High Elevation Camping

The dog days of summer on here. Monsoon season has started, technically meaning something about pressure systems and high altitude winds, which translates as tremendous daily afternoon thunderstorms that cool the ABQ. However, on the days that we do not get the thunderstorms, it can get pretty toasty in the afternoons (typically topping out in the low 90s). Today, since Ali is on summer vacation, and it was my Friday off, rather than laying low for the heat of the day, we just headed up. Up in elevation toward cooler pastures.

While Albuquerque was baking in the afternoon sun, we headed out of town and in less that 2 hours we were cool in the 70s up at 9500 feet. We camped up in the Jemez mountains, to the north west. We did get an afternoon thunderstorm and we had a refreshingly cool night (down to the mid 40s overnight). The trip was rather spontaneous, so we didn't pack enough for 2 nights, but it was a nice quick escape. We dropped down into Santa Fe and spent the afternoon at the Tesuque Pueblo before heading home. When it gets hot in the city, go up young man, go up.