Early Wednesday

Desert before rain

We took an abbreviated hike around Tortugas Mountain this morning.  The weather was nice.  The wind hadn't picked up yet.  We didn't run into anybody, which made it even more pleasant for lovers of nature.


Becca at work



Contrails over the mountains

Becca on lookout

Becca in a cloud of dust (of her own making)

Windy Monday

Yucca in bloom

It was a lot windier this morning than we thought originally.  Not cold, though.  We did a long hike around Tortugas, and while doing so we encountered a Big Bend Patchnose Snake.  A very harmless species.  But when they start appearing on the trail, the rattlers can't be far behind.


Snake!



Only a Big Bend Patchnose

Just enough shade for a dog

Desert flora

Back in the Lower Chihuahuan Desert

The Franklin Mountains (near El Paso)

After four days in the high country, we've returned to the lower Chihuahuan Desert.  The temperature was pretty chilly this morning as we wend our way around Tortugas Mountain.  We encountered no other human beings--which is exactly how we like it.  Antisocial, huh?


Not the Serengeti Desert



Not a wildebeest

Mesquite tree leafing out

Closeup of Mesquite leaves

The Old Standby

The Tularosa Basin

On our last morning in High Rolls we hiked the old standby trail, the Grand View.  The views never disappoint.  It was 39 F. when we started off, and it never really warmed up because of the overcast and the steady breeze.  Nevertheless, a good time was had by all--especially Becca.

Jennifer Juniper

White Sands National Monument

Classic canine pose

Dr. K on the Grand View Trail

An ever-grizzled Packrat



Many-branched Juniper



Commander!

Along the Osha Trail

Beautiful canine companion

Pics from a wonderful, long hike on the Osha Trail and several of its ancillary trails.

The beautiful Dr. K

The handsome Packrat

Pretty baby Aspens

High Country Beauty

Skeletal pine, Sacramento Mountains

Nothing more satisfying than a hike on the Osha Trail outside of Cloudcroft, New Mexico; the entire trail lies above 9,000 feet, so it's a great cardiovascular workout (unless you're a smoker).  Although the spring winds were really strong this morning, we only felt their effects on the west side of the mountain.

Along the Osha Trail

Common roots

The road to Cloudcroft

The village of Cloudcroft

White Sands National Monument (at the horizon line)

Hurry up, will you?

Northside of the mountain

Bare Aspens

Huh?

Respect your elders

Spring in the Sacramento Mountains

Sky Island

Ponderos Pine (left), dog (right)

Sky Islands are desert mountains that rise dramatically from a surrounding sea of arid land, and, because of sheer altitude and surrounding valleys, support the growth of plant species uncommon to lower elevations.  In the higher elevations of these mountains, forests of Ponderosa Pine, Aspen, White and Douglas Fir, Rocky Mountain Maple and Spruce exist.  During the hot days of a desert summer there is nothing better than a trip to the cool Sky Islands.  These photos are from a hike along the Rim Trail outside of Cloudcroft, New Mexico, in the Sacramento Mountains.  The highest peak is Sierra Blanca at 12,003 ft.

Stand of Pondersoa Pines and Aspens

Break in the forest canopy

Southern Sacramento Mountains

Rim Trail, White Sands National Monument in distance

Sierra Blanca, high point of the Sacramentos

One of the many observatories in the Sacramento Mountains

Becca on the trail

Fallen pine

One-spot profile

Another fallen pine tree