Peak at a lush green valley scattered with blue poles that belonged to several immobile ski lifts. In a month or two, the green valley would be white-washed, covered in a blanket of snow, and mountain bikers would be replaced by avid skiers and snowboarders. But for the time being, the view was unobstructed, and the green valley reigned supreme.
The Details
Sandia Peak Tramway
www.sandiapeak.com
