Blazing Heat

An early, but hot start

Because we had to leave straight from our hike to return to the lower desert--and we didn't want to drive up to do the Osha Trail yet another time this trip--we opted for the Grand View Trail near High Rolls.  Right from the start it was an uncomfortable trek, way too hot to be hiking at 6800 feet.  This was simply prelude to the hell we would be entering a short hour-and-a-half later when we entered the lower section of the northern Chihuahuan Desert.  We'll probably hit 100F today down here; but where my brother lives in Glendale, Arizona it was already 115F at noon!

A hot dog

Midway ramada

Looking in the direction of White Sands

Closer look

Down the Grand View Trail

Popcorn clouds

Don't know how many times I've photographed this dead tree

All those junipers are loaded with . . .

Juniper berries

Dr. K and Becca in the shade of the ramada

Cicada

Same cicada

Tree Cholla