Thanksgiving Day -- Sandia Cave

I proposed a "staycation" in which we stayed at home and did some day trips and hikes.  Stephen said we could do that as long as I promised never to say the word "staycation" again.  I hope this short explanation doesn't break my promise.
Stephen came up with the plan for Thanksgiving day.  While he worked on Wednesday, I made way too much food in preparation.  Wednesday night we went out to El Patron for blue corn enchiladas, then to  Lizard Tail Brewing to hear some jazz.

We had some things to take care of Thursday morning so we didn't head out until after lunch.  We drove up to Bernalillo to take the dirt road up the back of Sandia Mountain.

Three miles on the unimproved road brought us to the parking area for the trail head.  At this point we had seen a dusting of leftover snow but Stephen had not needed four wheel drive.  It was warm in the sun but quite brisk in the shade so we layered up and brought hats and gloves.

You can see our destination in the next photo: the stairs to the cave.

 Here is what one website says about Sandia Cave:
The site is located high on the east side of Las Huertas Canyon in the northern Sandia Mountains. The mouth of this limestone cavity is small, its open length is 127 yards, and in only a few interior places may a person stand erect. Frank Hibben (1910-2002) of the University of New Mexico conducted excavations in the cave from 1937 through 1941 in an attempt to associate prehistoric humans of the “Sandia culture” with extinct Pleistocene mammals. Hibben argued that “Sandia points” represented a culture that predated both Clovis and Folsom. Controversy erupted regarding the true age of the points, as other archaeologists questioned the cave’s proper stratigraphy and whether Hibben himself had planted the artifacts. Following a series of published academic articles questioning the veracity of the finds at Sandia Cave, Hibben’s work was discredited. However, the debate that ensued over Sandia Cave continues to be taught in the history of Paleoindian and Southwestern archaeology. Popular and professional articles revisiting the site and discussing the Hibben controversy continue to be published into the 21st century.

 We didn't go very far into the cave, not being prepared with helmets and lights.  But I climbed into the second chamber and looked into the tunnel past that point. 

After our hike we continued up the back of the mountain to intersect with the paved road.  This sign says, "Road closed for winter; proceed at your own risk."  Stephen tried to tell me it said, "proceed at your own PACE."  I did not believe him.

Me: Don't drive me off a cliff.
Stephen:  Yes, yes, you've made it perfectly clear that you don't like that.
Me: Well...   to be fair, it has been more than 20 years since you've driven me off a cliff.
Stephen:  Yes!  Ever since you said you didn't like it!!!  See?
Me:  I didn't think I had to say it... but OK.

We caught the sunset on our way down the mountain, arrived safely home, and ate our Thanksgiving dinner.  Harvest stuffed acorn squash, garlic-glazed green beans, mashed potatoes, sensational stuffing with nuts, roasted Brussels sprouts with apples and onions, and pumpkin pie.  What a day!