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

 

Warm-Up

Flank of Tortugas and the Organs

Although a bit cold, this morning's hike was quite pleasant.  Dr. K and Willow both agreed that conditions seem to be warming up.  We followed our regular route seeing at least three other nature lovers with their dogs--all at a great distance from us.  Temperatures are supposed to rise during the course of this weekend and next week.

Willow on lead

Ladder-backed Woodpecker at the tippy top of a yucca

Ocotillo

Dr. K and Willow

Willow off lead

This & next:  ancient Soaptree Yucca

From the middle branch arroyo

Tortugas and the Organs

 

Rather Raw

Willow leading the way east along the cross trail

Had it not been for the persistent cold breeze that, at times, blustered along all branches of our regular route, the morning trek would have been quite pleasant for Dr. K, Willow and me.  Alas, though, the weather conditions did not cooperate.  We were all--perhaps a bit less so for Willow--happy to end the hike today. 

Organ Mountains

Faxon Yuccas on a ridge

What's with the posture?

Old and new

Willow seeing something

Soaptree Yucca west of the Organs

This & next:  small, tilted barrel cactus

Willow spotting something ahead