Photos Only

Along the Sierra Vista Trail

Dr. K, Becca and I took a long hike on the Sierra Vista Trail in the high foothills of the Organ Mountains.  It rained before we started off, but we were fortunate to only get spat upon with a few sprinkles during our trek.  The weather was quite chilly, with a consistent, stiff breeze.  We saw nobody else along the entire length of trail we did.  When we got back to the parking lot, though, three middled-aged women with three happy dogs were about to set off on the northern section of the trail, which was just dedicated on November 6th, and which we haven't hiked yet.

Sabado

Let's do this thing

The weather is supposed to change by tomorrow; rain is expected.  But today was wonderful on the mountain.  I started out with a light PolarPlus vest under my anorak, but I soon had to shed that.  After one-fourth of the hike, I had no need for the gloves I was wearing.  By the time we were finishing up we were encountering joggers in tee shirts and shorts.  As I write this it's 64 F outside.  Last February around this time we had a brutal freeze.

In the foothills

The large arroyo directly next to our house

Looking east toward Tortugas Mountain

Facing west down the arroyo

Tortugas Mountain (aka "A" Mountain).  Drain channels under roadway

Far Outer Loop

Getting started

Becca and I finally found the end (or beginning, depending on your perspective) of a single-track trail that intersects the most distant loop road around Tortugas.  This adds another trail to our repertoire of hikes around the mountain and foothill areas.  Our only concern revolves around the number of spent shotgun cartridges we found at the far western end of the trek.

Hiking away from Tortugas

Somebody's getting read for spring

Heading upslope

Distant view of Tortugas (left) and the Organ Mountains

Dynamic Day

When there is a proper distribution of sun and clouds in the arid desert--as there was this morning--the light and shadows make for some very dynamic vistas.  What more can be said?

My Dog

Becca may well be the most-photographed dog in the Chihuahuan Desert.

The Hawk

Heading out of the foothills

The Hawk was out this morning, and I'm not referring to a raptor.  Back in the Midwest where I come from people often called a biting cold wind, "the hawk."  This morning's wind was brutal.  Even though the ambient temperature was just under forty degrees, the wind chill seemed closer to twenty.  Brrr!

A marred image of spectacular clouds