Frigid

The first big temperature inversion near El Paso

If the wind had been stiffer this morning, we'd have frozen our butts off.  It was 17 F just after the sun rose, but it quickly warmed up to 25 F by hike time.  Despite the cold, we did a long hike through the Chihuahuan Desert.


Crystal clear near Las Cruces



Natty Bumppo of the desert



The beautiful Organ Mountains



Freeze

Clouds and the Organ Mountains

It was 32 degrees F when we started off this morning, but a stiff wind pushed the wind-chill temperature into the mid-20s.  Don't let the sunny shots fool you; it was darned cold on our hike.


The Beckster looking for game



Road around Tortugas Mountain



One of the trails up Tortugas Mountain



Sunspot

Liz and Isabel in Sunspot, New Mexico

We spent a day driving in the Sacramento Mountains, visiting Sunspot in the chilly morn.  Later, we spent time in Cloudcroft while Isabel used the playground at the elementary school.


Mother/Daughter team



White Sands from on high



Gorgeous vista from Sunspot, NM




Dr. K and Becca at Sunspot overlook



Rolling in High Rolls

Raring to go on the Grandview Trail

Dr. K, Becca and I spent a wonderful Thanksgiving in the high country.  It's been cold up here, but this morning on the Grandview Trail there was plenty of sunshine.  Guests will be arriving this afternoon to spend the rest of the holiday with us.


Through a rocky passage




White Sands National Monument in the distance




Beautiful day in the high country




Agave-skewered marshmallow




Becca on the Grandview Trail



Juniper-studded country

Turkey Day on the Mountains

Brrr.  It's cold in the high country; but we got a nice long hike in on the Rim Trail this morning.   These photos are vistas from the High Desert Research Institute located outside of High Rolls, New Mexico.

Low Country

Tortugas Mountain flora

We spent the morning hiking in the low desert, then headed up to High Rolls in the Sacramento Mountains to spend a joyous Thanksgiving in the high country.


Ready to go




Tortugas and the distant Organs



Spots like black continents



Getting ahead



Contrail Day

X marks the spot

A lot of airline activity this morning produced some interesting-looking contrail clouds in an otherwise cloudless sky.


Speaking of Spot



Vectors

A jogging X



Contrails over the Organ Mountains



Quickie Hike

Utility road (replete with poles) up Tortugas Mountain

I took only two photos on our short hike this morning.  These are them.  Our hike was short because Becca had to go to the vet for a hurt paw.  (She's OK.)  Wish we could have stayed out there longer.


The patient



Monte Vista High

Dynamic clouds over the Organ Mountains

We did a long hike on the eastern side of Tortugas Mountain this morning, and the weather was beautiful.  We hear a cold front is headed in by Wednesday, but it sure was nice in the Chihuahuan Desert today.  Lots of sun, odd-shaped clouds, and a great hiking companion made for an outstanding outing.


The hilly Chihuahuan Desert




Everybody's got to take a break




Odd-shaped cloud over the Organs



The road east



Commander gets out of the barn occasionally



Meet the Trickster

We ran into this pack (5 or 6 individuals) of Coyotes on the western foothills of Tortugas Mountain this morning.  We all stood watching each other for a while before the Prairie Wolves (Canis latrans) moved off, not particularly perturbed by our presence.

Saturday Outing

Blue sky and clouds above Tortugas

Not much to say about a beautiful morning like this, except we enjoyed our hike very much.

On the road again . . .



A lot of airline activity




The Learn'd Astronomer