This Sunday Hike

Cholla closeup

Surprisingly hot and humid this morning despite the temperature being in the lower 70s.  Unlike yesterday when we did more than the usual trek we stuck to the half-a-hike format we've been following during these especially hot days.  We spotted the Pickup-Truck-Lady's pickup at the Tellbrook/Sonoma Ranch lot when we started down the trailhead, but we didn't see her or her dog.  Later, during the outing, we saw a guy jogging south on the long dirt road.  He was the only outdoor enthusiast we actually spotted.  After the trek we took an extra long drive--the Sunday drive--just to see what we could see.

Willow closeup

Across the Rio Grande (artsy interpretation)

This & next:  2 views of 4210 hill

Whiptail with red ant

Last 2:  acacia

 

Cool yet Hot

Headed down LDR-A

Sunny, but a bit cooler for our morning walk; high humidity made for some discomfort at times.  Dr. K, Willow and I changed up the route today, crossing the Tellbrook arroyo from the east/west cross trail and exploring a side arroyo before turning back.  We then trekked up the left branch to where it branched off from the right branch and followed the right arroyo up to the exit trail that scales the steep hill east of where Whitey the CR-V was parked at the trailhead.

Western flank of Tortugas Mountain

House finch

Youth (house finch)

House finch

Willow on break

Clouds over Tortugas

Willow in a wide arroyo

 

Critter Panoply

1st 3:  after the morning rain

It was raining just before Dr. K, Willow and I left for our morning hike; as a result the desert floor was somewhat wet from the precipitation.  The good part of the cloud cover and lack of sun was the more bearable hiking conditions.  The bad part of the recent rain was the large number of ants out and about in the area we usually explore.  As a result of the ant presence we cut the trek short so as not to test our luck with the biting creatures.

Willow in wet sand

Br'er hare

Distant lousy pic of a kestrel

Texas Horned Lizard

Impressionist painting of a Texas Horned Lizard

Looking down the right branch arroyo at the way we came

Prickly pear cactus and the Organ Mountains

Barrel cacti

Willow and Dr. K in the right branch

 

Whole Hike Day

Crissal Thrasher in our mesquite tree (through window)

It was cool enough this morning due to intermittent clouds and a light breeze for Dr. K, Willow and I to do our regular route; times when the sun broke though the temperature rose, though I believe we're in the midst of slight cooling trend overall.  We saw a truck parked at the Tellbrook/Sonoma Ranch lot, but we never spotted any other outdoor enthusiasts.  The morning trek was good for getting exercise in; not so good for photographs.

This & next:  cholla

Yuccas, Mormon Tea, ocotillo, creosote bushes

Willow leads

Willow rests

Clouds over desert

Desert flora and the flank of Tortugas

Allthorn berries

 

Last 2:  barrel cactus with buds and flowers

Shooting Shortened Excursion

Arroyo

Because somebody--probably a dove hunter--was shooting in the area we were heading to we decided to cut the hike short this morning.  Mourning Dove and White-winged Dove hunting season begins September 1st, runs through late October and opens up again in November through late December.  I prefer shooting birds with my camera.

1993 Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, 12-seater

Zebra-tailed Lizard

This & next:  Variegated Meadowhawk

Last 2:  helicopter surveying the area this morning

 

Bit Cooler

The way we came down LDR-A arroyo

It was slightly cooler for Dr. K, Willow and me as we started our early morning trek.  Whenever the sun broke through the clouds the conditions warmed some, but it never felt too hot.  We did about half our regular route for two reasons:  Willow chose the way forward, and I didn't mind cutting it short because I had my weekly shopping to do at Albertsons, which I did after our outing.

Long view of Tortugas and the Organs

Male house finch

Wils on a bed of sand

Organ Mountains getting a bit of sun

Black-throated Sparrow

Last 2:  Organ Mountains from the trailhead