The first time I ever saw mountains was driving through the foothills of the Appalacians while the people I was with and I were in a trip from Florida to Michigan.
I remember staring out the car window at numerous years old with total awe plus wonder at what I was seeing.
Other than the visual splendor, I remember that my ears were popping a lot like they did when I first got on an aircraft a few years later. Although this part of the Appalacians by the Smoky Mountains isn’t as high of elevation as the CO Rockies, it was a big change coming from Florida where my apartment was only 10 feet above sea level. But none of this minimal car travel could prepare me for my week-long trip to Albuquerque. My friend Johnny from school invited me to stay with him plus his boyfriend while touring the area. This was my first trip west of ArKansas plus I was enthusiastic to see the new geographical areas I had read about since childhood. However, getting above 5,000 feet above sea level in an actual town instead of an aircraft took some time to get used to, especially while using cannabis. I should have spent more time acclimating myself to Albuquerque’s high elevation before getting even higher myself. Both of us stopped at a dispensary in North Valley plus took Alameda Blvd plus a few other roads until the people I was with and I arrived at Cibola National Forest. Both of us discussed taking the Sandia Peak Tramway, however the planned trip never came to fruition. Regardless of my problems with the elevation, I loved Albuquerque while the people I was with and I were in my short stay.