We had a fantastic day for our inaugural Sandia Snowshoe Tour. You can't ask for a better day than after a fresh 4" snowfall. Well, I guess we could have used a little less wind, but I'm okay with it. 

As a photographer it's easy to be dissuaded by poor visibility and cold weather. However I find that every time I go out in these conditions I still come away with some fantastic photographs. The key is to understand how clouds (and a lack of sunlight) really impact the images and how to visualize a final product within these constraints. 

Once we finished our Tram ride to the top of the mountain, we strapped on our snowshoes and took off along the South Crest Trail (130). Besides the first 100 yards, we broke trail through fresh powder the whole way to the Pino Trail - It was fantastic!

The Crest Trail provides for some amazing views along the way, and ultimately meets up with the Pino and Tree Spring Trails at an amazing overlook. 

After a brief view at the overlook (the wind was picking up), we ducked back into the treeline to grab a cup of hot chocolate before heading back up the South Crest Trail to the Tram. 

The South Crest Trail offers a fantastic opportunity for beginner snowshoers with a gentle grade over the 3-mile out-and-back trek. With the right equipment and the right clothes you'd hardly know that we had a -29°F windchill! 

We had an absolute blast on the trail this weekend. We've got several more tours scheduled this season. Head over to our Tours page to learn more or click the "Book Adventure" button at the bottom of your screen when you're ready to go! We have snowshoes for adventurers ages 2-102! Each tour includes all necessary equipment, snack, hot beverage, and of course your wonderful wilderness guides! Still have questions? No worries - give us a shout at 505-717-2526. 

MST Adventures is proud to be the only organization permitted by the Cibola National Forest to operate snowshoe tours on Sandia Mountain. We are an equal opportunity provider.