Sacramento High

Next to our driveway

Nice hike in the forest behind the canyon for Dr. K, Willow and me this morning.  Only a slight breeze, bright sunshine, 37F.  The only downside of the trek was my choice of walking along the east side of the cabin where we walked through red clay mud; that meant we had to spend a lot of time cleaning off boots and paws.

Mountain cabin

Near the crest

Come down from your fences, open the gate

Willow leading us back

Wils relaxing in the Back 40

Sun through pine

 

Wind!

Bit of snow on a trail

At about 5 a.m. the wind started blowing fiercely, and it continued unabated while Dr. K, Willow and I did our morning hike in the forest behind the cabin.  Fortunately, though, the trees blunted the force of the wind, and, by the time we finished our trek it had begun to settle somewhat.  What looked at first to be an unsatisfactory outing became a nearly enjoyable one.

This & next:  from the forest

Willow enjoying a mountain hike

A healthy Allthorn bush

A little more snow at the top

Looking down toward the valley

Elk tracks

White Sands NP from 7,000 feet

Beargrass (Nolina microcarpa)

 

LoHi

View from LDR-A arroyo

Early morning hike in the lower desert.  Return home to finish packing for a trip to the high country where we are now.

Ridge west of the Organs

Wils

Willow hoping to see something

This & next:  remnants of snow in the high country

Wils and her shadow

Murder of . . .

 

Frigid Monday

1st 2:  desert light

It was really cold out there for our morning hike; a bank of clouds kept shielding the sun and an intermittent chilly breeze plagued us most of the way.  Willow enjoyed herself; Dr. K not so much.  We saw the Basset People and their hounds hiking along a ridge far to the east of us while we were heading up the left branch arroyo.  One nice thing about the trek:  early desert light made everything look more interesting.

Flank of Tortugas and the Organs

Organ Mountains

Soaptree Yuccas

Morning sky to the southwest

This & next:  different takes on the morning moon

West across the Rio Grande

Willow on lead

 

Willow off lead

Last 2:  Tortugas and the Organs

Cold Maneuvers

Ladder-backed Woodpecker female

27F when Dr. K, Willow and I started off on our morning hike; 29F when we finished.  It only felt bad when an intermittent cold breeze picked up.  Most notable thing about the morning outing was the ROTC(?) members we bumped into during the outing.

Ridge west of the Organ Mountains

This & next 2:  ROTC(?) members on field exercise

This & next:  same woodpecker as above

Willow in her Orvis bed

 

Twenty-Eight Farenheit Hike

View from LDR-A arroyo

Just Willow and me on the morning hike; Dr. K had a meeting to attend.  It was cold out there:  28F at the start.  But it really didn't feel bad because the sun shone brightly and there was no wind.  We saw no other outdoor enthusiasts while we followed the regular route.

Southwest of Tortugas Mountain

Li'l Wils in the left branch arroyo

This & next:  moon

Jet

Tortugas and the Organs

Willow in the right branch arroyo