Winter's Back

Yesterday's horrible wind storm ushered in some really cold air.  Coupled with stiff winds this morning, the temperature during our hike was quite chilly.  We're supposed to get down near freezing tonight, which made me worry about some of these plants that are still blossoming in the desert.

Half-eaten Prickly Pear Cactus (probably the work of a pack rat)

Photos From a Hike

Assorted images from a long hike that Dr. K, Becca and I took this morning.  It's a good thing that we got the trek over with before the wind started.  It is absolutely ugly out there right now:  sustained winds of 45 mph, gusts up to 65 mph.

Saturday Shuffle

Becca's preferred profile shot

There were a lot of people out on the mountain this morning, not surprising because it was a beautiful day.  Springlike winds are picking up now, however, and we're expecting gusts of 50 mph + tomorrow.  That's in advance of a cold front that will drop our daytime highs by thirty degress.  We're to be 81 Farenheit today.  Tomorrow's high will be 73 F.  Monday it will be 50 F.  That's okay because I never want to slip right into the summer season here.  Hoping for a few more really cold days.

On the trail ahead

Torrey Yuccas and Tortugas Mountain

The desert in bloom

Scenes From a Desert

A series of computer-enhanced images from the Chihuahuan Desert near Tortugas Mountain, New Mexico.

A Longer Hike

On the rim trail

Becca and I got a lot of exercise out in the desert this morning, hiking along the rim trail and then down into the lower regions before taking the far outer loop road into the outback.  We did a little semi-bushwhacking before striking back to the old loop road.  We saw only one other person--a woman with a German Shepherd called Kaiser.  I'm surprised by how many Torrey Yuccas are already in full bloom; that's a tad early for them, but our weather has been very springlike.


In the outback



An almost nonexistent trail



Torrey Yucca in bloom



Beautiful flowers

Soft flowers on a sharp plant

Desert Jaunt

A tripartite Devil's Head (tres cabezas son mejor que una)

Due to other obligations, Becca and I had to abbreviate our hike this morning.  Nevertheless, we still got in some good exercise and took some interesting photos.  Well, I took the photos while she sniffed the ground for animals scents.

Desert and sky

Contortionist

Torrey Yucca in bloom

Lead scout

Tortoise Mountain

Claret Cup Cactus

Soledad Canyon Trek

Interesting rock formations, Barr Canyon trail head

Dr. K, Becca and I made a trek deep into the heart of Soledad Canyon in the Organ Mountains of southern New Mexico today.  The weather was perfect:  pleasantly warm with a cooling breeze.  Although we did see a few other hikers on the other side of the canyon when we were walking out, we ran into nobody.  It was as if we had the entire place to ourselves.

Van Gogh-like sky

Looking back toward the Mesilla Valley

Into Soledad Canyon

Massive rock monoliths

Thumbs up



Along the trail in the high country



Guess who's having a blast

Casita Grande

Happy trekkers



Mexican Poppy opening up



Deeper into Soledad Canyon