Hello UU hikers and friends,
Tom Dorr will lead a fairly strenuous hike on Fri, Oct 2 on the Albuquerque Trail – 4th of July Canyon Loop, about 5 miles in the Manzano Mts. Minimum elevation is 7,425′. Elevation gain 835′. Wear a hat, long sleeves, long pants, hiking shoes or boots and dress for the weather in layers as the temperature at the top will be cooler. There are restrooms, no water at the Fourth of July Campground. This is a good fall foliage hike for bigtooth and Rocky Mountain maples with lots of crimson. There are also beautiful views at the top near Mosca Peak.
MNFP – Make no afternoon plans. This is an all day hike. Meet in the First U south parking lot near ARC at 9 am on Fri, Oct 2 to arrange carpooling. If you live on the east side of the Sandias, the group will meet you at the Sandia Ranger Station in Tijeras about 9:35 am. The drive from the church takes about an hour and 1/2, 54 miles one way via NM 337 south in Tijeras to NM 55 to FR 55. Expect to return to the church about 4 pm.
Pack lunch, snacks, 2 quarts of water, your own personal first aid kit, a small plastic bag for packing out tissues, rain poncho. Hiking poles are recommended. Optional: camera, binoculars, sunscreen, book/s to identify flowers, trees. No dogs.
Please RSVP, only if yes, by Wed, Sept 30. Let me know if you will be meeting the group at the Sandia Ranger Station. Phone Tom Dorr 505 459-5737 c if you have questions. Thanks.
Kathleen Rhoad 505 225-9747 c