Challenging Trek

♫ Me and Frio up in the Foothills ♫ (to the tune of "Me and Julio ...")

I knew in advance that Frio's off-lead experiment was going to be a problem this morning; he'd already had two Encounters of the 4th Kind with a couple of Desert Cottonwoods.  He lunged at them, but they disappeared into the Catclaw bushes.  After that he was on alert, scouting everywhere for more of the critters.

When we turned onto the road heading west from Tortugas Mountain I unleashed him in the same area I had on previous days.  But today he took off like a shot heading south, and I had a sinking feeling in my stomach as I saw the white tip of his tail disappear beyond the near end of a narrow fold in the desert floor.  I knew if a rabbit or hare bolted out of ground cover just then it would be a hot pursuit leading to god knows where.  Fortunately when Frio reappeared I waved my arms above my head until he spotted me.  He came right back after that.  Needless to say I put him on lead immediately, morning experiment over.  I'm glad I did because shortly after that he actually leapt at a low-flying crow that barely cleared the low ridge we were hiking.

It's going to take a lot of work to get Frio thinking right about hiking in the Chihuahuan Desert, but I'm up for the challenge.  He's super smart and, I think, motivated to please.  Right now his canine instincts are running wild.

This and the next:   Wild Rhubarb (Canaigre Dock, Rumex hymenosepalus)

2 shots of a Soaptree Yucca, this with Ocotillos, the other not

This and the next 2:  Frio back on lead

Flank of Tortugas and the Organ Mountains

Mr. Frio Grande

This and the next:  Yucca Elata far west of Tortugas

#2

When you come to the fork in the road . . .

Large Soaptree Yucca with a tall Torrey Yucca in the distance

Javelinas were through his arroyo not long before Frio and I explored it