Low to High Trip

1st 2:  Willow and I were getting sprinkled on

Willow and I did a hike in the rain this morning, though the precip was only sprinkles.  After the trek we all got ready to head to the high country where we are now.

This & next:  Organs from Baylor Canyon Road

Haynes Canyon

Tongue girl

Mountain home

Sacramentos

Flores amarillas 

Mock vervain

 

Last 2:  trees and clouds

Thursday's True Colors

Desert/mountains

Not hot, but very humid when Dr. K, Willow and I did the morning hike.  We followed our regular route not seeing anyone else out and about.  The atmospheric stuffiness was almost stifling due to lack of air circulation, but as we headed up the right branch arroyo before finishing the trek a nice breeze brought our discomfort level down a skosh.

LDR-A

This & next:  desert/mountains again

Sky over Tortugas and the Organs

Willow near the ancient Soaptree Yucca

Ancient Soaptree Yucca in the left branch arroyo

 

After a Deluge

Late-blooming ocotillo

We had a big storm last night; much rain came down.  This morning everything was still wet.  Dr. K and I were pretty sure we'd get mud in our boots during the daily trek, but Willow seemed unperturbed about getting dirt under her toenails.  Just like a dog.  Followed our regular route and saw no one else out and about in our section of northern Chihuahuan Desert, though we did see lots of javelina paw prints in the wet sand.

Morning sky

Soaptree Yuccas and Picacho

The Wilster

All lit up and nowhere to go

Tortugas Mountain and a hint of the Organs

Prickly pear and barrel cactus

A different view of the mountains

Royal hunt of the sun

From above the right branch arroyo

13 ways of looking at a White-winged Dove

 

Few Photos

Variegated Meadowhawk dragonfly

Dr. K, Willow and I took an early morning hike in our section of northern Chihuahuan Desert today.  Because I'm working on a time-consuming project I decided to take only a few photos out there; the ones I took were not very good.  We had a fun trek nevertheless.

Allthorn

Willow on steep hill west of the right branch arroyo

 

Meager Monday

Tortugas Mountain dead ahead

Dr. K, Willow and I took a regular hike this morning.  The weather was pleasant, though a bit humid.  Looks like rain may be back in the picture later this week.  At the start of our trek today we spotted the Basset people bushwhacking across the desert far to the west of us; they were the only outdoor enthusiasts we saw today.

Soaptree Yucca and Tortugas

Faxon Yucca with Soaptree Yucca stalk behind

Wils having a break

In the right branch arroyo

Grass shadows on flat rock

Mesquite bean

 

Sunday Triplet

White-winged Dove

Dr. K, Willow and I hiked the regular route this morning seeing no one else along the way.  After yesterday's late-afternoon downpour the air was ripe with moisture today; the sun and lack of breeze made conditions somewhat toasty.  After the trek we took a long ride around several different neighborhoods just because we hadn't done so in a while. Unfortunately we couldn't listen to Matt and Myron on their Sunday Morning show because they weren't there--and the substitute anchors weren't that interesting.

Happy Willow

Atop 4200 hill

This & next:  triple barrel cactus

View southwest from the right branch arroyo

Deadwood and shadow

 

Cloudy, Windy, Chilly

1st 2:  Tortugas and the Organs under clouds

Just Willow and me on the chilly hike this morning; Dr. K had a meeting to attend.  Because of the clouds and wind it was just about as chilly as it's been in many months; I actually felt a tad cold.  We did the regular route today even though I felt like abbreviating the hike.  By the time we reached the bottom of the middle branch arroyo, though, the wind had abated and I was glad we hadn't shortened the trek.

Picacho and environs with low clouds

Organ Mountains

Picacho with clouds

Willow off lead

Dead tree

View from right branch arroyo

Black-throated Sparrow

Upper reaches of the right branch arroyo

 

Above the right branch arroyo

Potrillo Mountans on the horizon

Apach Plume

Apache Plume and friend