Braving La Luz!

If you would like to read about last years hike up this very same trail, make a quick stop by my brother, Josh's blog by clicking here.

Dad, Josh, Jeremiah, Jonathan and I decided to, once again, attempt to brave the 7 mile long La Luz trail  which leads us right up Mount Sandias.

The photo's are done by Jeremiah and I. :)

We started on the trail around 8:00, which was nice. (Earlier than last year's trek!) It was shady the first part up, but on the way down was a much different story! (aka: HOT!)   

Your's truly. :)

Makin' our way up and we came upon this sign:

This was the view around the beginning of the hike.

It was beautiful!

Our first "rest" of the trip.

Back on the trail!

The sun starts to peek it's way across our trail and works on heating the once shaded desert. (A bit to the hiker's chagrin!) :)

Time for a second break!

We're off, once again!

Okay, quick explanation here, (excuse) carrying the camera became a bit of a hassle with the scrambling up the mountain trail. (It was hanging on my neck, and swinging around quite a bit. I was afraid it would hit some of the rocks/trees and things, around us.) So, neither Jeremiah or I took many pictures after that, until I got to the top.

I was the slowest out of our little group of hikers, so Dad and I agreed that when we got near the top, he would go up the mountain with Josh and Jonathan, and Jeremiah was kind enough to volunteer and stay behind with me. I still made my way up, just not quite as fast as Dad and the others.  :)

 Anyways, long story short, Jeremiah and I took the wrong turn (Despite the sign in front of my face!) and after traveling down the trail (The wrong one) suspecting something weird, and asking some other hikers for help-we ran back to the place where we had gone off. Then, we came just in time to see Dad, coming down the mountaint to meet us there. Oops. I don't think I'll make that mistake again! It cost both we and Dad more trouble and energy! (I'm seeing a biblical application here, so don't leave too soon before you are able to take a look at what I'll add at the end of this post!)  In Jeremiah's defense, he had not gone with us up the La Luz trial before. I, on the other hand, had gone up before and not paid attention to the fact that we are supposed to veer of the La Luz trail and follow another. I just kept following the La Luz and it would have eventually led us to the tram.

And then- at last VICTORY!

We made it to the top before 11:00 .

Truly a spectacular sight! The pictures really don't do it justice, so bear with me as I try to give you a small glimpse of what it was like.

Dad spoke shortly with some cute kids who had come up as a group (From a public school), in a bus. The one you see speaking in the picture told Dad he could see the Ducks the pond from that view. Dad simply responded by saying: "Well, you have better eyesight then I have!"

We then made our way down which, for me at least, was a breeze compared to the hike up. (Hotter though!)

The Hikers!

Can't wait till next year!

Okay, as I said earlier, I notice a biblical application to mine and Jeremiah's story. Can you see it? We strayed onto the wrong path despite obvious signs telling us the way to go. Our mistake cost us our time and energy, as well as the time and energy of others. When we realized our mistake, we turned back however, and came to the place we made our mistake, meeting Dad there. As fellow believers and followers of Christ, we are to strive to follow Jesus and the Bible, God's word, is our direction. It works as the "sign's" in our life, telling us where to go. We, as humans, will make mistakes, but the important thing is, we repent and turn around and get back on the right path. God will see us through and although I know I make so many mistakes, he loves me and wants to forgive me anyways. What a mighty God we serve!

Hope you all have an excellent week!

Kelsey