FOSM and Cibola Search & Rescue member Shannon Braune emphasized the frequency and severity of La Luz rescue missions during a presentation at our August 1, 2023 membership meeting.
In response, FOSM member and Sandia Ranger District volunteer Jamey Browning began working with the Forest Service and rescue organizations to develop signage and maps to improve hiker safety on La Luz Trail.
The trail, one of New Mexico’s most popular hiking destinations year-round, can be very dangerous as exemplified by two recent— fortunately successful—overnight rescues.
The mid-January rescue of three stranded hikers involved multiple organizations and culminated in a dangerous helicopter extraction of one of the victims. The danger and difficulty of this rescue are described in a dramatic article published in the Albuquerque Journal on January 18.
The mid-March-2024 rescue of five out-of-town hikers by Bernalillo County Fire and Rescue involved the use of infrared-camera technology to locate the hikers on the snow-packed trail.
Jamey is working closely with Jonathon Yales of Cibola Search & Rescue and Canyon Young of Sandia Ranger District to develop new signage and safety documentation that meets Forest Service requirements.
Photo credit: Jamey Browning
These webpages are integral to the Smart Safety Campaign. The La Luz page consistently is one of the most visited on this site in large part due to referrals from the Tram website.
Seasonal information on hiking La Luz as well as recommended equipment (including winter traction devices) are provided in the documents linked to below.
