Just in Time

Where the trail forks

Dr. K, Becca and I did a ninety-minute hike on the Sierra Vista Trail Norte in Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument this morning and we got rained on lightly toward the end of our trek.  We saw a hiker, two runners and two mountain bikers out braving the elements.  We made it back to the Jeep just in time before the heavier rains came.  It rained fairly hard during our drive back home, and it's been sprinkling on and off since then.  Weather conditions are rather raw right now (early afternoon) and I'm glad we're not still out on the trail.

Variable weather this morning

This and the next three:  young Mule Deer buck

On the Sierra Vista Trail Norte

Dynamic clouds

Dr. K and Becca forging ahead of the photographer

Rugged Organ Mountains

Closer look at the Organs

The long view

Dr. K and Becca

Threatening sky to the northeast

Jagged peaks

Grassland southwest of the mountains

Vista to the northwest

Organ Mountains again

Sierra Vista Trail

Loggerhead Shrike

Loggerhead Shrike

Grasshopper impaled on an Ocotillo spike, probably by a Loggerhead Shrike

Ocotillos and dynamic sky

Organ Mountains

Rainbow Hedgehog Cactus

Chihuahuan Desert terrain

Look at that sky

Near-soccer-ball-size bird nest

Construction barrels

Old Man's Beard bush