On the Osha Trail

Starting out on the Osha Trail

It was about 45F when Dr. K, Becca and I hit the Osha Trail just outside Cloudcroft, New Mexico.  Once we hit high ground (above 9,000 feet) we heard hikers coming up behind us:  a young woman and her parents (perhaps).  We stepped aside to let them pass, and they all commented on how well-behaved Becca was.  We passed them at the first bench, the one overlooking White Sands National Monument, and Becca behaved excellently as we walked by.  They had ID'd Becca as a Border Collie on first sight, but this time the older of the two women said, "She's a mix, right?"  I told them that Becca had Queensland Heeler in her as well.  "Australian Cattle Dog," I said.  The three hikers caught us again at the next bench, but we were ready to move on, and they were going to take another rest break.  That's the last we saw of them.  Except for three hikers and a dog just starting off when we got back to the Jeep we saw nobody else on our extended trek.

Don't know what it is, but I like the shape of the leaves

Spotted Towhee

Spotted Towhee

Spotted Towhee

The view from 9,000 feet

Mexican Canyon Trestle

High country hound

Ballet trees

Requires ID

Who put this tree here?

Osha Trail

ID required

Same as above

Spring has not yet sprung at 9,000 feet

A look down canyon

Hauling logs out

On the way back to the trailhead

Ruby-throated Hummingbird (this and the next five)

Lots of dead trees near the trailhead

Aspens

Odd-shaped Aspen

Now that's how Aspens are supposed to look

Gnarly Aspen

Garbage dumpster, Cloudcroft, New Mexico

Our neighbor's goat and horse

Mule Deer eating out vegetation

What--you don't want me eating your plants?

How's this then?

This is lunchtime, why haven't I bedded down yet?

Somebody's sneaking up on me