Soledad Canyon's Serenity

Starting off into Soledad Canyon

This morning Dr. K and I did a long hike into Soledad Canyon in Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument.  There was only one other car in the parking lot when we got there, and even though we saw an elderly couple trekking in the distance we encountered nobody.  Our main purpose in going to Soledad was to sprinkle more of Becca's ashes, this time on another of her favorite trails.  Both Dr. K and I felt terribly sad about losing our favorite hiking companion.

We took a long stroll up the branch trail that leads to a spot directly opposite The Chimney before heading back to the Bar Canyon Loop Trail; by then the elderly couple we'd seen earlier had hiked a quarter way up a rugged path southwest of Casita Grande.  Frankly I wondered about the wisdom of them being there, but we saw later that they'd made it safely down.

The weather was ideal for a morning trek into the canyon, slightly breezy and almost cool.  Of course it began to heat up the longer we were out there, and we're supposed to reach 91F this afternoon.  That's about five degrees better than it's been the past few days.

Looking back at the Bar Canyon Trail

The Chimney at left

Rainbow Hedgehog Cactus

Distant mountains through the gap

Juniper ladened with berries

Mountain arroyo

A nice, big Sotol

Sotols

Tree in front of The Chimney

Another Sotol

This trail will lead us across the flank of "Casita Grande"

A miniature Casa Grande (Big Bend fixture)

This and the next 2:  Sotols along the steep slope

Prickly Pear fruit just ripening at elevation

Along the loop trail

Tree

This and the next 2:  "Casita Grande)

That tree has a nest in it

One last look before heading out