Conditions: Raw

Heading toward the Organs on the trail near the western entrance sign

Dr. K and I decided to take Frio and Willow out to the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument and to hike the trail that leaves from the western entrance sign.  Only one other vehicle was parked in the lot ahead of us.  Shortly after starting off we encountered a woman mountain biker we meet fairly often in and around the mountains east of Las Cruces.

It soon became apparent that the raw weather conditions were going to severely shorten our trek.  Had the sun been out full bore we might have been able to tolerate the wind blasts, but because it was primarily overcast the gusts took their toll.  We abbreviated the hike just short of a mile out, turned around and suffered even more heading back to Whitey the CR-V.  We saw quite a few other cars driving east toward the mountains on Dripping Springs Road, but nobody had parked in the lot near the entrance sign by the time we got back.

Although the sun is out now, the wind is whipping plants in our backyard making us glad we're inside and warm.

Clouds crowding down on the mountains

Following the single-track

Pretty gloomy that way

Strong winds pushed clouds aside to reveal blue sky

This and the next:  how the Organ Mountains looked for most of our trek

Next 2:  Frio, Willow and Dr. K with her face turned away from the wind

This and the next:  2 different perspectives of a Hedgehog Cactus

Tortugas Mountain from far east

Marker for drone flights?

Some blue sky over the Organs

Different perspective of the previous shot