Three Degrees Below Freezing

1st 2:  views from LDR-A arroyo

A little chilly at the start of our hike this morning (29F), and the breeze that picked up on occasion added to the cold conditions.

Things began to warm up when we entered the left branch and felt pretty good all the way up to the crossover and then down the middle branch.

Breeze returned as we made our way up the right branch, and even got a bit nippier when we climbed the steep hill on our exit out of the arroyo.

All in all, though, a good outing.

This & next:  Loggerhead Shrike

Ridge west of the Organs

Frio and Willow in the left branch

This & next:  Curve-billed Thrashers

This & next:  Loggerhead Shrike

Distant view of Tortugas and the Organs

 

Another Christmas Hike

In the left branch

After exchanging gifts and having a nice Christmas pancake breakfast Dr. K, Willow, Frio and I headed out for our usual hike.  It was a bit chilly at the beginning (25F), but it warmed up nicely.  An intermittent light breeze popped up once in a while, but it didn't chill us.

We saw nobody when we were trekking, but just as we crested the steep hill west of the right branch we saw Mr. and Mrs. Basset walking with their hounds east on Tellshore Road.  Naturally our Heelers saw the Bassets and wanted to forge ahead to greet them, but, fortunately, we had our dogs on leads.

After the hike we took a long, leisurely drive around the NMSU campus and into other nearby neighborhoods; it was a nice little tour.

North toward Tortugas

Willow and Frio

Part of the Organs

Tortugas and the Organs

Soaptree Yuccas

 

Awfully Cold Start

First 5:  Hot air ballooning in 23F weather

19F when we awoke this morning, 23F when we started our hike.  Surprised to see a hot air balloon out there early, but no wind allowed for safe ballooning, I guess.

There was a slight breeze at times, which contributed to the cold; nevertheless we did a full trek today.

Took a long ride after our outing, driving a little further away from normal stomping grounds to get a look at different neighborhoods.

View from the left branch

Frio and Willow

Looking north down the right branch

Tortugas and the Organ Mountains

Frio, Willow, Dr. K

 

An Arctic Blast

Fluffy Loggerhead Shrike

When we got up this morning it was 22F with a windchill of 13F.  By the time we left the temperature had soared to 25F, but with a low windchill still.

Dr. K and I were pretty cold as we descended LDR-A arroyo with Willow and Frio, but we warmed up as soon as we turned toward the Organ Mountains on the east/west cross trail; that's because we were out of the wind.

The hike stayed relatively windless until we ascended the steep hill west of Right Branch Arroyo when we got the full brunt of it again.  Fortunately we all piled into the CR-V shortly after that for the short ride home.

The long view

This & next:  Willow and Frio

This & next:  sky over the mountains

Frio, me and Willow in frigid temps

Last 2:  desert sky

 

Calm Prelude

Torrey Yucca and Soaptree Yuccas

Dr. K, Willow, Frio and I got a nice fair-weather hike in this morning before the Arctic Blast descends on us this evening.  High tomorrow only reaches the mid-40s with a low of 20F or lower.  Brrr.

Didn't see anybody out in the desert until we were driving along the upper flatland road and Dr. K spotted the dirty Bassets in the lower desert below us.

All in all a good outing today.

Willow, Frio, Dr. K

Frio and Willow

This & next:  interesting clouds

Organ Mountains

Artsy Organs

Heelers

 

In the Middle

1st 3:  Old Curved Bill (aka Curved-bill Thrasher)

Even though it was 33F when we started off this morning it didn't feel particularly cold, primarily due to the absence of wind and the bright sunshine.

The four of us--Dr. K, Willow, Frio and I--did our usual hike, and we saw no one else of the human or canine kind out there.

We're gearing ourselves up for a so-called "Arctic Blast" that's supposed to blow in Thursday night and drop temperatures significantly.

This morning's crescent moon

Soaptree Yucca

Last 2:  Willow and Frio in the right branch