Fouquieria Splendens was Splendid Today

Looking east to the Organs

The Heelers and I did our regular weekday morning hike on this hot Monday, choosing to cut down on the bushwhacking a bit in order to make the trekking go more smoothly.  We only saw one other outdoor enthusiast on the dirt roads west of Tortugas Mountain, a woman wearing a lime-green top who seemed to be doing a combination of running and skipping.

Willow and Frio were keyed in on Black-tailed Jackrabbits today, of which we saw three or four.  I remember how our beloved Becca, in her early days of hiking, was certain she could overtake an American Desert Hare; it took quite a lot of tries before she decided to give up on the critters who can reach speeds of 40 mph and leap 10 feet in the process.  That doesn't keep the Heelers from trying to rip my arms out at the sockets as they bound eagerly forward toward their presumed prey.

Five minutes to drive out there for our hike this morning and five minutes to drive back home.

Sled dogs waiting for snow

This and the next:  Prickly Pear Cactus starting to bloom

Heelers in the hills

This and the next 5: Ocotillos (Fouquieria Splendens) with leaves and flowers

Rocks

Ocotillo just off the dirt road

Flowers galore

This and the next:  Skeleton Plant

If It's Sunday It's OMDPNM

All red flowers are Scarlet or Claret Cup Cacti

Dr. K, Willow, Frio and I did our now normal Sunday morning trek in Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument, starting from the westernmost entrance sign and hiking the long trail east nearly to the intersection with the Sierra Vista Trail (Norte).  We cut the hike a bit short because of the heat.

We encountered a few other hikers and numerous groups of mountain bikers today.  The good thing about these encounters is that both Heelers are getting much more comfortable with these meetings, standing off the trail and waiting patiently until the bikers have passed.  Frio did bark at one hiker, a guy who was engaged in an overly loud conversation with somebody on the other end of his earbud cellphone.  I commended Frio for his actions.

As we drove back home after our trek we marveled at the number of vehicles parked at the the Monte Vista and Sunset Area of Tortugas Mountain, clearly more cars, trucks and SUVs than we'd ever see out there before.  This coronavirus crisis has more people out hiking than ever.

This and the next:  Blackfoot Daisies

The trail east

Heelers and Dr. K

Reproduction

Little-leaf and Three-leaf Sumac are as green as I've ever seen

This and the next:  Desert Dandelion

This and the next 2:  California Poppies

Papa Gambel's Quail and peepers

Willow on the window seat

Spiny Lizard

Desert on Saturday

Red dot:  our CR-V waits

I shortened this morning's hike a tad because there were two people hiking along the east/west dirt road as we were bushwhacking across to it, and I was certain we'd run into them if we continued apace.  So I slowed the Heelers down, and when we crested the old dirt road out of our everyday arroyo exploration I turned west and bushwhacked with them back down into the arroyo.

From there we retraced our steps, opting to head straight for the long dirt road rather than bushwhack back into the hills west of Tortugas Mountain.  By doing so we reduced the chances of running into any other outdoor enthusiast, and, indeed, we encountered none.

Things are really heating up in our section of the northern Chihuahuan Desert, and we're slated to hit the mid-90s in a few days.  Yipee!

White Tackstem

Soaptree Yucca

Ocotillo

This and the next 2:  Frio and Willow

This and the next 2:  Northern Mockingbird

Emergence

Emergence part two

This and the next:  still some hanging on

Scarlet Hedgehog

Coming to a Desert Near Me

Gnarly old Ocotillo in the hills west of Tortugas

Heat:  that's what's coming to a desert near me, and it's already started today.  Good thing I got the evaporative cooler fired up a few days ago.

It felt pretty warm out there when the Heelers and I began our dirt road redux trek this morning, and by the time we finished we were all happy to climb back into our waiting CR-V.

We saw a few other outdoor enthusiasts this morning:  an elderly couple hiking with their dog and an older woman moving rapidly down the long dirt road with the help of her twin hiking sticks as we were headed back.

Willow, Frio and I saw some interesting sights, smelled some interesting scents and put some decent mileage on our paws and feet during our 90-minute trek today.

This and the next:  Heelers on break

Ocotillo flowers

Old-timer Ocotillo

In a familiar arroyo

This and the next:  shade break

The rascal we call Mr. Frio

This and the next 2:  Ocotillos

If I were as pretty as a Scott's Oriole I'd sing like that, too

The same Scott's Oriole

And again

Turkey Vulture riding a thermal

Floor of the Desert