Sandia Crest~Letterboxing

After we left Tinkertown we drove the 14 miles up the mountain to Sandia Crest, where we had planned to do some hiking and a little letterboxing to complete our fun day.

We hiked the informative and interesting Nature Trail, reading the placards along the way. We learned about "Old Man's Beard", which is similar to the dripping Spanish Moss found in southern states, but is not as invasive. We also learned about pine borer beetles, many different types of trees, 'flagging', the different types of vegetation, flowers and trees at the 10,600 feet elevation at the top of Sandia mountain. By the time we were finished the boys knew so much about the area, they both wanted to take the Jr. Ranger Quiz so they could earn their badge! The ranger was already gone for the day, though, so we'll have to go back up later so they can earn their badges.

Meanwhile, we hiked the 1/4 mile nature loop, and about 1 mile round trip of the Crest trail to the Kiwana's Meadows and back, while looking for 2 letterboxes hidden in the area.
We were able to easily discover the 'Sandia Crest' box with it's cleverly appropriate stamp inside. But alas, "The Lost Texan's Series #9 box" is either missing or buried deep under rotting wood and logs.

There is also a third box, but it is closer to the Sandia Peak Tram, so we are planning on finding that one later, when we ride the tram. The hiking trail from the Crest House to the Tram is 3.8 steep miles down, with another 3.8 steep miles returning. We were all a little breathless and out-of-shape today, and the promise of a tram ride to find the other letterbox was much more enticing! hehe

We were finished hiking and letterboxing around 5pm, and decided to take the back way, short-cut down and OVER the Sandia Mountains over the 8 mile gravel road that ends up in Placitas. This road would shave off about an hour and 15 mins of driving down the mountain on NM14 through Sandia Park, through the Tijeras Canyon on I-40 and into Albuquerque on I-25 or Tramway Blvd.
We weren't looking forward to the ABQ rush hour either, which can be horrendous, so we took that short-cut route, which brought us into northern Rio Rancho, where we live, in less than 25 mins!
Even with the slower driving, some washboard areas, a few large potholes, and many little boulders poking up all over the gravel/sand road (so glad I have a high-clearance vehicle), we still blazed right through and over the mountains, and the views were no less than spectacular!

Sandia Crest~Can't hike any higher here!Some strking views to the south with the Manzano Mnts. in the distance.
Hiking up through and over the carved rock steps. The rocks are covered with fossil imprints, most seashells and small sea type animals, which quite shocked Jax and Jem to realize that these mountains were at one time, under the ocean!About twelve years ago, one of my best friends', Aeri, and I hiked the full length of the La Luz Trail from ABQ to the top of Sandia Peak and to the Tram, where we jumped on a tram for the ride back down to ABQ, and then John picked us back up. Surprisingly, that hike only took the two of us about 4 hours to hike. I think if I tried it again now at age 40, it would take me much longer, and I'd be paying for it, in aches and pains, for days aferwards.
Still I'd like to try it again after I re-condition myself for such a strenuous uphill hike. The feeling, after arriving at the top with only our own two feet as power, was a feeling without words. Just phenominal! The La Luz Trail brought back all of those terrific memories again.Some coppery colored Lichen growing on the rocks at the top. There were several different colors growing there, such as yellow, black and gray/green. Notice also the fossils, of what appear to be sea worms/crinoids.Some of the fossil imprints which are shells. The kids had a ball hunting for fossils.Amazed with the views from the top of our Sandia Mountain, a view which we usually only imagine as we look up from below and take the ever-there vista of the Sandia's for granted.Some of the large TV/Radio attennas. Something that we can always see at night with the blinking red aircraft safety lights. I immediately noticed how many more towers there were up here now, in comparison to the last time we were up here about 9 years ago. I'd guess that the amount has doubled!