Here is a perspective of where the Sandia Peak is. Notice Santa Fe 40+ miles to the North and Albuquerque at the foot of the Western slopes of the mountain. Sandia is the Spanish name of a type of melon familiar to the Spanish explorers that first named the mountain.
We have taken off hanging by a few Swiss steel cables.
This crew member was braving the winds and cold riding above the cab on the way up.He looked cold to us.
We have a full passenger load on the way up.
The gondola approaches the docking station at the top. The dark swath across Albuquerque below is the Rio Grande green area. This is very dry land.
We made it up to the top! It was a great ride made more interesting by the volunteer naturalists on board. The tramway is the longest in the world acording to the local lore (really?). It was built by the Swiss in the 1960's. I am sure it is meticulously maintained.
Teri bundles-up as we disembark at the top. Our friends Dave and Sandi Churchill are already set. The temperature was hovering at 33 F. with wind.
As we cross over the top to the East side of the mountain we find the Ski slope chair-lifts and really serious Summer mountain Bikers!
We arrive with our friends at the really nice restaurant at the top of Sandia Peak. 
A strong storm front arrives at the summit level. We get high winds and cold temperatures. 
The gondola full of passengers descends below the storm clouds near the rocky cliffs.
On the way down. You can see the winding Rio Grande cursing through the center of Albuquerque from left to right in this picture.
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