Bad Air Day

First 2:  flank of Tortugas and the Organ Mountains

Although it was 28F when we started our trek this morning the weather conditions felt far better than yesterday due to the absence of wind; and the sunshine was not impeded by any clouds.

We hiked up to Second Arroyo aware of the two people who had just started descending LDR far behind us.  While we were in the arroyo a man and woman with two dogs appeared on the southernmost east/west road above us and stopped long enough to put their canines on leads.  The four of them ran past us heading south on LDR.

To ensure we wouldn't encounter them or the two people coming up behind us we bushwhacked over to and through First Arroyo, then followed an animal trail along the ridge above the arroyo.  The ridge provides a vantage point that allowed us to track the other outdoor enthusiasts.  From there we took a shortcut into the desert south of the ridge and meandered through it until we rejoined LDR just north of the Tellbrook Arroyo.  We saw no other nature lovers on our way back to the CR-V.

Another character in Second Arroyo

This and the next:  same dead tree in Second Arroyo

Soaptree in Second Arroyo

This and the next 2:  Soaptrees on the ridge above 1st Arroyo

Small Soaptree Yucca far west of the mountains

This and the next:  Barrel Cactus

This and the next:  Frio and Willow

Last 2:  yucca sculpture