Atalaya Mountain

Rising from the high desert plateau just north of Santa Fe, Atalaya Mountain culminates in a 9,121-foot peak that looks down on both New Mexico’s capitol and the rugged Rio Grande River Valley. The Atalaya Trail, which starts on the north perimeter of the city near St. John’s College, climbs over 1500 feet in under three miles.

It’s the perfect “half-marathon” for a Wheeler attempt, and it’s where our Finisher hikers decided to go this Friday. It wasn’t an easy decision. They still have their hearts set on New Mexico’s highest, and I don’t think they’ll be satisfied if their peak-climbing ends at Atalaya.

But it’s a good place to start. Because it’s much more likely we can do this as a team—getting everyone at or near the top—which is what Finishers tries to do with students’ academic dreams.

And the students didn’t say this, but I think it illustrates another point: Sometimes one must lower expectations in order to meet higher expectations later—like taking those dreadful remedial classes to get ready for College Algebra. No one likes them, but they’re part of the deal. And if we’re too impatient (or proud) to take them first, well, you know what happens.

That said, Atalaya is no “remedial hike.” The trail guide rates portions of it as “difficult,” and, when I’ve led other college teachers on it, less than half decide to reach the top.

I’m not expecting those results with these Finishers. 🙂