Last Hurrah Ride to High Finance Restaurant

A kind of last minute ride was planned by me and my friend, Dana on another beautiful Autumn day, so we could take just one last journey up to the soon-to-be-closing High Finance Restaurant. It would be closing in just 4 days, and we both wanted to share that amazing and unique experience of riding our horses to a very special and historic restaurant located above 10,500' elevation in the Sandia Mountains, so we could eat a delicious lunch together.

This would be my fourth lunch ride up to High Finance Restaurant and I consider myself very lucky and blessed to have had these opportunities to be a part of such a unique New Mexican Horseback riding experience.

My friend Dana met me at the 10K trailhead with her Arabian mare, Fancy, and after tacking up, we headed south on 10K trail.

Much of the 10K trail is also a x-country ski route as well, as shown by the blue diamonds placed on trees, along the trail.

We always pause as we ride across the ski runs because the views to the east are stunningly beautiful.

See what I mean?

I adore riding among the lovely aspens. Notice that the 10K trail does have quite a bit of rocks. My mare wears Cavallo hoof boots on rocky trails like these.

I chose a route up the mountain that took us off of the 10K trail.

As we zig-zagged and switch-backed up the mountain, we crossed the ski runs many times, riding beneath the ski lifts.

Looking out towards the east.

Dana riding across Sandia Ski Run. Fancy waiting for a treat from Dana.

This was a brand new trail for me and Dana. I had mapped it out and was excited to ride a different route up to Sandia Crest. The trail was beautiful and challenging, just what I love! 

I loved all the boulders and rock steps on this trail.

My Happy Place Trail Selfie!

Aspens ahead!!!

Even without their leaves, I find aspens incredibly beautiful!

One of the things I appreciate about riding with my friend Dana is that she trusts me enough to lead our rides, mapping out routes and exploring new trails. She's always game for an adventure, like me!

Dana and Fancy on the Cibola Ski Run.

Looking down and east on the ski run.

Looking up and west on the ski run.

After a couple hours of riding up the mountain, we reached Sandia Crest and the High Finance Restaurant. We tied up our horses outside and made our way into the restaurant.

There is (or should I say was, since the High Finance is no more) a door on the side of the dining area that made it very easy for us to take turns checking on our ponies while we sat inside and ate our lunch.

But every time we checked, they were just fine and being good ponies.

Before going inside to eat our lunch we took a few photos as mementos to remember our special times riding up for lunch.

Me, of course!

Me and my dear friend Dana. I'm so glad that we thought to take photos. These photos will always be very special to me.

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After we ate our lunch, I also took some final photos of the inside of the High Finance Restaurant.

Looking up towards the bar from the dining room.

The bar.

Looking down into the dining room and out towards the deck and, and just on the other side of the deck, the Sandia Peak Tram.

When we finished our delicious lunch, we headed back outside and found our ponies resting and waiting patiently for us to return. We truly have perfect ponies!

We decided to take a couple more photos as mementos of our time spent up at the High Finance Restaurant.

Apache and I with the back of the High Finance Restaurant behind us.

Apache and I with the the High Finance Restaurant behind us. And just to the right of that deck, on the far right of this photo, the mountain drops straight down over a thousand feet! But the views westward out over Albuquerque are just incredible!

After our special, and final lunch forever, at the High Finance Restaurant, we headed back down the mountain.

Riding through beautiful groves of aspens.

We rode for about 4 hours and enjoyed an hour long leisurely lunch that we will always hold dear to our hearts. We had the most amazing day.

Back at the trail head parking area. Apache enjoying a well deserved drink of water at my trailer.

Life is Good!!