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!!

Sandia Crest Ride in Reverse

In mid September, my riding friends, Yvonne and Ginny, asked me if I'd lead a ride up to Sandia Crest and the Kiwanis Cabin. And of course, I said yes, because I always enjoy riding in the beautiful Sandia Mountains.

I met them at the 10K trail head and after tacking up, we rode out on the trails that I usually ride, but in reverse.

I've been focusing on riding my usual trails in reverse this past year, so that I can memorize them in both directions. One thing many people don't realize is that a trail looks completely different when you turn around and travel in the opposite direction. This is why people often get lost when they get turned around. Nothing looks familiar.

But I want to be sure that doesn't happen to me. I want to know the trails I ride, as intimately as if they are in my own backyard. 

And one of the cool things about riding my Sandia Crest loop ride in reverse, is that we get up to the breathtakingly amazing Kiwanis Cabin within the first hour of riding.

And of course, we posed for lots of photos!

Apache and I have walked up those stone steps and entered the Kiwanis Cabin countless times over the years. It's one of the highlights for me when taking folks up to Kiwanis Cabin and Sandia Crest. I always look forward to it! It's absolutely exhilarating!

Apache and I on the stone steps on the left, Ginny on her Friesian cross gelding and Yvonne on her Quarter Horse mare.

A very kind hiker offered to take our photos at Kiwanis Cabin. In turn we let her and her friends pet our horses.

Apache and I always walk out to the edge of the Crest to enjoy the impressive views looking out over Albuquerque towards the west.

Sandia Crest Selfie!

After we enjoyed the views and took lots of photos, we rode north on the Crest Trail up towards the Crest House and the Radio Towers.

The Radio Tower area is surrounded by a 7' tall chain link fence to protect the towers which provide TV and Radio all over New Mexico.

Unfortunately, trees often fall down and wreck the fence, and it takes officials a long time to repair the fence. This means that bad people could sneak in and cause trouble within the facility. Which is just what happened this past summer, when someone snuck in and tried to blow up the Radio Tower facility.

Thankfully, they did not succeed.

Soon we were riding within the Wilderness boundary.

I decided to stop for lunch at one of my favorite Crest view spots. 

Apache was happy to enjoy a much deserved rest.

Gin and Yvonne feeling brave to sit right on the edge above 10,600' elevation. The city of Albuquerque and the Sandia Indian Reservation stretches out far below us.

My riding boots Sandia Crest Selfie. This is the most amazing lunch spot ever!

After enjoying a leisurely lunch with breathtaking views, we mounted back up and continued heading north on Sandia Crest Trail.

Normally I take the 10K trail back down to the parking area, but this time I decided to take us on the Survey Trail instead. Good choice, too. It is a gorgeous trail that travels through thick forest.

Although there are a couple steep and narrow granite boulder steps to negotiate, so a sure-footed, careful, trail savvy horse is a necessity. And metal shoes are not a good idea, as they can be very slippery when traversing over granite slabs.

Apache's Cavallo hoof boots did a terrific job at giving her feet secure grip on the granite.  

Such beautiful trails in the Sandia Mountains. I am so lucky to be able to access them in just 30 minutes from my house.

The trail travels above and beside the Sandia Scenic Byway which provides incredibly, jaw dropping views.

The aspen leaves were already starting to turn beautifully golden. In a couple more weeks, entire aspens stands will turn yellow and it will be spectacular!

And we finally arrived at the 10K parking area. The white horse trailer in front of my friend Yvonne's rig belonged to someone else. Yvonne and Ginny had ridden up together in Yvonne's rig, while I drove up by myself...with my Apache mare, of course!

The day could not have been more perfect! Beautiful weather, great riding partners, awesome horses, and gorgeous trails!
Life is Good!!