Blustery Morning

Conditions at start

Dr. K and I did a rare Friday morning hike together, and we explored a trail we'd not taken before.  My friend Jimmy told me about a single-track that begins near the sign at the westernmost entrance to Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument and strikes east until it intersects with the main Sierra Vista Trail (Norte).  We found it without trouble, and we spent a good hour-and-a-half trekking from the Dripping Springs Road trailhead to the juntion with the main trail and back again.

It's a good thing it wasn't cold out there because the wind was strong, and it got even more forceful on our way back to the waiting Whitey the CR-V.  On our return we bumped into a small group of hikers:  four people and three young Weimaraners.  Both Dr. K and I commented to the humans about how beautiful the dogs were.  Those were the only sentient beings we encountered directly.

At the very end of our trek the sun came out for a short visit.  Now, in the early afternoon, it's cloudy again and the wind is much stronger with gusts predicted to reach 60 mph.

This and the next:  Barrel Cactus in an arroyo

Christmas Cactus in front of Barrel Cactus

This and the next 3:  views of the rugged Organ Mountains

Fog and clouds across the Mesilla Valley

Organs

This and the next:  following the single-track toward the mountains

Triple Barrel Cactus

Long view west

This and the next:  more Barrel Cacti

Almost to the Sierra Vista Trail junction

Interesting decals on a trail marker

This and the next:  clouds and the mountains

Looking up an arroyo at the Organ Mountains