Injured Reserve List

Happy Hiker--not!

Poor Becca sprained her left leg yesterday, and beginning today she's on the IR List for desert hikers; I'll probably keep her out of action for a week while she takes Rimadyl to reduce inflammation.  She'll not be a happy camper for the next seven days.  One time when she sprained her leg I had to keep her off trail for 10 days as ordered by the vet.  Once she was able to get back to hiking after only three days, but we'll carefully monitor her condition so as not to exacerbate the problem.  In the meantime I'll have to hike alone, which is not something I like to do after trekking everyday with my best hiking companion.

West side of Tortugas Mountain

Future Ocotillo flowers

I didn't notice when I photographed this Desert Cottontail, but . . .

. . . it appears to have a piece of cactus stuck in its fur

Soaptree Yucca, Franklin Mountains near El Paso in background

Some closeups of the Soaptree Yucca flowers

Old and the new

Future Prickly Pear flowers

Four ways of looking at a Soaptree Yucca

This Soaptree is over 12 feet tall

Loggerhead Shrike

I was trepidatious approaching this snake until . . .

. . . I realized it was a bike tire inner tube

Small Soaptree Yucca sending up new stalks

Mid-size Whitethorn Acacia bush