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Tortugas and the Organs

Back to hot desert hiking for Willow, Frio and me this morning.  Curious to see the results of last Sunday's big storm we hiked up to Second Arroyo only to discover that the Jerry Garcia yucca had been swept away.  No sign of it.  The dead tree in the arroyo had been substantially pruned by the wind and water.

After a brief rest and a drink of agua we crossed over to First Arroyo to have a look inside; it, too, had been affected by the elements, the sandy floor brushed smooth.  From there we trekked west to LDR and headed back to the upper flatland, marveling along the way (at least I was) at how much debris the rushing water had removed from the Tellbrook Arroyo, one of the major waterways running out of the Organ Mountains.

Greater Earless Lizard

Willow and Frio

Frio

Willow

Where Jerry G. used to be

Last Sunday's storm subtracted a large portion of the dead tree

Second Arroyo

Crossing from Second Arroyo to First Arroyo

Ocotillo

Dead Yucca crown

First Arroyo

This & the next 2:  Curve-billed Thrasher in a yucca crown

Creosote Bush in full bloom

Sunday's storm swept clean the Tellbrook Arroyo

Somebody was stuck