High Country Wind

Just getting started on the Grand View Trail

Willow, Frio, Dr. K and I took an early morning hike on the Grand View Trail today, and we did so in a gusty wind.  It was cold enough to warrant wearing a long-sleeve shirt under my Marmot PreCip jacket, though I did wear shorts.

Heelers were especially frisky during the first half of the trek, but they settled down on the inbound leg.  I've got to find a way to convince them to mellow out before our hikes begin.

We saw nobody else out there this morning, and that was just fine and dandy.  ("Fine and dandy"--an expression I never use.)

Quite an arrangement

A look into the Tularosa Basin

The way we just came

Four-wing Saltbush

Still wildflower season in the high country

Grand vista from the Grand View Trail

Frio and Willow with Dr. K

Yucca

This & next 2:  Hedgehog Cactus growing in rock

This & next:  tree on cliff

Hiking the Sacramentos

Leafy Arnica?

Root snake

Through the cut

Rails-to-Trails ramada, Grand View Trail

The way back

Apache Plume on a narrow section of trail