Unprecedented

Some of the animals present in this area

Remarkably, for the fourth day in a row, we ran into no other hikers.  This morning we did the Grandview Trail, which, on the weekends is pretty popular.  Perhaps people were worried about the high wind warning that's in effect all day today.  But it was barely breezy during our trek, and the sky was relatively dust free considering the gusty winds of yesterday.  We've been back from our hike for several hours now, and the wind has finally kicked in full force.  There's already dust in the skies over the Sacramento Mountains.

East across the Tularosa Basin

Pausing along the Grandview Trail

Juniper-studded country

Birds indigenous to this region

Dirt road off Rt. 82, White Sands in background, San Andres Mts. beyond