Frosty Morn

Some frost on the RAV4's front window

When Becca and I left this morning the wind chill was 18F, and it felt it!  Oddly enough, after we were on the trail for about fifteen minutes the wind stopped and the temperature seemed to climb.  I had to unzip the pit zips on my hooded anorak to cool down.  We got an early start and did an extra long hike, so we were fortunate to run into JC, Olivia and Gregg as we returned to the Sunset Parking Area.  We stood talking for fifteen minutes or so before parting company.

Looks warmer than it is

On the distant horizon:  the Franklin Mountains near El Paso

Headed down an old dirt road, but looking back

Becca tricked me into looking where she was staring

Across a vast expanse of Chihuahuan Desert

Looking west across the desert

Smoke signal

Two-foot tall Barrel Cactus

A large Torrey Yucca

Becca taking a shade break

Heading up the arroyo

The same Torrey Yucca pictured earlier

Stop taking pictures and let's go

Just a hint of mountain

Angling down a slope

Wide arroyo west of Tortugas

Two hikers headed down the mountain