17 SEP 2010

This morning we planned to head off to the Grand Canyon. However we quickly realized that it was a 7 plus hour drive. This meant that we would not have time to check out anything on the way. The alternative was to decide to plan to go about half way today and the rest tomorrow. This means we could check out things to do on the way and take the time.

Albuquerque has a AAA Gem designated destination for the Sandia Peak Tramway which takes you up to the ski hill. The Sandia Peak Tramway, located adjacent to Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, is the world's longest passenger aerial tramway. It also has the world's third longest single span. It stretches from the Northeast edge of the city to the crest line of the Sandia Mountains.

The view from the tram includes all of Albuquerque and roughly 11,000 square miles of the New Mexico countryside. The name Sandia comes from the Spanish for watermelon, as apparently the evening sunlight on the mountains gives the range a red glow because of the minerals in the rock.

We were informed that the city gets virtually no snow while Sandia Peak Ski Hill gets a base of about 120 inches a year. Because the tramway starts on the outskirts of the city getting to the ski hill is a non-issue – even better than Kamloops and Sun Peaks which is hard to do. In the summer the tram is run to take tourists up to the top for a variety of hiking trails and biking trails.

The trail that Wes and decided to hike is called the Sandia Crest Trail which follows northwards along the ridge, away from the busy area at the top of the tramway. Among the shade of the forest there is ample opportunity to observe the vegetation and a few flowers still in bloom at this time of year.

We even found some fossils and I managed to get a picture of one.

We headed to the Kiwanis Cabin, a stone hut built on an exposed peak in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps to replace earlier wooden shelters which could not stand up to the winter weather at this exposed site. From here there were magnificent views looking back towards the restaurant and tramway. As we walked along we were constantly reminded of Sun Peaks.

After we returned to the highway we headed towards Gallop, NM and continued to be amazed at the views around us of rock formations. We learned that the Rio Grande Rift is a rift valley extending north from Mexico, near El Paso, Texas through New Mexico into central Colorado, and is part of the Basin and Range Province. We were told that this rift is one of the largest in the world and there are constant minor shakes where pressure is released. I have not researched this, but it is interesting to note the mountains through New Mexico and realize they are formed along a fault line.

We got to Gallop, NM to learn that the KOA campsite is right beside the busy freeway, the tent sites look like they are part of the parking lot with little to no grass, no trees at all and not very inviting when the temp is over 30. We decided that we would look for a hotel room and for the extra 25 dollars we found something that is much better. So once again we are not tenting. Tomorrow night for sure since we will be at the Grand Canyon National Park and tenting will be our only option.