Photo by Michael J. GallegosTribune

Tribune

I was looking forward to the quiet, peaceful atmosphere in the forest near the Balsam Glade Picnic Grounds, hoping to clear my mind and get away from the rat race for a little while. There wasn't a single person around when I arrived on the last day of October. The air was crisp and the sun peeked through light clouds overhead as I hit the trail.

More Viewfinder

• Viewfinder: The Rubik's con
• Viewfinder: Why I love it
• Viewfinder: What fun it is to ride and ski . . .

MOST RECENT TRIB STORIES

• ABQTrib.com to remain available
  08:48 a.m., February 25, 2008
• Congressman is indicted
  08:37 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Series of attacks target Green Zone
  08:36 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Iran is defying U.N., agency says
  08:35 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Waterboarding approval probed
  08:34 a.m., February 23, 2008

TRIB IN THE BLOGOSPHERE*

• Ty Murray Invitational thrills fans in Albuquerque
• Is Rome Burning?
• Ominous Skies
• The Road to Invalidation
• Albuquerque company participates in “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”

*Note: The Tribune does not create and is not responsible for the blogosphere's headlines and stories. These links to blogs talking about ABQTrib.com are automatically generated. Use them at your own risk.

STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• Comments
• iPod friendly
• Printer friendly

SHARE THIS STORY [?]

Last time I visited the Balsam Glade Picnic Grounds was in the summer of 2006. Because it was closed due to high fire danger and I couldn't walk the trails that day, I decided I would return someday to that spot 20 miles from Albuquerque atop the Sandias. I finally made my way back last week.

I was looking forward to the quiet, peaceful atmosphere in the forest, hoping to clear my mind and get away from the rat race for a little while. There wasn't a single person around when I arrived on the last day of October. The air was crisp and the sun peeked through light clouds overhead as I hit the trail.

After a short walk I took a seat on a wooden bench among the trees. I heard birds chirping all around and the wind blowing through the trees, but these gentle sounds were soon interrupted by the faint sound of a commercial jet overhead. I began to notice the jet noise fairly often, and my focus turned to that noise instead of the sounds of nature. Every few minutes or so another jet flew by.

The mood was ruined as I struggled to clear my mind. The area was nice but I couldn't put the sounds of the aircraft out of my head. Walking to the end of the trail to see the view east before heading back to the car, the open sky and green and yellow forest were beautiful. I glanced down at the trail sign to read a little bit about the history of the area before heading home.

It reads, "Today the mountain stands like an island in a sea of urban growth and development."

I looked down the valley before walking back through the forest. I noticed the shiny rooftops of houses and buildings dotting the area along the foot of the mountains, and I took one last deep breath of fresh air before getting into my car.

As nice as it was, next time maybe I'll travel a little farther away from the city.