On a beautiful Autumn day, my riding companions asked me to guide another ride in the spectacular Sandia Mountains. I met Yvonne, Roxanne and Gin, who all rode together, at the 10K trail head.
Apache waiting at my trailer, all saddled up and ready to ride.
We headed out across the Ellis Trail, traveling north towards the beautiful golden aspens. To the northwest above us, we could see the radio towers up on top of Sandia Crest at 10,678' elevation.
Ellis Trail is very rocky and hilly. Along with the high mountain elevation, it is definitely a work-out for our horses.
Yvonne and I letting our horses take a well-deserved rest.
Ellis Trail is also one of the best trails in the Sandia Mountains to enjoy countless groves of beautiful aspen trees.
The spectacular golden color, against the brilliant blue sky takes your breath away!
I appreciate that my riding companions don't enjoy riding nose-to-tail. We all ride our own ride close enough to usually see one another, but not on top of each other's butts. It's the best way to appreciate nature and enjoy the views.
An Aspen Trail Selfie!
Like I said earlier, Ellis Trail is very hilly. It would be a great trail for burning some energy off of an excited horse. The hill work is also great for conditioning.
There are several aspen groves along Ellis Trail with hundreds of young aspens to ride among. It's truly breathtaking!
The sound of the aspen leaves shaking and quivering in the wind is just magical.
Ellis Trail travels north across the east side of the Sandias. Most of the trail is in the open, except for the sections that travel through groves of aspen trees.
And those aspen lined sections of trail will take your breath away!
Along the northern section of Ellis Trail, the expansive vistas open up towards the east and north.
It's one of my favorite things about riding Ellis Trail. Those incredible views!
Then I lead my riding companions off Ellis Trail onto a short section of trail towards Sandia Crest. The red of the scrub oaks provides colorful walls to ride between.
And then we are up on the Sandia Crest Trail, tying up our horses for a rest, while we prepare for a scenic and leisurely lunch.
Apache surrounded by beautiful Autumn color.
Me, Roxanne and Gin enjoying our lunch on Sandia Crest, while Yvonne takes our photo.
After a relaxing lunch, we mounted back up on our wonderful horses and set out southbound of Sandia Crest Trail.
Apache and I leading through the scrub oaks with Gin behind us, then Roxanne, followed by Yvonne.
The bright sunlight shining on the scrub oaks, made them glow with brilliant color!
Usually those ridges and mountain sides in front of us are covered with yellow aspens, but we had just missed their peak of color by a week and most of their leaves had already blown away.
But there will still patches of golden aspens among the pines.
We rode south across Sandia Crest past the Sandia Crest House, stopping for a few photo opportunities among the aspens, along the trail towards Kiwanis Cabin.
My riding companions, although thrilled to be up above 10,600' elevation surrounded by amazing, jaw dropping views, were still scared to get close to the edge of the Crest. So I was unable to take any photos of them. They were even too nervous to dismount and walk out to the edge of inside of Kiwanis Cabin on foot.
Since I trust my equine partner very much and because we had been up to Sandia Crest countless times over the years, it didn't even occur to me that someone new to the experience would be too nervous and scared to experience Sandia Crest on horseback.
I was disappointed for my riding companions, though, but I didn't let that stop me from living in the moment and making the most from our time up on this truly spectacular locale.
Notice the Sandia Peak Tramway Station in the distance, on the far right side of the ridge, in front of us. And yes, that rock under our feet drops down thousands of feet below us.
Apache and took our opportunity to ride inside of Kiwanis Cabin, but no one thought to take a photo of us. But it's always a highlight of every visit that Apache and I make up to Kiwanis Cabin and something I always look forward to doing with my equine best friend.
A friendly hiker did ask if she could take our photo, though. And then I asked her to take a photo with my camera. So, I'm happy to have this photo of my mare and I on Sandia Crest. And yes, we are standing on solid rock. This is one reason why I never put metal shoes on my mare. Riding on solid rock with metal shoes is slippery and dangerous.
Apache and I rode out to the west side of the Crest to take a selfie with the northern ridge of the Sandias in the background.
And one of my friends snuck in a photo of Apache and I standing on the edge of the world!
And, even though they wouldn't ride up and join me near the edge of Sandia Crest, my friends snuck in one last photo of Apache and I gazing out over the city of Albuquerque and out towards Mount Taylor over 50 miles away to the west.
Apache and I love the vistas! We take every opportunity to stop and take in the views. I love that mare of mine!
Life is Good!!
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