Day After Day-Off Hike

U-turn

Yesterday Becca and I got on the trail long enough for her to have a BM before the sky burst open.  It rained so hard we had to turn back immediately.  Since it rained most of the day we were never able to get a hike in.  We did a long one today to make up for yesterday.  The weather was rather bizarre; a chilly wind made it feel cold at the same time high humidity made it feel warm.

Wintry weather



The Franklin Mountains near El Paso




Bishop's Cap in the Organ Mountains



Over hill over dale

Monday Meandering

Even pilgrms have to pee

Yesterday was the annual pilgrimage to the top of Tortugas Mountain for the celebration of La Virgen de Guadalupe.  Here's a link to a story about it:

http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_19527176

Becca and I did our own daily pilgrimage in the desert around the mountain.


This pilgrim pees wherever she wants



Ocotillo and Yuccas

Storm sky

22 doves on a wire

13 of the doves

Sierra Vista Trail

Tortugas Mountain from the Sierra Vista Trail head

The Sierra Vista Trail is a high desert trail that stretches from Soledad Canyon Road east of Las Cruces all the way to the Franklin Mountains near El Paso, Texas.  It trends to the south along the upper foothills on the west side of the Organ Mountains.  Once you are away from nearby urban areas it is not uncommon to encounter wildlife:  mule deer, coyotes, foxes and rabbits.  This morning we saw only one other hiker, a man with his two dogs:  a German Shorthair Pointer and a Vizsla.  Becca and the other canines were very respectful of one another.

The rugged Organ Mountains

The area near Achenbach Canyon from the Sierra Vista Trail

Hiker dog on the trail

High desert and the Organ Mountains

Utility road through the desert

Near the trail head at Soledad Canyon Road

The high Chihuahuan Desert

Saturday on the Trail

Bobsled trail

A relatively warm Saturday (going up to 47 F. today) brings out the fair-weather hikers.  The area around Tortugas was filled with them this morning; and at the Sunset Parking area there appeared to be a Search and Rescue practice going on (although we didn't see any dogs).  We're on a warming trend this week.  Supposed to get into the 60s by Wednesday and Thursday.

One spot

Barren Ocotillo



Tortugas and the distant Organs



Search and Rescue practice?

Still Cold

Prairie Dog fashion

The 23 degree F. temperature wouldn't have felt so brutal this morning were it not for the gusty wind; I'd guess that put the wind chill temperature into the mid-teens.  Toward the end of the hike, though, the wind let up, and the Beckster and I were able to enjoy the warm sun.  Again, we saw no other hikers in the outback.

Peace

The Thaw

Optical illusion

It was chilly when we got on the trail this morning, but not nearly as cold as it's been the last few days.  The sun has already taken care of most of the snow, thankfully melting it into the parched earth.  Although it was warmer (25 degress F.), there were no fellow hikers on the trails around Tortugas.

Post Storm Hike

There was still snow clinging to the desert floor this morning, but much of it had melted away.  The mountains are quite frosty, but the sun will take care of that soon.  We were the only hearty souls out there this morning, but I imagine more people will get out on the mountain as soon as temperatures heat up.  When Becca and I hit the trail it was 16 degrees F.