These petitions had no effect, but it turns out that while Pete doesn't like going horizontally he'll travel vertically all day! Yes, he's a rock climber. Perhaps the fight against gravity means he has less energy to fight his well-meaning parents. Climbers not whiners!
Nearby us is Monjeau Peak, which turns out to be the perfect place to allow our boy to scale the heights. There's a fire watchtower on top of this ancient volcano and a road leading all the way up, but you can also take the direct route through scrub, trees, and many many giant eroded boulders.
I have to say, the watchtower looks lovely; a little six-foot-square room planted on top of a stone tower. It's the kind of place that appeals to my monk-like character. As long as there's fast wi-fi and an espresso machine in there, I could spend a few happy months looking out for smoke.
Sadly we had to descend to earth, so our next big hike was back on Shanks's pony as we walked down into a nearby river valley in search of some cave paintings. As it turned out there was one rock, right at the start of the walk, that someone had once carved something into. Calling it "The Petroglyph Trail" did oversell it somewhat. Pete wasn't the only one complaining on that walk.
New Mexico roads are...interesting.
The perfect place for some vertical tomfoolery.
One of the small piles of rock we climbed on the way up the large pile of rock.
Neither up nor down.
But near the top.
My summer house for next year.
At the summit!
What's the point of this unless it's to take awesome action photos?
Like this one (roughly 10 inches off the ground)!
It was decided that returning via the road would be easier than trying to do all that backwards.
Another day, another hike.
Petroglyph - Greek for "you shouldn't have bothered."
Troubled water.
And no water! A picnic in a dry river bed. We were joined by many large ants.
Telling Pete - for the 1,000th time - about my tough childhood walk to school.
Checking out the incoming storm before turning home.
And at home? Elk.
