Hiking Low Desert

The Long Dirt Road

The O's and I were back at our usual haunt early this Saturday morning, hiking up to First Arroyo where we stopped in for a short break.  After a drink of water and a respite we got back on the long dirt road and headed for the upper flatland.

Behind us on our return was the man and woman couple who we see often running/walking out there on the weekend.  They never caught up to us.

Most difficult part of today's trek was keeping Willow and Frio away from the Black-tailed Jackrabbit who'd been slaughtered on the road; its blood was fresh, its guts hanging out, and its head had been severed from the body.  Heeler curiosity kept me struggling to pull them away from the dead critter.

Composition in green and yellow

Odd clouds

The O's in First Arroyo

New leaves emerge stalk-like from Soaptree Yuccas

First Arroyo

Grasses

This & the next 2:  how green is our desert?

Seed pod of Desert Unicorn Plant (Proboscedia althaeifolia)

Barrel Cactus in there somewhere

The rest: Redwhisker Clammyweed (Polanisia dodecandra)