50 Miler Prep Hike, La Luz Trail, May 20 and 21, 2000

The final preparation hike for our Grand Canyon 50 Mile Hike was the La Luz trail - bottom to top and back in a day! This is about a 15 mile hike, starting at about 6500 feet and topping out above 10,000. As a "final exam" for the Grand Canyon, La Luz will make you "see the light", for sure.

40 pound packs and temperatures approaching 90 degrees (F) by the end of the hike lead to some pretty tired Scouts (and grannies, too) by the end of the hike. Every one stayed in good spirits. Saturday's hike, lead by Mr. Nigrey, added on a jaunt to the Tram House after they reached the trail fork just below the crest. On Sunday, Mr. Coles' group lunched at the trail fork, and decided that was far enough. Both groups, having started about 7 AM, were back by 4PM.

La Luz trail starts at the Juan Tabo Picnic area and runs about 8 miles to either the Tram House (at the top of the Albuquerque Tramway - the easy way up the mountains), or the Sandia Crest and the High Finance Restaurant. Since the Sandia Mountains raise to over 10,000 feet, the last couple of miles of the trail are in fairly thin air. The trail starts easy, and the first half is wide and gradual, especially if you start early in the day, and hike in the shade before the sun comes up over the crest of the mountain. Past halfway, the trail gets steeper as it heads into a canyon. Near the top, the trail traverses a rock slide several times as it makes a lot of altitude gain. A trail fork is encountered at a saddle about a mile short of the end of the trail - choose either the left to head to the main Crest, or the right to go to the Tram House.

Photo Gallery

Click a thumbnail snapshot for a look at a larger photo.

(First photo by Lee J. (copyright reserved))

Part of the Saturday crew, before starting up the trail - clockwise from lower left: Mr. Nigrey, Jerry S., Andrew C., James H., Bobby J., Dan R., Donnie C., and Karen R. It has been reported by reliable sources that the crew was not quite that "crisp" upon completion.
Sunday's crew starting out - time for Ed O. to loose his pants legs.

Josh W. leading the Sunday crew onward and upward.

A quick water break along the trail, close to the rock slides about a mile and a half below the trail end. Andrew C., Josh W., Colin M., and Derek M.

La Luz Trail leads up through canyons in the Sandia foothills, until it makes a final climb to the top through a series of switchbacks that center on massive rockslides. Here, the shady canyon - much preferred over the sunny rock slides!.

Lunch break at the trail fork on Sunday - Mike M., and Ian O.

South Peak, about 4 miles south, as viewed from the La Luz trail fork below the crest.
The Crest at the top of the Sandia Mountains - we're still several hundred feet below it here.

Yellow blooms on a prickley pear cactus.

White flowers on some kind of weed?

Last Updated: 2000-06-14

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Part of the Saturday crew, before starting up the trail - clockwise from lower left: Mr. Nigrey, Jerry S., Andrew C., James H., Bobby J., Dan R., Donnie C., and Karen R. It has been reported by reliable sources that the crew was not quite that "crisp" upon completion.	Sunday's crew starting out - time for Ed O. to loose his pants legs.
Josh W. leading the Sunday crew onward and upward.	A quick water break along the trail, close to the rock slides about a mile and a half below the trail end. Andrew C., Josh W., Colin M., and Derek M.
La Luz Trail leads up through canyons in the Sandia foothills, until it makes a final climb to the top through a series of switchbacks that center on massive rockslides. Here, the shady canyon - much preferred over the sunny rock slides!.	Lunch break at the trail fork on Sunday - Mike M., and Ian O.
South Peak, about 4 miles south, as viewed from the La Luz trail fork below the crest.	The Crest at the top of the Sandia Mountains - we're still several hundred feet below it here.
Yellow blooms on a prickley pear cactus.	White flowers on some kind of weed?