Snow Morn

Just before Willow and I left home for our morning hike the snow started falling quite heavily.  It kept up for about three-fourths of our trek, probably accumulating in the one-inch range.

It's supposed to snow more today, and Dr. K and I have to drive down to El Paso for her eye procedure.  That (both the driving and the procedure) should be scads of fun.

 

Almost Brutal Trek

Snow sky

30F when Willow and I started off this morning, the raw conditions made nearly unbearable by a strong, cold wind.  The Organ Mountains already wore a dusting of now, and more was obviously on the way.

We had to abbreviate the hike due to the cold, opting to cut out the last half of the left branch arroyo and middle branch in favor of heading straight up the right side.  Who could have known it would be like trekking through a wind tunnel?  The right branch arroyo is usually sheltered from heavy gusts.

Both Willow and I were more than happy to jump back into the CR-V and crank up the heater for the short drive home.

Willow heading down LDR-A

Ridge just east of LDR-A

Tortugas and the Organs

Yucca and snow sky

Little Wils

Yuccas and the Organs

Willow checking for critters

This & next:  ridge west of the slightly snowy Organs

More of the snow sky

This & next:  Tortugas and the Organs

More snow coming in

 

Frigid Out There

Looking southeast from LDR-A arroyo

Dr. K stayed back this morning because she felt under the weather; and what weather we are having.  29F at start of trek, slight breeze, and almost no sun.  Outdoor apparel for me:  long-sleeve shirt, hiking trousers, vest, PolarPlus jacket, lined, hooded anorak, earband, hat, gloves--and still I felt cold.

Willow and I did the usual route, but made only one pit stop at the ancient Soaptree Yucca.  We saw no other nature enthusiasts in our region of northern Chihuahuan Desert, and not surprisingly so.  It felt great to climb back into Whitey the CR-V after our outing.

Organ Mountains

Aren't you going to finish your meal?

Willow kind of leading the way

Ancient Soaptree in B&W

In the cross trail between left and middle branches

Conky

Heading down the middle branch

Sitting down in the middle branch

Crown on fire

Way up in the right branch arroyo

The best the sun could do on our morning hike

 

Reverse Hike with Willow

From the hill west of the right branch arroyo

Just before Willow and I parked at the trailhead this morning I saw the Basset people and their hounds starting down LDR-A.  That necessitated us climbing the ridge along the hill to the east and making the steep descent into the right branch arroyo.

From there it was a matter of doing our entire hike in reverse today, which worked out just fine.  Willow was very obedient and never strayed too far away from the route, despite her curiosity.

We got down to 27F overnight, and it hadn't warmed up very much for our outing; a slight breeze made it feel even colder.  We would have welcomed abundant sunlight, but the sun appeared only sporadically while we were trekking through the desert.

Doña Ana Mountains

Another shot from the hill west of the right branch arroyo

Right branch arroyo from midway down the hill

This & next:  ocotillo west of the right branch arroyo

Willow heading down the right branch

Barrel cactus fruit

Barrel cactus wants to be a saguaro when it grows up

Soaptree, mountains and the sky

Ridge west of the Organs

Sky over the mountains

Barrel cactus fruit

Sky to the southwest

This & next:  Willow on alert

Clouds over the Organ Mountains