Sandia Mountains in the Duke City

These are the mountains I used to look at every day on the way to work at the Albuquerque (N.M.) Journal.

My dad took this picture three weeks ago during the annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

I've had some great times in the Sandias. My dad and I hiked down the range in 1991, and we hiked along the spine a couple of times in the year that I lived in Albuquerque in 1998-99. Finally, I drove up the back of the Sandias with my friends and colleagues James Angelini and Johnny Sparks on our way to the Society for Psychophysiological Research in 2004.

I think it's time for a trip to the Duke City.