Arroyo Exploration Weather

Old experimental tower near Tortugas Mountain

We have been getting some crazy weather of late.  Over the past few days there has been substantial damage to cars and houses in Las Cruces and El Paso from incredibly heavy hail storms.  Fortunately we've been lucky here at the hacienda.  It was 54 F when Becca and I set off this morning, and I had to wear a lightweight jacket for the first quarter of our hike west of Tortugas Mountain.  It was perfect weather for exploring an arroyo, which we did west of the mountain.  Conditions started degenerating during our trek, though, and we were lucky to get in a long hike without getting wet.

Pincushion Cactus

Above the high foothills

Out of the foothills

Clouds coming in from the northwest

Getting a little dicey out there

Huge Hedgehog Cactus (some columns over a foot tall)

Looking left

and right

Guy jogging with his dog

Into a wide arroyo

Mule Deer prints in the sandy arroyo bottom

Exploring the arroyo

Heading toward the Tortoise

Looking back the way we came

Clouds spilling over the Organ Mountains

Cumulus accumulating

What's brewing in that cauldron?

Slice of Las Cruces

Tall Torrey Yuccas

Ladderback Woodpecker