Mega Hike of the Season (so far)

Michael and Bill's Sandia Outfitters (Our motto: You Have Nothing to Lose - except yourself...to a bear...or a rattlesnake...or maybe over a cliff) is back in business big time. Now Bill has been lying low the last couple of years since the unfortunate 'Gary' incident. But liability has a short memory.

We have been working weeks for this big event...the South Crest Trail Challenge. 14 miles. 4000 feet plus of climb.

6:50 AM
Wild Bill readies himself for the hike ahead
He left signed copies of his will with Wife who dropped us off at the trail head.

Oh Deceptive Picture
This is picture is taken after the first hour of hiking.
We are at the start of a shortcut we take called the CCC Trail. It cuts 3 miles off of the hike.
Let me quote what Michael Coultrin author of the "Sandia Mountain Hiking Guide" has to say about the CCC Trail.

"The CCC Trail is a steep trail gaining 1800 feet over 1.8 miles (100 feet climb for each 10th of mile)...Hiking up the CCC route leaves me panting for air and stopping every few hundred yards to rest...the CCC route is a great challenge for the more advanced hikers."

I didn't bother to read any of this to Wild Bill before we left. He's a principal in this venture. He should no these things. We did not stop every few hundred yards. We slogged on up. And we suffered. But we prevailed. At the end we were back on South Crest Trail at the 9000+ foot range ready to move on.

Looking South

North along the direction we'll be hiking

Looking up toward the South Peak of the Mountain

This section of the mountain trail is very much almost tundra-ish with just short scrub oak.

Our first glimpse of our destination, the North Crest Peak in the distance

Looking East

One of a number of times we come to the edge of the crest looking West over Albuquerque city.

For many miles we are going through forested areas

We're about halfway now around 3.5 hours into the hike and look back south to the South Peak. The CCC Trail was climbing that incline to the left.

Looking due north, the peak in the distance is the Sangre de Cristo mountains next to Santa Fe

We're just about done.
However, the last couple of miles is another major climb to take us to the 10500 foot mark.
We took a long rest before tackling this.
We've learned that having plenty of water and food is important and we were fueling up for this last climb.

Hike Done
6 hours 20 minutes
It was tough
Looking south over the distance we've covered

North at Sandia Peak

Wild Bill ready to take the tram down for a welcome celebratory beer!