Dreary Day with Vistas

1st 3:  Tortugas and the Organs

It rained early evening and late night yesterday, and we awoke to a somewhat soggy desert.  That didn't stop Dr. K, Willow, Frio and me from our morning hike.

Because of the absence of sun the 44F temperature felt colder than it was, but I wore an earband and gloves for much of the outing.

We did our usual trek without adding any extra distance due to the weather conditions; nevertheless, a good time was had by all.

"O"s on lead

This & next 2:  cloudy Organs

"O"s off lead

Tortugas and the Organs

 

Enter the Wind

1st 2:  morning sky

Dr. K went shopping this morning; I went hiking and bushwhacking with the "O"s.

We saw nobody else out there while we did our regular hike, plus additional mileage due to extended bushwhacking, which Frio and Willow loved.

The bad, bad wind hadn't yet picked up during our outing, but it was windy enough to warrant the Columbia vest I wore under my Marmot PreCip; I had wondered about being overdressed, but the gusts convinced me I was properly clothed.

Hedgehog Cactus (aka "The Dave Clark Five")

Tortugas and the Organs

This & next 2:  the "O"s

This & next:  three wise men

Frio and a barrel

Barrel cactus from above

Soaptree Yucca

"O"s

Hill west of the Organs

Hedgehog and Prickly Pear

This & next 2: same barrel cactus, hedgehog and baby barrel

Tortugas and Organs

"O"s heading down a hill

Sky to the northwest

This & next 2:  "O"s bushwhacking

Heading west

Picacho and environs

This & next 2:  can't get enough of the "O"s

Tortugas and the Organs

 

Monday's Meander

1st 2:  Tortugas and the Organs

Warmish morning for our daily trek today.  We were thrown a curve ball when we had to alter our route just as we were beginning to descend the middle branch arroyo:  the Basset people and their hounds were heading down the eastern ridge toward the Tellbrook Arroyo and they would have been spotted by the "O"s.

Therefore we bushwhacked out of the middle branch toward the west, eventually descending the right branch arroyo and beginning our hike all over again when we reached the junction with the left branch.  That gave us extra mileage and seemed to make the heelers quite happy.

Frio and Willow

This & next 2:  Cactus Wren

Toppled barrel cactus

Looking down right branch

Yucca and the mountains

Descending the right branch

Soaptree and the Organs

Magdalena Peak

Ridge west of the Organs

View from the left branch

Yucca in middle branch

Steep hill west of right branch

Doña Ana Mountains

Tortugas and the Organs