Early Wind

Clouds over the Organs

A cold wind was already blowing when Dr. K, Willow and I did our morning hike; gusts are supposed to die down by late afternoon, but pick up again tomorrow.  We saw no other nature enthusiasts while following our regular route today.

Long way to the flank of Tortugas

Faxon Yucca with a large arroyo to its right

Willow at rest

Last 2:  interesting clouds

 

Before the Wind Again

1st 4:  wild clouds over the mountains

Dr. K, Willow and I got in a nice morning hike before the wind started up.  Yesterday afternoon's windstorm was pretty brutal, both for Las Cruces and El Paso; lots of wind damage to properties.  During our outing we thought we saw Two-White-Dogs-Lady with another hiker bushwhacking through the desert northwest of us.  Later we had a distant encounter with the Basset People and their hounds who were descending the ridge on the steep hill west of the right branch arroyo; we humans waved greetings to each other.

Sit, Willow

Dick Tracy and yucca

Tortugas and the Organs

 

Pre-Wind Trek

Spectaclepod

Significantly warmer this morning while Dr. K, Willow and I did our daily hike.  We were lucky to beat the wind, which is raging this afternoon.  After our outing I went shopping at Albertsons, and Dr. K went shopping at Target after I returned.  Willow kicked back at home during each of our trips.

This & next:  sun through clouds

This & next:  phantom bats

Willow and Dr. K

Magdalena Peak

Colored desert

The rest:  sun and clouds

 

Wils and Me

Tree

Willow and me on the regular hike this morning; saw the Basset People and five hounds heading toward the mountains on Tellbrook while we were driving to the trailhead, but never spotted them again.  Nobody else seemed to be out and about in our section of northern Chihuahuan Desert today.

Barrel cactus southwest of Tortugas Mountain

Willow on break in the right branch arroyo

Looking northerly in the right branch arroyo

Soaptree yucca

4200 hill and the southeast side of Tortugas

 

Glove Weather

Looking northwest

Surprisingly cool out there this morning; cool enough to make me wear my gloves for two-thirds of the hike.  Never had to cover my ears, though.  Dr. K, Willow and I followed our regular route today; about midway through the trek we spotted the Basset People hiking along the steep hill ridge, presumably with the hounds who we never saw.  Took a long drive after our outing listening to Matt and Myron on their Sunday Morning show.

Tortugas and the Organs from LDR-A arroyo

Soaptree Yucca and the Organs

Soaptree Yucca in the left branch arroyo

Willow on break

Barrel cactus X

Willow, one cute heeler

 

Trekking with Wils

Cloudy Potrillo Mountains

We got quite a bit of rain yesterday, and perhaps more overnight.  As Willow and I drove east toward the Organ Mountains it was almost as if we entered a totally different weather zone; to the west it was sunny, but on the hill closer to the mountains it was completely cloudy.  The weather changed significantly while we followed our regular route after a slight detour at the start.  We saw no other nature enthusiasts during our morning hike. 

Distant view of Tortugas and the cloudy Organs

Southwest of Tortugas

Ancient Soaptree Yucca in the left branch arroyo

Barrel cactus and assorted desert flora

Cloud shadow and Picacho

Willow taking a break

Young Soaptree Yucca and prickly pear

 

Rain Maybe

Picacho

Dr. K, Willow and I were able to do a hike well in advance of any predicted precipitation; but now, just before 1 p.m., we're getting much-needed rain.  We followed the standard route this morning seeing no other hikers out and about in our section of northern Chihuahuan Desert.

Southwest from LDR-A

This & next:  Black-throated Sparrow on ocotillo

Soaptree Yuccas and the mountains

Wils

Some sky!

Desert flora

Willow again

Deadwood

 

Sky southeast from the right branch arroyo