Sandia Peak Tramway

Last Friday night was the birthday of one of my new friends.  In honor of her birthday, and on her suggestion, we decided to ride the Sandia Peak Tramway up the mountain and have dinner at the restaurant at the top after work.   The Sandia Peak Tramway is billed as the world's longest tramway - 2.7 miles up the side of the Sandia Mountains from 5,000 ft above sea level to 10,000 ft atop Sandia Peak in the Cibola National Forest.  The top point is not actually a "peak",  and is, in fact, 1.5 miles from Sandia Crest - the highest point in the range.  Additionally, it is the third world's longest single span (from the second tower to the top at 7720 ft long).  It was built in 1966 by Bell Engineering of Lucerne, Switzerland.  It is known as a reversible jigback system - meaning one car ascends as the other descends.  In fact, the conductor did tell us we couldn't open the doors to our car until the other car had safely docked at the bottom.  The Tramway is used year round by tourists and in the winter for skiing.

So here's the ironic part of the trip.  It's almost always sunny in Albuquerque - something like 300 days a year of sunshine.  The rare rainstorms are few and brief.  There's almost never an entire day of cloudy conditions.  So the one evening we pick to ride the tram and view the sunset, it clouds up all afternoon and starts raining by 5:30 pm.  Fortunately it was clear enough to get a little bit of color from the sunset in the sky....this was the best pic I could manage with my little camera.  I really have to get a better camera.

Normally the fee for a "flight" or tram ride is $20 per adult.  But when you make reservations at the restaurant up top, you get a $5 discount.  So we purchased our tickets and waited for our flight time.  As we waited in line, we noticed several other passengers with coats and boots.  We looked at each other - none of us had thought to bring coats.  We'd forgotten it is much colder at the peak.  Then we noticed the electronic sign on the wall that noted the current temperature at the peak - 37 degrees.  Uh-oh.  Well, nothing to do at this point but push on ahead.  We decided that most likely we wouldn't even have to go outside as the restaurant was probably attached to the same building on the top.

A large group of us entered the car and arranged ourselves, cameras in hand, around the edges at the windows.  The car operator or conductor (not really sure what to call him) announced our departure and talked about the difference in altitudes.  It was raining harder - spattering against the glass sun roof and the front window of the car as we started out.  Then the conductor announced that we would pass two towers on the way up - and we could expect a small amount of swinging as we passed each one.  Swinging?  At 7,000+ feet and rising?  Swinging?!  I admit to being a little nervous about that.  Despite having recently read an article about the safety of the cars, and the safety procedures and inspections done regularly on the cables.  We looked out the windows at the back as the car rose and everyone exclaimed over the beautiful view of the city lights as the sky darkened.

When we reached the first tower and the slight swing, it was a little disconcerting - but not too bad - just a gentle sway really.  I think maybe my recent history of loopy rides at the fair had me just a little nervous about the swinging - combined with the dark and rain.  By the time we reached the top, the crowd had gotten a little quieter - and when we docked we realized we'd be walking outside to the tramway building.  It was raining, and hailing and 33 degrees.  Lovely.  September.  In Albuquerque. Where we recently had a week of 90 degree temps.  Okaaayyyy, this was unreal - like landing in a foreign country.  Carefully we made our way across the hail strewn deck, wind and rain and sleet  buffeting us and whipping our hair around.  After a short walk inside, we then made our way back out again down a few short stairs and over the to the restaurant, High Finance.  High Finance is a very nice restaurant (averaging $25/entree) with very good food.  After a lovely meal there, looking out at the lights of the city, we decided that we needed to try and make another trip up during the day so we could see the views better.  I have to admit it was my lateness added to the rain that had us missing the sunset.  But we did get some nice views of the city lights below us from the deck of the restaurant once it stopped raining.  After all, it is Albuquerque, the rain didn't last that long.

On the ride down, it was much less crowded - including an older couple of whom the wife had needed oxygen at the top.  The altitude got to her.  Although it was very dark at that point, we did pass a neon lit sign just below the peak asked the question, "Will you Marry Me?".  The conductor stated that a young woman had ridden up by herself - passing the sign, and was met at the top by the young man who proceeded to propose!!  How wonderfully romantic and creative!!!  Not much could top that!  All in all it was a wonderful evening and I can't wait to go back to ride again in the daylight.
Postscript: In fact, I did go back today to snap a few pictures of the view from the base of the tramway station.  I didn't have time to ride the tram again just now, but couldn't resist more pics of the Sandias.  I do love mountains.  So enjoy....

Durango, Colorado Part 1

According to Wikipedia: Durango, Colorado was organized in 1881 by the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad to serve the Yao Ming mining district.  It was named after the town of Durango, Mexico, which was named after Durango, Spain.  Durango originated from the Basque word, Urango, meaning dry town.  It is located in the Animas River Valley with an elevation of 6500 feet; and is best known for the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.

Recently, two friends and I decided to head to Durango for a quick weekend.  I'd never been to Colorado before so I was very excited.  We headed out after work on Friday and drove through the dark.  Durango is about 3-4 hours northwest of Albuquerque.  The sunset as we drove was incredibly beautiful and we enjoyed watching the colors change in the sky.  We had a great mediterranean dinner at Pars Restaurant just before leaving Albuquerque, and then sped on our way.  As night fell on the high desert, we were well outside of any city - past the Jemez Pueblo (where I went to see the  Luminaria celebration on my first trip to Albuquerque last December).  The stars were amazingly beautiful and bright.  I wished that we had time to just lay under them and watch.

We arrived in Durango in the dark - so had to wait for the next morning to get my first look at Southwest Colorado.  Durango lies in the Animas River Valley.  The Animas River flows through the town itself.  Durango has lots of outdoor activities to choose from: Kayaking, Rafting, Jeep tours, bicycling, hiking, archaeology tours, horseback trail rides, etc.  In August 2012, a world class bike race was held there - the USA Pro Cycling Challenge.  Of course, there are also many surrounding mining towns and Anasazi ruins to visit.  Photographic vistas are abundant.  The town is surrounded by mountains covered in spruce, fir and Aspen trees.

We spent most of Saturday shopping in downtown Durango.  We happened to be there on the weekend of Oktoberfest.  For those of you scratching your heads....yes, it was September 15th.  Part of Main Street in downtown Durango was closed off for the celebration, which apparently was only during the afternoons - as we were back in town around 6:30 pm and it was cleared away.  There were beer tents and food tents galore, even a lederhosen wearing polka band playing.  Several times they made announcements about contests and happenings in town.  The whole thing had me laughing up a storm.  It was just incredibly close to the Oktoberfest in the Steve Martin/Darryl Hannah movie, Roxanne!  I loved it!!

While we didn't have time to ride the train, I did take the time to visit the train depot and museum.  It was amazing to see the inside of this historical building and to see the old engines and cars in the museum.   Testament to another era and Durango's past.

Later in the day, we managed to drive around the surrounding countryside out to Vallecito Lake.  Near Vallecito is the site of the Missionary Ridge fire - which occurred in 2002 and burned over 76,000 acres.  2012 was apparently one of the worst years for fires in Colorado.  And during our jaunt round the lake, we passed many, many hillsides of nothing but blackened stumps on one side and on the other side of the road, still standing trees with blackened trunks and green tops.  Those latter trees gave me a hopeful feeling.  I felt that they symbolized survival, strength, rebirth and hope - like someone who has known much pain and suffering in their life, but is still standing, still growing, still surviving.

At the end of the day, we headed back to town and ate at Mutu's Italian Kitchen.  I had a wonderful cocktail and Chicken Napoli.  We sat outside on the patio and watched people strolling by; listened to the sounds of downtown, and feeling the cool breeze.  After dinner we did a bit more shopping and had some great frozen yogurt.  A nice ending to a wonderful day in Durango.  We didn't have much time the next morning to do anything - so after breakfast we headed back to Albuquerque.  I have labeled this Part 1 Durango, as I hope to return and explore more of the surrounding area.

Status update

Once upon a time, a woman with a broken heart found herself in a strange, enchanted land.  The landscape was starkly beautiful - unlike any place she'd ever been.  For a long time after she came to the strange land she was very alone - with the exception of a small, diva Frenchton and the addition of a fuzzy, sweet border collie mix who stood by her side.  She spent many months exploring the area and working hard at a busy cardiology practice.  And her broken heart began to heal, but she was still lonely.

Then, one day, she met two other women who also felt alone.  And they became friends.  And the woman felt a little less alone.  They began to explore the city together - this southwestern city that she found herself in; the reds and browns and greys and greens of the landscape; the smell of chiles roasting; the taste of Indian frybread and sopapillas with honey; the bite of green chiles, the smoky richness of red chiles; the rich tradition and heritage of the original spanish settlers handed down over the years; and the underlying foundation of the indigenous peoples who populated this land long before any others.

On a recent day, the three friends decided to visit a festival held by the Offcenter Community Arts Project. It was the 10th annual We Art The People folk art festival.  There were over 100 folk art creators and vendors with unique, one of a kind offerings, as well as live music, native american dancing, belly dancing, food trucks and a giant puppet parade. It was great to experience this more familiar part of the community.  And the woman began to have more hope...