The Forest Service closed the La Luz trail today due to the danger of fire. The trail is a 7-mile trek from the high foothills near Albuquerque to the Sandia Crest (10,678 feet/3255 m). It is an extremely popular hike and run. Among those interviewed for an Albuquerque Tribune article on the closing was this fellow:
Lionel Ortega, 82, said he wouldn’t run the La Luz this year because he was training for another trail run up Pikes Peak in Colorado.
Ortega, who would like everyone to know he’s single, said he was up early because it was cool and also so he could complete his run in time to get to the senior center before breakfast closed.
“If you’re not there on time, you don’t eat,” Ortega said as he hustled down the trail.