Letterboxes and Wildflowers

Earlier this week Thomas and I decided we wanted to get out this weekend and do some hiking and look for a few letterboxes. So this morning once we were up and had breakfast and coffee we loaded the car and headed off to Albuquerque. Well, it wasn't exactly Albuquerque. We drove the Turquoise Trail (NM 14) until we reached the Sandia Crest Highway (NM 536). We turned right onto NM 536 and drove 11 miles to the parking area for the 10K Trail. There are two parking areas - one on the right for the 10K North and one on the left for the 10K South. We parked on the left. After gathering our things we started down the 10K South Trail. It was an incredible walk. Plenty of trees to keep us cool, lots of beautiful wildflowers and lots of peace and quiet. Almost immediately we started seeing wildflowers, they were everywhere and we continued to see wildflowers throughout the day. We saw Rocky Mountain Iris, Deers Ears, New Mexico Locust, Red Penstemon, Apache Plume, Baneberry, Yarrow, Western Wallflower, Red Columbine, Golden Pea and Prickly Pear. So what should have been short hikes turned into long hikes because I stopped to take so many pictures - click on the Prickly Pear to see the slideshow. Just a little ways up the trail we encountered a group of six people that were on a wildflower walk (that is how we found out about some of the wildflower names) - it is called Celebrating Wildflowers. They have them every Saturday and they start at 9:00am. They meet at different areas in the Albuquerque area and are guided tours. For more information you can go to the Sandia Ranger District website and scroll down to the box titled Sandia Mountain Happenings. So now lets find some letterboxes.

To find the first letterbox we were looking for we hiked a little over a half mile we arrived at the Sandia Peak Ski runs. More specifically the Double Eagle ski run. Once we reached this point we had to figure some things out and it involved math. We didn't have to solve any equations or anything like that but we did have to know a little about triangles. We read the clues and started to think (yes, we can think). We figured out what we needed to do and headed to the area we thought was were the box was hidden. We were in the right place but it took us a little while to find the box - it was a little confusing. So with 2E * 10^4 in our hands we found a place to sit so we could stamp in. Turned out we were the first finders and we picked up the Lemon Shark Hitchhiker as well. After stamping in and rehiding the box we started out for the next box. We decided to hike up the Double Eagle ski run to the Sandia Peak Tram station.There was a little trail that headed up the ski run along the south edge. It was quite a climb but worth it. The next box we were looking for was the Sandia Peak Tram by Twinville Trekkers. So we found the 2 spheres, the cube and the submarine, followed the directions and headed down the Nature Trail. Then we ended up on the Gravel Pit Trail and found the box. A very nice stamp that really represents the box. We stamped in, rehid the box and then decided to check on two other boxes that are hidden in the area. We found Kantexan's Lost Texan #9 - which I have noticed is no longer listed on either AQ or LbNA - don't know why, it is alive and well. Oh, I just found it in the LbNA basement and noticed that the clues are a little off. But just know that the box is hidden by that log - you just may have to look a little. We also checked on Wanda and Pete's Sandia Picnic, which we were unable to find. It has been a while since I found that box but I am pretty sure we were looking in the right place. I am sad that this one is missing because the view from the hiding spot is spectacular. We returned to the tram area and decided lunch was in order. So we stopped in at the High Finance Restaurant. We both had hamburgers and onion rings (we figured we deserved after our climb up the mountain). After eating I took some pictures and then we headed back down the ski run to the 10K trail and eventually back to the car. It was a beautiful day on the mountain and there were some great views and wildflowers.

We drove back down NM 536 and turned right onto NM 14. We headed to Tijeras and more specifically Canyon Estates and the South Crest Trail #130. Our mission was to find the Poecile gambeli Letterbox. We parked and headed up the trail, and thankfully it was only a short walk (we were both pretty tired from our morning hike). We saw some wildflowers and ended up at a small waterfall. It was nice seeing this waterfall (we don't have many in NM) and enjoyed the area. We made our way up to the top of the waterfall and followed the directions to the box. We found it easily and found a nice shady spot to sit and stamp in. Once I finished stamping in we rehid the box and I took some pictures. Then we headed back to the parking lot. We redrove our route and headed back down NM 14. We stopped for one last box near the San Antonio Church. This was a drive-by and an easy find. I stamped in, rehid the box and we were off back down NM 14 headed home to Santa Fe. We got home, had some dinner and relaxed for a little bit. I have gotten my finds logged in and got this post written. Thomas and I had a great day and enjoyed all four of the letterboxes we found - thanks to all who placed them.