Cool For a Spell

At the side of LDR-A

Initially it felt pretty cool as Dr. K, Willow, Frio and I began our hike down LDR-A early this morning.  Up top--before we dropped down to the major east/west arroyo--there was a nice breeze that made conditions more than bearable.  However, as soon as we hit the valley bottom, things began to heat up.  From then on it felt like a normal mid-June day in our section of the northern Chihuahuan Desert.

We trekked up to the second arroyo and went through our normal routine, ducking in for a brief respite:  water and shade break, landscape photography and a slow walk back to the long dirt road for our return trip to the waiting CR-V.

We ran into one other outdoor enthusiast this morning, an elderly woman the Heelers and I have seen before; she's a two-stick hiker who moves at quite a brisk pace.  This morning we crossed paths near enough so that I could ask about the trail she follows all the way back to our neighborhood, and she was kind enough to tell us about it before we all parted ways.

The long view of Tortugas and the Organ Mountains

Washboard sky

This and the next:  Ocotillos greening out after Friday's rain

Closing in a bit on Tortugas and the Organs

Looking back up LDR-A

Millipede in a defensive mandala position

Dr. K and the Heelers heading up the long dirt road

Sit!

Our arroyo

This and the next:  Soaptree Yuccas at the arroyo bank

Had to climb a small hill to get this shot

This and the next 2:  Ocotillos leafing out

The desert is pretty green after Friday's storm

This and the next 3:  Ocotillos

This and the next:  pretty sure it's a Wolf Spider

Hanging out just below the roof line