Extra Miles

Barrel Cactus west of the Organ Mountains

Because we spotted three hikers descending LDR in the distance--and we couldn't tell whether or not they had a dog--we bushwhacked east out of the LDR-A arroyo and struck across to the right branch arroyo.

From the right branch we headed north to the junction with the left branch, hiked south to the junction with the middle branch and then descended to the intersection with the right branch.

When we saw the three hikers cresting the summit of LDR we decided to extend our trek.  We went down the left branch to the east/west cross trail, headed west to LDR and turned around.  Then we did our entire hike in addition to the distance we'd already logged.  Neither Willow nor Frio complained one bit about the extra exercise.

This & next:  Frio and Willow spot hikers on LDR

Three wise men, distant yucca in background

"O"s on alert

Soaptree in left branch arroyo

View from the left branch

Tortugas Mountain (background left)

Mesquite and Soaptrees

Mesquite and the mountains

Willow and Frio