After a month long NM heat wave, the temps finally were nice. The forest fires also died down to give us a clear sky. There were 14 vehicles and 17 people on the ride, 6 of them new applicants on their first NM4W adventure. We met at Sky City Travel Center at I-40 exit 102 since it is near the first dirt, and ended up in Grants near I-40 exit 85 for the drive home.
After the northbound rocky climb from 5000’ near I-40 to 8500’ on Mt Taylor, we stopped for a long lunch and let all the new people have a chance to learn more about NM4W. After lunch we headed to the beautiful, and windy, viewing spot at over 10,000’. We could see the Sandia’s 68 miles to the east and 100 miles to the north and south.
The day was longer than I hoped it would be. We got to the air-up point at 5pm, then the 14 mile drive on pavement to Grants.
