Notices and Highlights
Sandia Crest recreation area closed until January 2027. Click here for details and alternative hiking routes.
Everyone
– We love our mountains!
– Volunteer opportunities
– Adopt-a-highway cleanup project completed
– KOB 4 features FOSM volunteers
– Forest Service announces Stage I fire restrictions
– Presentation materials available from May 5 membership meeting
– Forest Service seeking volunteers for help with Tijeras Pueblo site and museum
– Forest Service revives Visitor Orientation Program
– Forest Service announces surveys on the Cibola and Gila National Forests
Members
– Help with In Memoriam page
– Welcome our new members
– Volunteer opportunities
– Report volunteer hours
Click on a link above to go to details below. You may need to scroll back up slightly to see the topic header. Click on the up arrow (^) at bottom right of page to return here.
We Love Our Mountains*
*Technically, it’s Sandia Mountain (singular), but we use the plural because of the northern and southern peaks.
Whether you are a hiker, mountain biker, cross-country skier, trail runner, or you just enjoy being in the Sandias, you know that our mountains are one of nature’s special gifts.
Have you ever wondered what you could do to help protect our mountains? Do you want to learn more about the animals and plants you find there? Do you like to meet people who share your concern for the Sandia and Manzanita Mountains?
Welcome! Please explore our website to learn more about the goals and many activities of the Friends of the Sandia Mountains (FOSM). We likely have volunteer opportunities that match your interests and abilities.
Click here to learn about the fascinating geological history of the Sandias as well as some unique features of our beloved mountains including Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway, Ten 3 restaurant, 84 medallion trees, and sadly more than a dozen aircraft crash sites.
New to Albuquerque or just new to the Sandias? Explore the many recreational opportunities our mountains offer. Please carefully read the Safety section.
Please check out our La Luz Trail webpage if you are planning to hike this iconic but sometimes dangerous trail.
Weather and Road Conditions
Volunteer Opportunities
About Us
Who We Are
Our History
Trail Construction
Description
Reports and Photos
General Projects
Description
Reports and Photos
More About Us
Our Board of Directors
Our Awards and Recognition
Trail Maintenance
Description
Reports and Photos
Other Activities
Painting and Graffiti Removal
Youth Outreach
Visitor Orientation
Join Friends of the Sandia Mountains
if you enjoy the outdoors and want to give something back!
A great way to get involved is to join Cibola Trail Rangers, an email group consisting of hikers, bikers, XC skiers, horsemen, etc., who frequent the trails in the Sandia Ranger District and are interested in exchanging information on trail conditions on both an immediate and continuing basis. The group includes FOSM members trained to correct reported problems. Please report corrective actions as well as problems so the FOSM trail maintenance crew doesn’t hike to fix a problem that no longer exists. FOSM member Sally Lowder maintains a comprehensive database of reported trees and their disposition.
or join our partner organization
New Mexico Volunteers for the Outdoors
Our volunteer work focuses on single-day activities in the Sandia Ranger District. If you are looking for opportunities ranging across New Mexico and involving multi-day projects, check out our partner organization New Mexico Volunteers for the Outdoors (NMVFO) at https://nmvfo.org.
FOSM Volunteers
Complete Semiannual Adopt-a-Highway Project
Susan Gregory reports: Friday morning, 15 May, 14 volunteers completed FOSM Adopt-a-Highway spring cleanup activities between mile 4 and 5 on NM536, Crest Road. Sam Beard led the six-member brushing team including Mike Madden, Sim Cook, Don Carnicom, Kerry Jones and Larry Larrichio. The eight member trash pickup team included Susan Gregory, Cliff Giles, Dan Benton, Betsy Galloway, Rene Archer, Karen Greif, Rav Nicholson and Ken Nicholson.
A memorial (descanso in Spanish), which we leave undisturbed in accordance with state law 31-19-1 NMSA 1978, is just north of where we assemble for these work sessions. The sad backstory can be found in this news article and touching obituary.
Rest in peace, Anthony.
KOB 4 Features FOSM Volunteers Clearing Graffiti at La Luz Trailhead
May 7, 2026 – KOB 4 featured Project Leader Sam Beard and other FOSM volunteers removing graffiti left by taggers at the La Luz trailhead saying: Volunteers are cleaning up one of the biggest graffiti messes they say they have seen at the La Luz trailhead. Volunteers with Friends of the Sandia Mountains said someone tagged signs, benches, restrooms and pavement at the trailhead. “The Sandia Ranger District sent me an email about it, I think the word she used was a copious amount of graffiti,” volunteer Sam Beard said. “This is the most I’ve seen at one time.”
Forest Service Announces Stage I Fire Restrictions
May 5, 2026 — Effective Friday May 8th, the Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands will implement Stage 1 Fire Restrictions on the Mt. Taylor, Magdalena, Mountainair, and Sandia Ranger Districts. See attached maps.
Forest managers consider several factors for determining fire restrictions, including current fire danger and fire activity, current and predicted weather, fuel moisture levels, availability of firefighting resources, and local, regional and national fire preparedness levels.
The purpose of these fire restrictions is to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires during periods of high fire danger and severe fire weather conditions. Stage 1 fire restrictions mean fires, campfires, charcoal grills, and coal and wood stoves are allowed only in developed campsites and picnic areas where agency-built fire rings or grills are provided for use on the Ranger Districts.
Campfires are prohibited at all dispersed camping sites per stage 1 fire restrictions. Stoves, lanterns or heaters fueled by propane or other liquefied petroleum fuels may be used in areas cleared of flammable materials within three feet of the device, if they meet manufacturer’s safety specifications and have on/off switches. Smoking is allowed only in enclosed vehicles or buildings and developed recreation sites. Chainsaw use is permitted.
Presentation Materials from May 5 Membership Meeting Available
Forest Service Seeks Volunteers for Help with Tijeras Pueblo Site and Museum
FOSM’s board of directors has agreed to assist the Forest Service in administering a volunteer program to support continued management of the Tijeras museum and associated interpretive site. Click here for details.
One of the ways FOSM is helping the Forest Service with continued management of the Tijeras museum and associated interpretive site is by hosting registration for the annual Archaeology Summer Camp, July 27-31. Click here for details.
April 8, 2026 – Sandra Arazi-Coambs, Sandia/Mountainair Zone Archaeologist, writes: Attached is a flyer for our upcoming (Level 1) docent training for Tijeras Pueblo Archaeological Site (TPAS) volunteers. This training will be mandatory for anyone who is interested in working at the site and interacting with the public in any capacity. For folks wanting to lead tours, there will be an additional training (Level 2).
We have some outstanding instructors for this training (Dr. Judith Habicht-Mauche, professor emeritus from UC Santa Cruz and Dr. Dave Phillips, professor emeritus from UNM). I am excited to see it moving forward. For the first training we are going to be accepting 15 participants. It is first-come first-serve and I already have a handful of folks on the list. If there is more interest, we will try to add an additional training later in the year.
Please reach out to me directly (sandra.coambs@usda.gov) if you are interested in this or subsequent trainings!
Forest Service Seeks Volunteers to Provide Visitor Orientation at two Locations
Sandia Ranger District is seeking to revive its vistor orientation program halted by the closure of the Crest House and the pandemic. FOSM members are encouraged to volunteer to serve either at the Interpretive Hut at the Doc Long Picnic Area or at the lower Tram terminal. Hours are flexible, and training will be provided.
Details are availble here.
Public Surveys on the Cibola and Gila National Forests
ALBUQUERQUE, NM – September 25, 2025 – Beginning October 1, the public may encounter contract employees conducting public surveys on the Gila National Forest and Cibola National Forest & Grasslands in developed and dispersed recreation sites and along forest service roads. Surveys will be conducted through September 30, 2026.
The National Visitor Use Monitoring survey is a Forest Service program designed to estimate how many people actually recreate on national forests and grasslands, what activities they engage in while there, and how satisfied people were with their visit. These surveys are conducted on a national forest every five years.
Contract employees will be out in all types of weather conditions, wearing bright orange vests and be near a sign that reads “Traffic Survey Ahead”.
Surveys are voluntary and all responses are confidential; names are not included, and interviews last about 10 minutes.
Questions asked include where you recreated on the forest; how many people traveled with you; how long you were on the forest; what other recreation sites you visited while on the forest, and how satisfied you are with the facilities and services provided. About a third of survey participants will be asked to complete a confidential survey on recreation spending during their trip to measure the economic impact to local communities.
Information about the National Visitor Use Monitoring program can be found at https://www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/nvum.
Member Messages
In Memoriam
Thanks, especially to Sally and Bob Lowder, for helping identify former members of Friends of the Sandia Mountains (or New Mexico Friends of the Forest) whom we’ve remembered with photos and links to their obituaries on our new webpage. Please send your suggested additions and favorite memories for sharing on the page to webmaster@friendsofthesandias.org.
Welcome, New Members!
Chris Caro – May 13
Paul Neville – April 19
Teri Neville – April 19
Mark Werkmeister – April 2
David D’Antonio – March 28
Alex Brittenham – February 19
Stephen Forrest – January 30
Kay Mayoora – January 30
Kent Towler – January 19
Cindy Roper – January 17
Ken Sexe – January 3
Rogulja Wolf – December 14
Dennis Kellogg – December 13
William Childs – December 12
Laurie Lacey* – December 5
Aaron Brooks – October 17
William Gruner – October 13
Dana Price – October 11
Don Fisher* – October 8
*Life sponsor
Volunteer Opportunities
Tijeras Pueblo – SRD is seeking volunteers to help with Tijeras Pueblo site and museum. Click here for details.
Visitor Orientation – FOSM members are encouraged to volunteer to provide visitor orientation either at the Interpretive Hut at the Doc Long Picnic Area or at the lower Tram terminal. Hours are flexible, and training will be provided. Details are availble here.
Paint Crew Leader – Please use the form here if you would be interested in assuming this leadership position.
Report Volunteer Hours
Expect a monthly call for hours going forward during Forest Service fiscal year 2026 (October-September).
*The weekly crew leaders (Bob, Sam, Laura) have already provided their crew’s hours by individual into our FY2026 FOSM hours tracker, so if you signed an attendance sheet, your hours are already covered.
*Basically, report any and all individual time spent in a FOSM activity which pertains to the District.
Additional guidelines for reporting hours can be found here.
Last updated 4 minutes ago