Sun Mountain Trail

Went on a spectacular hike this morning at Sun Mountain. Didn't expect what we got ourselves into when we started, but after a mile and a quarter (it seemed like a vertical ascent at times) we finally made it to the top. In response to Mitch's comment on the weather: despite the snow on the ground   the intense sun makes it feel very warm during the day, the snow seems to just evaporate and not get slushy except when it first melted after the snow ended the other day when there was some slush in the roads.

The hike certainly got us sweating, but it was windy and much colder on the summit.

Have to share some photos.

 I don't know if Benni is just intelligent or lucky but he's avoided stepping on any cactus plants (especially low lying prickly pear which are often covered by snow). He got a thorn in his paw twice -from the cholla cactus whose pieces break off and get on the ground - and you know who had to remove them. Now I think he knows where to walk - the folks here tell us that dogs here rarely have a problem with cacti after one or two incidents.

About the Sun Mountain Trail

Location: Old Santa Fe Trail, 1/4 mile north of the intersection with East Zia Road

The dedicated public trail access is a sliver of land starting at Old Santa Fe Trail, moving uphill to the base of Sun Mountain and on to the summit. The trail provides access to 249 acres of city-owned open space on Sun and Moon mountains.

Condition: The Sun Mountain trail is an unimproved rustic trail not suitable for mountain bikes.

Altitude gain: About 700 feet from the trailhead to the summit of Sun Mountain.

[I THINK THIS IS A VERY CONSERVATIVE FIGURE - HAD TO BE 1000 FT+]

Visuals: The view from the summit is a breathtaking 360-degree panorama, and native plants and wildlife are abundant.

Rules: All City of Santa Fe rules for parks and recreation areas apply here.

Distance from Trailhead to foot of Sun Mountain - 0.4 km (.25 miles)

Distance from Trailhead to top of Sun Mountain - 1.45 km (.9 miles)

[OUR "MAP MY WALK" APP SHOWED US 2.4 MILES ROUND TRIP - ABOUT A 2 HOUR HIKE]

Roundtrip hike from Trailhead to top and back - 2.9 km (1.8 miles)

- See more at: http://www.santafe.com/article/sun-mountain-trail-opens-to-public#sthash.Jw72Eds0.dpuf