Abbreviated Journey

This & next:  Organ Mountains from the upper flatland

Willow, Frio and I hiked down LDR-A, turned left in the Tellbrook Arroyo and made another left turn up LDR.  About a fourth of the way from the crest a large white SUV started down, and I could see it was filled with dogs--a literal pack.  There were two humans in the front.

I was only able to get a few feet off the road with the Heelers, and the driver sped up so as to get past us as soon as possible.  He seemed friendly enough, but all canines--including mine--went ballistic.  All dogs kept barking and snarling long after the vehicle had passed.

The SUV stopped in the Tellbrook Arroyo, and I felt fortunate to be at the top of the road; no telling what kind of interaction would have occurred if we had encountered the loose pack in the arroyo.

This & next:  sun breaking over a ridge

Tortugas and the Organs

Hills west of the Organ Mountains

Southwest side of Tortugas Mountain

Frio and Willow on LDR

LDR looking north

Fruit of the Devil's Claw

This & next:  same view of the Organ Mountains

Last 2:  on LDR looking north

 

Navigating Over the Hump

Willow and Frio

View from LDR-A

Willow, Frio and I trekked up to Second Mesa this morning, parked ourselves inside for a bit--during which time we drank water and took photographs--and then we headed back.

Saw no human or other mammalian critters while we were out there, but I was able to get a photo of a skipper that might be a Funereal Duskywing.  I've seen those black skippers before, but never did any research on them.

Only slightly warm when we were hiking this morning, and not too humid.  It's supposed to rain quite a bit tomorrow.

Tortugas and the Organs

Willow and Frio

This & next:  Soaptree Yucca leaves

Question Mark and the Mysterians

Piece of dead yucca

View up First Mesa

Tortugas, Organs and cloud

Funereal Duskywing Skipper (Eyrrinis funeralis)?

Funereal Duskywing Skipper?

Desert living

 

A Bit of Spit

Clouds over the Organs

It was barely sprinkling at home when I decided to leave with Willow and Frio for our morning hike.  We made it down to the Tellbrook Arroyo and into the desert southwest of Tortugas Mountain before I began to suspect we might get wet.

As soon as we turned to head back the rain began:  sprinkle to drizzle to light shower.  It tapered off a bit while we ascended LDR-A, but came down a little harder when we reached the upper flatland.

It started to pour just as we got into the CR-V, and we were thankful we didn't get drenched because the temperature was quite cool, and cold precipitation would have been an unwelcome experience.

Tortugas and the Organs

Lone Soaptree

Spread 'em

This & next:  Tortugas and the Organs

This & next:  headed back into the upper flatland

LDR-A (foreground) looking like it merges with LDR

This & next:  long views of Tortugas and the Organs

This & next:  east in the Tellbrook Arroyo

Flank of Tortugas and the Organs

This & next:  same lone yucca

Dry inside the CR-V, wet outside

 

But Whenever Monday Comes . . .

First 2:  along the upper flatland road

Willow, Frio and I started off from our normal parking spot near Tellbrook Drive this morning, hiking up to First Arroyo and back on what has become a daily slog.  Today's conditions were made even worse due to recent rains which have turned the talcum-powder sand into heavy wet dirt.

I took a combination series of photos using both my Canon PowerShot and my Samsung Galaxy S10+ phone.  I have, as of yet, not inspected the phone photos.

We saw no one out there today, not even jackrabbits or other ground-dwelling critters; but we did see quite a few House Finches and sparrows in the trees.

This & next:  same juvenile Black-throated Sparrow

This & next 2:  Frio and Willow on break in First Arroyo

View southwest down First Arroyo

The rest:  House Finches in a Mesquite Tree

Find the fifth