Philmont: You Gotta Go Down To Go Up, 7/16/15

Up to a gorgeous sunrise at Deer Lake. Ra-Ja left us, and we set out for our day. Walked out of Deer Lake and along the ridge of Deer Lake Mesa, and had an absolutely beautiful view down the valley to the south, towards Tooth Ridge. The boys stopped and played on the rocks for awhile, climbing down "just to get a better view." More like, letting their natural mountain goat out to roam. Then, down into that valley to find the commissary at Ute Gulch. I need to find the sadist who planned this trek: we struggled to get up that atrocious road/trail to get to Deer Lake, then lost ground going downhill to Ute Gulch, where we picked up another 54 bags of food--each of us carrying eight bags now, only to start what will become three straight days of nothing but uphill climbing. Seriously, who plans it this way? The climb up to Cimarroncito was a little challenging today, but tomorrow is five miles and 1,000 feet more, then seven miles and nearly 2,000 feet into a dry camp. Oy.

At Cimarroncito, the best of all possible worlds: Connor was waiting for us on the front porch of the main cabin. He had been brought down after midnight last night, then had two minor procedures done to relieve the blood blister (not a plantar's wart after all), and was patted on the head and sent back out. He's very, very happy to be back with us--as we all are to have him!--because he says the infirmary is a concentration camp. You can't go anywhere, you have to do chores all day long. I'm sure they make it somewhat unpleasant so as to encourage the boys to get back out there instead of lazing around all day.

The main event at Cimarroncito was rock climbing, which everyone except me did (I just didn't feel like trying it today). So, had the chance to be the photographer instead, on the advanced side of the cliff face. Then, afterward, had the luxury of a hot shower, before doing laundry and setting it out to dry. Our campsite, on a knob, was very rocky--not at all like last night. We're definitely getting up into the mountains now. Deer Lake to Cimarroncito brought us to 8,140' with 27,834 steps or 13.14 miles on the Fitbit, including side hikes to the rock climbing. Total 29.19mi and 44,852 steps since the trailhead.

The view into the valley; the rock ridge about 1/3 the way down is Cimarroncito's rock climbing ridge.

Beautiful skies and beautiful views

Along the trail to Ute Gulch, looking into the valley with Tooth Ridge to the right.

At Cimarroncito's rock climbing wall; no, we didn't get to climb this.

713-L-4 geared up and ready to climb!

Thomas on the cliff face

Thomas ready to rappel

Zack working his way up, with Connor at the bottom

"Look, Ma, no hands!"

David chugging up the cliff face

Connor, working a different route up the cliff

Sean on the rappel

Asher making his ascent

John in hands-free mode

Stephen climbing through to the difficult patch

Started seeing a lot of mule deer around Cimarroncito. This one wandered near our campsite.