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Thursday, July 30, 2015

Lots of Rain

Puddle on the trail
We've had a bunch of storms recently that have dumped a lot of rain on our section of Chihuahuan Desert.  The precipitation is much needed and much desired, but we're not used to getting so much.  Our morning hike was delayed by several hours due to the rain, and when Becca and I finally left for Tortugas Mountain I wasn't sure we'd get in a whole trek without getting wet.   Fortunately we did.  A cool wind made the humid conditions bearable, and I felt happy to be out in the desert with my devoted hiking companion.
Hiking on wet earth

The desert has had a good soaking

Plumed Crinklemat about to bloom

Prickly Pear dripping with rainwater

Damp desert floor

Road around the mountain

Chocolate Daisy and scraggly-haired friend

Clouds on the Franklin Mountains near El Paso, Texas

Ocotillos are loving the rain

About to head back up the mountain

As green as it gets

Heading back

A lot of water has flowed down here of late

3 comments:

Dr. K said...

The amazing thing about chocolate daisies is that they really smell like chocolate.

Scott said...

Packrat: Some nice images today. The prickly pear fruit looks like it's about to burst, and the "chocolate daisy and scraggly-haired friend" is inspired.

It's been miserable here in the northern Piedmont all week--highs in the low- to mid-90s and very high humidity. I heard an NPR broadcaster who lives in California reporting from NYC yesterday, and he said the weather in NYC was "disgusting." Tell me about it. We had torrential rains for 10 minutes yesterday afternoon, and then the humidity and temperature fell considerably overnight. This morning was nice--temperatures in the upper 60s and lower humidity. But, it's still supposed to get to 92 today and continue through at least Monday.

packrat said...

Scott: Every time you describe those hot and humid conditions I nearly break out in a sweat. I absolutely hate the feeling of my body not being able to cool off because of excessive humidity. It's been quite bad here, too, but not that bad.

Ho Ho Hike

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