South Sandia Crest Loop Ride

Earlier this summer I decided I wanted to haul my horse up into the Sandia Mountains and ride several of my favorite trails across the ski slopes out from the 10K South Trailhead.

I invited a riding companion to join me since she had never ridden those trails before.

Apache waiting patiently beside my trailer to head out on the trails.

Apache and I ready to go!

Apache and I led the way through the forest.

I love riding in the mountains, surrounded by tall trees!

Apache and I taking a little rest beside the trail.

Riding across one of the ski runs. Everything is so green!

Just enjoying the gorgeous vistas down the mountain and across the eastern plains.

My riding companion and her spotted pony enjoying a quiet moment on one of the ski runs.

The trail zigzags and switchbacks up the mountain towards the crest.

The trail takes you alternately through forests and across the green ski slopes.

Trail Selfie!

This section of trail through the forest looks like we were riding towards a hole that opens onto another ski run.

A Trail Selfie showing the mysterious forest hole.

Apache and I leading the way. There are many technical sections with some boulder hopping or steep downhills. Apache handles them all like the pro that she is. Professional Trail Horse that is!  

Apache and I on another ski run, this one with a ski lift.

My riding companion and her horse posing on a ski run.

The ski runs are very steep, but the trails travel across them, so the elevation is never very steep for your horse.

Here my riding companion and her horse show just how steep the ski runs really are.....Man from Snowy River steep!

Apache and I checking out the views down the mountain. If you look closely, you can see where the trail switchbacks or zigzags back and forth up the ski run.

Apache and I enjoying a quiet moment on one of the ski runs.

Apache and I beneath the ski lift.

Looking up towards Sandia Peak. We're almost there.

After riding up to Sandia Peak, I decided to  show my riding companion the Kiwanis Cabin up on Sandia Crest, above 10,600' elevation.

Apache on Sandia Crest looking west, down over the city of Albuquerque.

Apache and I on Sandia Crest, on the north side of Kiwanis Cabin, with the Manzano Mountains behind us.

My riding companion and her pony posing in front of Kiwanis Cabin.

Looking north towards the Crest House and the Crest Towers.

Apache and I just chillin' on Sandia Crest. She's been up here countless times with me. It's just one of the incredible places we have visited often and never tire of.

Between the ears looking out over the edge!

Then, because this is always something I do with my mare, we rode up inside of Kiwanis Cabin! I didn't have anyone to take our photo, so I took a between the ears photo from inside the cabin instead.

My riding companion and her horse followed Apache and I into Kiwanis Cabin and after Apache and I rode down the stairs, I told my riding companion to stay at the entrance so I could take a special photo.

And then we made our way back down the mountain.

Almost back at the trailhead and a herd of deer leapt across the trail and startled my riding companion's horse. Thankfully, she didn't fall of, and we were able to watch the deer from the trail below.

Do you see the deer in the trees, just above her horse's ears?

Almost back to the trailhead....

10K North parking lot is where the restroom is and where cars are welcome to park.

Trailers will have difficulty trying to turn around as there is only one entrance/exit.

While 10K South parking lot is a loop, so trailers can drive right through.

Apache's thinking, "We're back!! What a ride!"

What a ride indeed!

This photo epitomizes the feeling I get when riding someplace that I love. I am always filled with such a sense of joy and freedom and happiness! And I know Apache feels it, too. 

Life is Good!!

Sandia Crest Ride in Reverse (Addendum)

I created the original post "Sandia Crest Ride in Reverse" a few weeks ago, but since then I've received some more photos from my friends that I wanted to include in that post. But I didn't want them to get lost, and felt they needed their own, updated, more current post. You can find the original post, by clicking on the label below, "Sandia Crest Ride in Reverse".
So, here are the photos.

This photo is from the original post, to tie into the rest of the more recent photos.

Apache and I standing on the Kiwanis Cabin stone steps, after we had ridden inside the cabin. My friend Ginny on her Friesian cross gelding, and my friend Yvonne on her QH mare.



Kiwanis Cabin as seen from the Sandia Peak Tramway. Looking north. (Now scroll back to the previous photo....pretty amazing, huh?)



After we rode to the Kiwanis Cabin, we stopped off at the restrooms below the Sandia Crest House.
Our horses were like celebrities, with people stopping by to take photos and pet our horses.



Apache took it all in stride. She is very tolerant and patient.

After riding along the Crest Trail, I found a great view spot to have our photo taken.
Apache and I with the city of Albuquerque far below us.

This photo was also in the original post, but it shows the amazing view we had from our lunch location.
I was very proud of Yvonne sitting so close to the edge, as she has a fear of heights.



This is a newer photo that includes me during our lunch stop, so I wanted to include it, too.




After lunch, we continued riding north on the Crest Trail until we reached the 10K trail.
Apache and I just moseying along enjoying the beautiful forest.
 

When we returned to the parking area, I took this adorable photo of Apache next to my trailer. Awww! She's so pretty!

Sometimes when I'm riding my Apache mare and we are surrounded by beautiful nature, I am filled with so much joy and happiness, that my hands just fly up into the air. It's as if I am able to hug everything all around me!

My friend Ginny captured this photo of Apache and I and I love it!

Life is Awesomely Good!!

Top of the World Sandia Mountains Ride

I love riding in the Sandia Mountains. I am so lucky that I can be at a mountain trail head in about a 20-30 minute drive from my house. The mountains are literally in my backyard and I can enjoy a day ride anytime I want.
One of my favorite rides is usually a bucket list type of ride for most horseback riders. Yet, I have ridden my horse on this route more times than I can count on both hands.
Yet it never gets old. Never.

I call it the Top of the World Ride and it includes a loop ride up to Sandia Crest, above 10,678 ft elevation, with breathtaking views and a detour out to the impressive stone, hand-built Kiwanis Cabin.

My dear friend Dana had never done this ride before and asked me if I would lead her and her horse and show her the trails to get up to Sandia Crest. Of course, I said yes!

But I decided to map out a different route using a couple of other trails, instead of following my usual 10K to the Crest Trail route.

So, I met Dana at the 10K parking lot and we saddled up and got out onto the trails.

Then we rode another trail.

This beautiful trail travels through many aspen groves, which makes this a stunningly beautiful ride in Fall.

My trail selfie!

This trail is very hilly with a lot of rocky sections.

Some of the hills are quite steep, but nothing a good trail horse can't handle.

The beautiful green meadows beside the trail are wonderful photo opportunities.
Apache and I taking a moment for a photo...and a munch of grass.

When we reached the intersection, we turned and rode up towards the Crest.
When we reached the Crest, we tied up our ponies to enjoy a relaxing lunch break.

A gorgeous lunch spot with amazing views!

This is how I do a trail ride lunch!
Oh man! Life is Good!



After lunch we mounted up and took a few photos from our lunch spot.
Apache and I have stood in this same spot many times over the years.

And then we continued riding along the Crest Trail, stopping to admire the views looking down on Devil's Thumb.

Near the Devil's Thumb, I took a little detour to another favorite view spot of mine, so I could get a trail selfie of Apache and I looking out over the city of Albuquerque.

My friend Dana is so great! She took this cool photo of Apache and I standing in the same spot as my trail selfie above!

 

And of course, a Between the Ears photo from the same vantage point!

From where we stood, we could also see the radio towers up on Sandia Crest. Incredibly, that's where we were riding to!

So, back into the forest we went, riding the Sandia Crest Trail.

When we reached the radio towers, we rode beneath the Crest House and across the parking lot.
My friend Dana and her mare, posing on the heli-pad.

We continued past the Sandia Crest parking area towards Kiwanis Cabin. When we arrived at the cabin, Apache and I stopped to enjoy the views of Sandia Peak.
Just to the right of my hat in the photo below, if you look closely, you can see the Sandia Peak Tramway station.

After enjoying the breathtaking views, we rode over to the Kiwanis Cabin.

There was a boy standing up on top of the cabin. Not cool. There are signs specifically warning against standing on the roof because earlier this summer, a woman who was also a mother of small children, climbed up there and fell to her death.

But there aren't any rules against going inside of the cabin, for anyone, including horseback riders.
So, in we went.




The entrance is a little low. Good thing I have a short horse.



Once you're inside, you have to watch out for the ceiling vigas and ride between them.

 

And this is what the view looks like from inside Kiwanis on a horse's back.

Apache and I have stood in this same spot countless times over the years. I consider ourselves very blessed to have such amazing opportunities like this!

Getting to do this makes me feel alive! It's such a thrill and so exhilarating!
I am so blessed to have the most amazing horse in the entire world! We have shared many wonderful adventures together.

And thankfully, there were some hikers up at Kiwanis Cabin that offered to take a photo of Dana and I on horseback!
I'm so thankful for this wonderful photo of the four of us.
 

Behind Apache and I is the Sandia Crest and Crest House...and that heli-pad that I took a photo of  Dana and her mare earlier.

A trail selfie of Apache and I with the city of Albuquerque far below us!

After enjoying the views and taking tons of great photos up at Kiwanis Cabin, we made our way back down the mountain towards the 10K trail head.



The trails are so gorgeous! So green and thickly forested. Hard to believe at times that we're riding in New Mexico. It feels more like Colorado.

Dana and I feel the same way about riding in the Sandias...we love it! And we can't get enough!

Good thing we live so close. 

But it's ironic how it feels like you're far away from civilization when you're up there.

The way that the sunlight filters through the leaves of the aspens makes my heart sing!

We ride alongside, yet above, the Sandia Scenic Byway. The views out towards the north and east are just as breathtaking as the views up at the Crest.
 

Dana and her mare enjoying the views towards the east as we make our way down the mountain.

Apache and I stopped in a grove of beautiful aspens for a photo opportunity.

We're almost at the trail head and parking area. I can see the 10K restrooms up ahead.

And there we are, down below.
My rig is behind Dana's rig. When we arrived in the morning, the parking lot had cars parked in the spots in front of us. Thankfully, most cars seem to park in the lot down below nearest to the restrooms.

Apache post ride, enjoying a well deserved drink of cool water beside her trailer.

We had a fantastic ride on a beautiful day with awesome horses!

Apache and I on Top of the World!!