A New Area to Explore

Frio and Willow on LDR-A

Willow, Frio and I explored an entirely new (to us) arroyo this morning.  We found it by heading down LDR-A, turning east in the Tellbrook Arroyo and heading up the southern bank until we came to what I, at first, believed was a dirt road.  It turned out to be a many-branched wide arroyo that had its northern terminus at the Tellbrook.

We followed it up a steep slope nearly to the parking area at the corner of Tellbrook and Sonoma Ranch, but were forced to turn around due to heavy undergrowth near the arroyo's southern mouth.  The new territory certainly called out for further future explorations.

We saw nobody else while we were out there today, but somebody was shooting somewhere to the north of our position.  Willow displayed true merit while we retraced our way down the new arroyo, leading us back on the right route when I got confused about which branch to follow.  She seemed pleased with herself when I praised her path-finding ability.

A tad hazy

Hill west of the Organs

This & next:  same scene, different zoom

The hill I want to climb

Barrel Cactus far west of the Organs

Torrey Yuccas

This & next:  yuccas atop the hill I want to climb

Kokopeli says, "Kiss my butt"

Torrey Yucca

Deadwood

Heelers

A section of new arroyo we explored

Osmond Family

Find the Cactus Wren

Cactus Wrens are the Heckle and Jeckle of the desert

Cutleaf Globeberrry vine on the side of the Soaptree Yucca

Cutleaf Globeberry

Heelers taking a break on LDR

Stingleaf