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Saturday, April 30, 2022

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

 

Friday, April 29, 2022

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



 

Thursday, April 28, 2022

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


 

Wednesday, April 27, 2022

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

 

Sunny, Windy, Cold

1st 2:  slightly different views of yucca and the Organs We really cut the hike short this morning.  The strong wind and near-brutal cold ga...