Laughing Orca Ranch: Sunday Stills ~ Roads

This week’s Sunday Stills Challenge is to share photos of roads.

Last week, I took my horse up to the Sandia Mountains with some friends to go trail riding. There is only one paved road to access all of the trail heads as well as the top of Sandia Crest at 10,678 ft elevation. Sandia Crest Road is 12 miles long and also travels to the Sandia Ski Area, too. And as you can see, it is a very winding and twisting road.

My house is exactly 10.6 miles from the start of Sandia Crest Road, and although I have done a lot of hiking in the Sandia Mountains, I had never taken my horse up there. So this was a pretty awesome experience for me…and my horse, too!

This vista is north across the Sandia Crest Road towards Santa Fe in the distance.

In this photo you can get a better idea of just how curvy Sandia Crest Road truly is. And these folks in this truck were so excited to see us, they were taking a photo of me and my horse at the same time that I was taking a photo of them!

And in this last photo, you can see the Sandia Crest Road as it snakes between one of the many trail head parking areas along Sandia Crest Rd. Those are our horse trailers down below.

Completed ACTHA Competitive Trail Rides

~April 29 2012: Heads or Tails (San Acacia, NM)

~Apr 21, 2012: 4 Winds Equestrian Center, Estancia, NM

~Apr 22, 2012: 4 Winds Equestrian Center, Estancia, NM

~March 11, 2012: Ides of March, San Acacia, NM

~Feb 12, 2012: Sweethearts of San Acacia, San Acacia, NM

~Sept 10, 2011: Ride for the Mustangs, Santa Fe, NM

~July 16, 2011: NM Mounted Search and Rescue at Founders Ranch SASS, Edgewood, NM

~June 13 2010: NM Chile Pepper World Record for the Rescues, Estancia, NM

~June 12 2010: Caballos y Caballeros Warm Up Ride for the Guinness World Record, Estancia, NM

~April 10, 2010: Wild Bunch Meets Hole in the Wall Gang, Estancia, NM

ACTHA Rides I've Judged:

Zucchini Harvest Updates

*August 30 ~ 4 (3 for Baked Zucchini Squares)
*September 1 ~ 2 (1 for Pizza)
*September 2 ~ 3 (2 for Fried Zucchini)
*September 5 ~ 3 (1 to chickens, Chocolate Cake w/2)
*September 7 ~ 1 (1 to the chickens)
*September 12 ~ 3 (2 to a friend)
*September 13 ~ 3 (2 to chickens)
*September 17 ~ 2 (2 for Zucchini Bread)
*September 20 ~ 4 (4 to chickens)
*September 22 ~ 2 (3 for Spice Cake)
*September 28 ~ 2 (4 to a friend)
*October 1 ~ 1 Monster Zucchini! (3 for Stir Fry)
*October 3 ~ 1 (1 to chickens)
*October 6 ~ 5 (1 to chickens)
*October 10 ~ 10

Total ~ 46

10 comments:

Laura Pike said...: Just came back from two weeks in New Mexico, of course had to do the Sandia Tram. Had a wonderful time. Two more years till I live there permanently, hope to be able to make it to those trails with my paint someday.
Great pictures!!; 6/30/2012 9:19 PM
Dom said...: love these shots; 6/30/2012 9:26 PM
The Dancing Donkey said...: Sure looks like a fun ride. I think I'd be up there hiking or riding at every opportunity if I had the chance.; 6/30/2012 9:49 PM
Ed said...: Great shots, I can feel the cool mountain air and a breeze with pine in the air..:-); 7/01/2012 8:45 AM
fernvalley01 said...: Great shots, and again such beautiful country!; 7/01/2012 10:02 AM
One Fly said...: I enjoyed this a lot. We're neighbors kinda.; 7/01/2012 4:53 PM
MTWaggin said...: Great shots. Roads are better when seen thru two cute ears!; 7/01/2012 6:16 PM
Eva said...: Great photos, and I love that you've added a map. I should do that.
The horse ears sticking up in every shot is just adorable.; 7/02/2012 8:24 AM
Terry and Linda said...: Great shots and the horse ears are just perfect!

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com; 7/02/2012 6:58 PM
Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...: That's a wonderful road post! And some beautiful country. We have always loved our visits to wonderful NM; 7/03/2012 5:37 PM