Brrrr

First 2:  Haynes Canyon

Cold and windy in the high country this morning; too cold for Dr. K's ailing knee.  So I took Willow and Frio independently for hikes in the forest around our property.

Frio and I went a bit further, and that's when we discovered the elk antler pictured below.  I need to do a little research about elk antlers, rutting, etcetera in order to learn about our discovery; and whether I should have left it where we found it.

It's sunny out right now, but the temperature isn't supposed to rise above the high 30s.

Fairly fresh pile of elk scat

Six-point elk antler

Brought the antler to the cabin

Good spot for it?

The end that broke off

Last 2:  views through our dirty living room window

 

Another Low to High

Heading down LDR-A

We did our normal hike this morning, dealing with a bit of light wind, but it certainly has picked up in the afternoon.  We're at our place in the Sacramento Mountains now, and the wind is whipping hard.

We saw Cowboy and Coop when we drove in, but haven't seen them since.  I hope they'll visit later, especially Coop, who's a star Heeler.

Not sure what the hiking situation will be due to Dr. K's ongoing knee pain.  We'll have to see if she'll be up to a Grand View trek in the coming days.

View from the new arroyo

Hedgehog Cactus

Frio and Willow heading up the arroyo

Our tree is Right Branch Arroyo

Tortugas and the Organ Mountains

 

Another Windy One

First 2:  morning clouds

It was breezy when we started off this morning, but it's downright windy again this afternoon.  I think we're supposed to have big winds again tomorrow.

Did our normal hike this morning, and I'm going to leave it at that.

This & next 2:  morning moon

Crazy clouds

This & next:  Black-throated Sparrow

This & next 2:  clouds again

Hedgehog Cactus

Long view

Willow and Frio

This & next:  moon again

Up the hill and out

Last 2:  clouds over the mountains

 

Oddly Warm

Tops of the Doña Ana Mountains

47F when we started off this morning, but oddly warmer than that.  I was overdressed with a black Columbia vest and a red L.L. Bean PolarTech jacket.  Heelers were fine in their regular outfits.

We stuck to our usual routine today:  down the LDR-A arroyo, east on the east/west cross trail to the new arroyo, up the middle branch and then down on the left branch to the intersection with the right branch.

From there it was up the right branch and then out by climbing over the steep hill to the west of the arroyo.

Desert light was interesting this morning, and I was able to get a few good images.

Organ Mountains from LDR-A

Long view west

This & next 2:  Organ Mountains

Torrey Yucca in Middle Branch Arroyo

Willow and Frio

Torrey Yucca and the mountains

Willow and Frio in Right Branch Arroyo

Narrow arroyo or trail

This & next:  flank of Tortugas and the Organ Mountains

Potrillo Mountains

Desert and the top of the Robledo Mountains

 

Excellent Sunday

First 2:  moon through Ocotillo

Willow and Frio behaved superbly on our morning trek today.  Wish I could bottle the formula for that behavior and spray it on them every day before our hikes.

Several times during the trek I let them off lead, whistling them back as soon as they began to run ahead up Right Branch Arroyo.  Willow--who can hear--turned back immediately, and Frio followed her.  I rewarded them with treats each time, and I was really pleased with their responses.

The weather for our outing was excellent even though the car thermometer read 39F just before we began trekking our usual route.  But the wind was absent and the sun shone brilliantly, such that I almost felt warm just as we wrapped up our hike.

Ocotillos on a hill

Soaptree Yucca and the long view

Willow and Frio leading the way

Large pad at right is dinner-late big

What has Frio on alert?

I can almost taste that rabbit

Last 2:  Frio and Willow