Recently, my wife, mother in law and I spent some time enjoying the Sandia Wilderness near Placitas, NM. The area has been closed up until the end of June due to extreme drought and fire danger. However, monsoon rains helped settle the dust (that’s about all) and allowed the state to reopen the wilderness area. Since then, we’ve put in around 60 miles on the north end of the wilderness. Most of the hikes have been in the afternoons. With the beautiful cloud patterns of the daily monsoon weather pattern, every late afternoon has been a strikingly unique picture of the NM landscape – One that normally features only blue sky and rarely a cloud to be seen. After months of the wilderness being “off limits”, it is wonderful to be back on the trail.
Rainbow and distant storm
Sunset over Cabezon Peak