Albuquerque sits on a plateau, about a mile above sea level. The Sandia Mountains rise abruptly and dramatically from the eastern edge of the city, with the tallest, Sandia Peak, more than a mile higher.

When I took this picture from a trail near the summit, it was blustery and mostly cloudy, with temperatures in the 30s and occasional snow flurries. Meanwhile, down in Albuquerque, it was calm and sunny, with temperatures in the 60s.