At Times It Looked Like Rain

Heelers

There were a few sprinkles on the CR-V windshield when we headed out this morning, and for much of the time during our hike it seemed as if rain was likely.  It never came, though, and, after yesterday's soaking, we were grateful for the good fortune.

Although we saw a few jackrabbits out today--including one the Heelers were ready to chase--there were no other sentient beings around; no vehicles were parked at the Tellbrook/Sonoma Ranch lot, either.

The trek up to Second Arroyo, the bushwhack into First Arroyo and the trek back gave us some good exercise on this cloudy and cool day in our section of the northern Chihuahuan Desert.

Soaptree and the Organs

Willow and Frio

Sun

The long view, southwest

Organ Mountains

Crossing down into First Arroyo

Deadwood

Patch of blue

Sun again

Cloud

Wedge of blue sky

Franklin Mountains near El Paso

Gap

 

A Wet Human and Two Soggy Doggies

Ocotillo flowering

I felt fairly certain Frio, Willow and I would get spit upon this morning, but it turned out a bit worse for us.  It was sprinkling when we crossed the Tellbrook Arroyo and began following the single-track west through the desert, but as soon as we reached the new arroyo the rain started coming down fairly hard.

I had managed to take a few photos before the precipitation got heavy, but after I slipped my camera case into its protective cover I never took it out again.  We were all pretty wet by the time we got back to the CR-V in the upper flatland.

Upper flatland road

Claret Cup Hedgehog Cactus

This and the next 2:  clouds blanketing the Organ Mountains

Pyrrhuloxia (aka "Desert Cardinal")

 

Roller Coaster Weather

Picacho

It was raining this morning when Dr. K and I let Willow and Frio into the backyard to do their morning business.  I worried then that the Heelers and I wouldn't be able to get a hike in without getting wet.  We went anyway.

Fortunately we trekked up to First Arroyo and back while only getting sprinkled on a few times.  The cold front that blew through lowered the temperature significantly such that it was only 54F when we headed out.  We were all dressed appropriately, though.

Except for a couple of jackrabbits we saw no sentient beings in our section of northern Chihuahuan Desert today.

Desert Hills/Robledo Mountains

Ocotillos and dynamic sky

Our Lady Mountains

This and the next:  wild sky

Looking southwest

Organ Mountains

This morning's rainbow

This and the next:  snow on the Organs

Tortugas and the Organs

Potrillo Mountains across the Mesilla Valley

Soaptree

Pinprick of sun

Rabbit!  Bird!

Same Soaptree as above

This and the next 2:  looking down First Arroyo

This and the next:  LDR (road to the upper flatland)

Tortugas and the Organs yet again

Southern Organ Mountains

 

Almost Chilly Again

This & the next:  sun breaking through clouds on the Organs

Even though it was 62F when we started off this morning strong winds and lack of sunshine made it feel almost chilly again.

Frio, Willow and I hiked up to Second Arroyo, entered it and took a short break before bushwhacking over to First Arroyo.  From there we headed west to LDR and trekked back to the south.

Midway on the long dirt road we had to step aside to let an off-road vehicle--a side-by-side--pass.  The driver and I nodded to each other.  Then I led the Heelers back onto the road for the final leg up into the flatland where our CR-V waited.

Heading down LDR-A

Sky over the hill

Soaptree Yucca and clouds over the Organ Mountains

Interesting tint on the cloud bottom right

Looking back up LDR (LDR-A at left)

This & the next 5:  sunlight through clouds on the Organs

:-)

This and the next:  Stealth

At rest in an arroyo

Rabbit!

Next 4:  check out the expressions on Frio's face

This and the next 2:  Organ Mountains

Alligator juniper?

Small mesquite leafing out

Frio and Willow in First Arroyo

"Haze Removal" filter effect

This and the next:  blossoming Ocotillo

Tortugas (left) and the Organ Mts. from the upper flatland