Hot wth Breeze

How bad the air was this morning

It felt really hot when we started off on a hike this morning; the breezes and wind we've been having of late were absent.  After a while, though, a breeze kicked up and cooled things off noticeably.

We did our usual trek today, down the LDR-A arroyo, east on the cross trail to the new arroyo, up and back on the left branch, and then up and out on the right branch.

Willow insisted we take plenty of shade breaks during our outing, and we did just that; it's easy to stop in shady spots when the weather is so hot.

Willow and Frio at rest

Stick X

Fallen Ocotillo flowers

Barrel Cactus and a long view

Soaptree Yucca

Prickly Pear pad with a view

Prickly Pear with buds

Man talking to children

Wild Ride

This & next:  Frio and Willow at rest in Right Branch Arroyo

This & next:  bad air views

3 Barrel Cacti

This & next:  mesquite in bloom

Just how bad the air is

 

Shade Finder

Ocotillo in bloom alongside LDR-A

As the weather begins to turn hot our expert shade finder, Willow, puts her skills into full gear.  Take today for example.  Each time we came upon a shady area--no matter how small--Ms. Willow plopped herself down onto the ground.

It only takes Frio a brief moment to follow Willow's lead, and in a few seconds both are relaxing on the desert floor.

We did our whole trek like that today, and I suspect we'll do many more in the coming hot days.

Probably an Ash-throated Flycatcher

Tortugas and the Organs

Heelers

Mesquite Tree

Didn't realize a hummer made a cameo appearance

Line of mesquites shows where H2O is more abundant

A female Mormon Tea plant

The rest:  Carpenter Bee on Ocotillo flower

 

Feisty Heelers

Distance in the Chihuahuan Desert

As soon as we had our first jackrabbit encounter this morning the Heelers were ready to go; that ensured they'd be feisty for a good part of the rest of our trek.

They were fairly well behaved, however, and they didn't give me any grief for the rest of the outing.

It was a normal hike, though we cut out the middle branch section.  That doesn't affect the distance, however, because we go both up and down the left branch.

Ocotillo flowers and yuccas

This & next:  Cactus Wren

Willow and Frio

This & next:  backlit hummer

Prickly Pear pad with buds

A male Gambel's Quail

Last 2:  Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus

 

A Bit of Humidity

Ocotillo and the Organ Mountains

It was a little humid out there when we started our morning hike today.  Very light breeze so it felt somewhat warm.

We did our normal trek, but we added in Middle Branch Arroyo again, making sure to keep our eyes peeled carefully through the narrow sections.

Willow and Frio were excellently behaved during our outing, and they didn't overreact on the drive back when we encountered several dogs walking their people.

Down LDR-A arroyo

Heelers

This & next:  view from Left Branch Arroyo

Picacho

This & next:  Prickly Pear buds

Heading up the steep hill out of Right Branch Arroyo

This & next:  same Ocotillos

Different Ocotillos