Freeload Friday

Tortugas and the Organs from LDR-A

It was warmer for our hike this morning; Dr. K, Willow and I appreciated it.  We saw Mrs. Basset and four hounds heading east toward the mountains on Tellbrook as we were driving to the trailhead; and we saw them again later as they trekked northward along the ridge west of the Organ Mountains.  They were the only outdoor enthusiasts we spotted in our section of the northern Chihuahuan Desert.

Dr. K and Willow with my shadow

4200 hill west of the Organ Mountains

Moon through ocotillo branches

Our girl, Willow

Faxon Yucca crown

West across the Mesilla Valley

Hedgehog Cactus

 

Thursday's Trek

This morning's moon

A pesky cold breeze made the first half of the hike this morning slightly uncomfortable; but it definitely weakened during part 2, and the bright sunshine made weather conditions pleasant.  We did our regular route seeing no one else out and about in this section of northern Chihuahuan Desert.  Air quality was still slightly bad in the area.

Yucca bogeyman

Stand of middle-aged Soaptree Yuccas

Great hiking companion

 

Midweek

Young Soaptree Yuccas

It felt colder out there this morning despite the sunshine; a steady breeze had a real chilly bite to it.  Dr. K, Willow and I did our regular route, again spotting Two-White-Dogs-Lady in the desert to the northwest.  She and her pups were the only other nature enthusiasts out there when we were exploring.

This angle makes my butt look big

Willow on break

Barrel cacti

Soaptree Yucca, ocotillo, and Faxon Yucca

 

Tres Otra Vez

1st 2:  long-distance views of Tortugas and the Organs

42F when Dr. K, Willow and I set off on our morning hike.  We followed our regular route seeing no one along the way, although we did spot Two-White-Dogs-Lady bushwhacking across the desert far northwest of us.  No breeze and bright sunshine made for a very pleasant outing today.

Clouds or former contrail?

Brewer's Sparrow?

This & next:  cactus wren

Ridge west of the Organs

Peekaboo Pecker

Ladder-backed seems to be picking rather than pecking

Willow in underbrush

 

Dos

Squiggly clouds

Dr. K had a meeting this morning so it was just Willow and me on the daily trek.  We followed our regular route on a mildly chilly start; conditions weren't too bad.  While we were headed up the left branch arroyo we saw a guy and his dog striking northward through a valley east of us.  They were quite far away, and I doubt they ever spotted us.

Long view to the flank of Tortugas

Willow and my shadow

In an alternate arroyo

Those clouds again

Looking southwest

Interesting clouds

Last 2:  distant views of Tortugas and the Organs

 

Sunny Sunday

Willow on break early

It felt cold out there for a spell, but conditions warmed up rapidly on our way to 65F this afternoon.  Mid-60s on February 1st.  For a boy (me) from northeastern Ohio that's pretty much unheard of.  Dr. K, Willow and I enjoyed the pleasant weather as we followed our regular route.  We saw nobody else in this section of northern Chihuahuan Desert while we were on our exploration.  After the trek we took a long ride listening to Matt and Myron on their Sunday Morning show.

View from LDR-A arroyo

This & next:  raven on Soaptree Yucca

Prickly Pear Cactus

Willow in the right branch

Civil Air Patrol plane flying over us

Across the Rio Grande

On break again

 

Less Crowded

Northwest

Dr. K, Willow and I followed the regular route this morning seeing nobody out and about in our section of northern Chihuahuan Desert.  We did encounter two guys we've seen often hiking on the upper flatland road just after we finished our trek; we all said hello.  After the outing we took a drive around several different neighborhoods before heading home.  It was chilly out there today due to a cold breeze, but the sun shone brightly the entire way.

This & next:  San Augustin Peak (7031 feet)

Wils and her shadow

Looking northward along the right branch arroyo

Desert between right branch arroyo and Tortugas Mountain