An Experiment

Willow and Frio

We did our normal trek this morning, and the weather was so warm I did not have to wear a jacket--just long-sleeve shirt and hiking trousers.  It seemed a bit humid out there, perhaps due to the light precipitation we got overnight.

Just after we made a left turn into Right Branch Arroyo I let the Heelers off lead, and they both responded brilliantly; of course I had to use treats (Pupperoni) to keep them nearby.  Nevertheless, Willow paid attention superbly, and whenever I called her back she responded immediately; and because Frio watches her closely at all times he, too, followed suit.

We all enjoyed our morning hike immensely today due to a number of factors, not the least of which was the beautiful weather.  My hope, though, is that we're not already in a permanent warming trend, and that we'll get to experience more cooler days before slipping into the Chihuahuan Desert spring and summer.

This & next:  same small tree

This & next:  flank of Tortugas and the Organ Mountains

Soaptree Yucca stalks

Barrel with a view

This & next:  yuccas and a long view

Frio and Willow

 

A Little Extra

Early morning sky

I extended this morning's trek in order to give Willow extra time to do her business, which has been somewhat tardy of late; but despite the extension she did nothing.

Our route today took us down LDR-A and into the LDR-A arroyo, east on the east/west cross trail, up Left Bank arroyo and then down to the Tellbrook Arroyo, west from there to LDR-A.  A bit up the latter dirt road we again took the east/west cross trail to Right Branch Arroyo.

We trekked all the way up the right branch into its head, and then exited the arroyo by climbing the steep hill beside the upper flatland road.  I even led the Heelers back down LDR-A a ways thinking Willow would take advantage of the extra yardage, but, as mentioned above, she didn't.

Tortugas and the Organs

Three Kings

Small tree in Left Branch Arroyo

Rock

Soaptree Yuccas (front), Torrey Yuccas (rear)

Tree north of the Tellbrook Arroyo

Local color

Frio and Willow

Willow and Frio

 

Back At It Early

Dessicated Barrel Cactus fruit

Got a fairly early start on a warm morning in the northern Chihuahuan Desert today; I wore my Marmot PreCip jacket, which was heavy enough for the weather conditions.

We descended LDR-A to the east/west cross trail, hiked up the left branch of the new arroyo, trekked down the middle branch, and then turned up the right branch.

About halfway up the right branch we bushwhacked westward past the large Soaptree I call the "Three Kings," hiked partially up the LDR-A arroyo and exited onto the dirt road so that Willow could do her business, which she had delayed until then.

LDR-A

Frio and Willow headed up the new arroyo

Prickly Pear illusion

This & next:  what a telephoto lens can do

This & next:  same Soaptree Yucca

Northwest across the desert

Torrey Yucca

This & next:  B&W X

This & next:  different treatments of the same scene

Desert hill

This & next:  large Soaptree Yuccas

This & next:  on a ridge west of Right Branch Arroyo

Southern section of Right Branch Arroyo

Looking northward across Right Branch Arroyo

Hooligan Heelers

 

After an Appointment

Crazy sky

Due to a 10 a.m. doctor's appointment I wasn't able to take Willow and Frio on a hike until 11:30; they seemed to take it all in stride.

By the time we finished our abbreviated trek I was feeling almost hot.  We're headed for a high of 73F this afternoon.

This & next:  almost identical views of the Organs

The sky to the south had some pretty strange clouds while were were out in the desert, and I'm not sure what accounts for their appearance.

Frio and Willow

Trees and Organs

This & next:  long view of Tortugas and the Organs

In the name of love