If It's Tuesday . . .

Dead Mesquite Tree

The temperature was a bit cooler this morning for our normal hike, and a semi-consistent wind kept it from feeling too warm in our section of the northern Chihuahuan Desert; so Frio, Willow and I were happy to explore the "new" arroyo before doing a little bushwhacking to get up to the east/west dirt road.

We extended the trek a bit today, but kept the bushwhacking at a minimum; neither the Heelers nor I seemed in the mood to do much hiking off-trail.

We only saw a few people out there this morning:  a couple walking along the northernmost dirt road headed west, and a guy hiking with his dog.  The man and his hound were far enough ahead of us to avoid any kind of interaction.

This and the next:  a stout Torrey Yucca

No wind involved

This and the next:  Red-tailed Hawk on a new Soaptree Yucca stalk

Exploring the "new" arroyo

Something powerful about this ancient Soaptree Yucca

Figures at the base of the Soaptree Yucca

Kinky yucca stalk

This and the next:  Ocotillo flowers

This and the next:  Prickly Pear with a full house

Heelers on break

This and the next 2:  the old and the new

This and the next:  Prickly Pear blossom

The long view of Tortugas and the Organ Mountains