Alternate Track with Heelers

Rough ride

Instead of following the LDR-A arroyo north this morning we descended LDR-A, crossed the Tellbrook Arroyo and explored a series of side arroyos we've hiked in before.  We were rewarded by the discovery of many mesquites resplendent in brilliant green leaves.

I spotted one jackrabbit the Heelers only smelled, but aside from that critter I saw no others.  We did come upon a crater undoubtedly created by javelinas digging for tubers.

We finished our morning trek by retracing our steps to the Tellbrook and then heading up the new arroyo until we reached the right branch which we followed into its source and then exited up the steep hill to its west.

Tortugas and the Organs

Organ Mountains

The Torrey Yucca we call "Slim" sending up a flower stalk

A small Mesquite Tree in a narrow arroyo

Exploring side arroyos

Javelinas at work

Tiny mesquite with Prickly Pear buddy

Frio and Willow at rest in a side arroyo

A wider side arroyo

New growth on an old Prickly Pear pad

Frio and Willow

Torrey Yuccas flowering

Flank of Tortugas and the Organ Mountains

The rest:  Apache Plume (Fallugia paradoxa)