Rancho de Cielo

If you're taking a trip to Cielo, you really ought to be fairly confident that you're capable of "roughing-it." Everyone staying at Cielito gets to make trips to the outhouse and light their own lanterns. The water at the ranch is pumped from a well and is limited. Short (and usually COLD) showers are a must and flashlights could come in very handy if you're accustomed to making midnight trips to the bathroom. While this may seem to some as extremely uncomfortable, the accommodations are actually quite nice and their primitive qualities (when compared to what most of us are used to) make the stay all the more fun.

These are pictures of one of the cabins you might stay in on a Cielo trip.

The ranch can be a colorful place, even in winter. The cabins are surrounded by flowers and are frequented by all sorts of friendly critters!

photograph by Andrea Lopez, January 2003

photograph by Erica Renee Lopez, January 2003

A short distance from the cabins is the helipad, an excellent spot to explore during the day and perfect at night for stargazing. It is a level area surrounded by trees and views of the mountains.

The Helipad, West Ridge in the background, photograph by Dr. Gene J. Paull, May 2003

A trip to Cielo means hiking - if the weather isn't too bad. With so much to see in such little time, the strenuous climbs to some of the areas with the most spectacular views are well worth the effort.

The hike to Cielo is a tough one that not many people end up trying to tackle. Fortunately a four-wheel-drive vehicle specialized for these sorts of mountain climbs is available for those who would rather relax and take in the view on wheels. They way out of Cielo is all downhill, so more people opt to try this one. Here are a few things you might see along the way.

One of the interesting things along the road is a shrine to the Virgin de Guadalupe.. The group stops here to take a breather.
photograph by Dr. Gene J. Paull, May 2003

photograph by Dr. Gene J. Paull, May 2003

The hike to North Hill is approximately one mile of STEEP rock climbing. It can take a lot out of you but at the very top is a sight unlike any other that you'll see on the trip. All around you are mountains and you're at the rocky peak of a high hill yourself. The group usually sticks around for a while before hiking back down to take pictures and admire the view. Sometimes even a nice lunch is in good order.

If you look closely, this rock has fossils in it. This rock and others like it can be found at the top of North Hill approximately 4,000 feet above sea level.
Photograph by Erica Renee Lopez, January 2003

The hike to Barbara's patch is hilly and steep. It's about four miles to get there and four back. Hikers usually start out in the morning and have lunch at the patch before returning to camp. These are pictures taken at and on the way to Barbara's Patch.

photograph by Dr. Gene J. Paull, May 2003