Sunday Sunshine

Picacho in the background

My weather app lied to me; it said it was cloudy this morning, but the sun was shining brightly when Dr. K, Willow and I did the daily trek.  While we descended LDR-A we spotted the Basset People and their hounds in the desert far to the northwest of us.  They were the only outdoor enthusiasts we saw during our outing.  We took a long drive down to and around the campus at New Mexico State University after our hike.

Flank of Tortugas Mountain

Doña Ana Mountains

Middle branch arroyo

Tortugas and the Organs

Wils

Clouds over the Organs

 

Nice Morning

Tortugas and the Organs

We've got a big change of weather coming in the next few days--with a slight chance of snow--but this morning was nearly perfect for Dr. K, Willow and me on the daily trek.  We heard, but never saw, Basset hounds out there today; we spotted no other nature enthusiasts while we followed our regular route.  Did a long drive after the outing as we often do on the weekend treks.

Picacho

This & next:  Picacho "Peak" and surroundings

Willow and our boots

Organ Mountains with San Augustin Peak

Willow leads the way

Tortugas and the Organs again

American Kestrel

Searching for Basset hounds

 

Better Air

View from the crossover trail

Better air and pleasant weather for our morning hike today; Dr. K, Willow and I were very appreciative.  We did our regular route without seeing any other nature lovers out and about; there weren't even any vehicles parked at the Tellbrook/Sonoma Ranch corner lot.  Everybody's away for the holidays.

Willow on the crossover trail

Hedgehog

Looking northward down the right branch

 

Christmas Trek

Sky west

Early morning Christmas day hike for Dr. K, Willow and me.  We saw a red Jeep parked at the Tellbrook/Sonoma 
Ranch corner lot, but didn't see the occupant(s).  Spotted no one else out and about today.  Mostly cloudy and a bit cool when we were following our regular route.  Took a long drive after the trek before heading home.

Willow heading down LDR-A

LDR-A

Baby double barrel cactus

Willow and Dr. K

Organ Mountains

Cactus crown

Dr. K and Wils

Last 2:  nearly identical views of Tortugas and the Organs

 

Xmas Eve

Sky this morning

The weather was nice for our hike this morning; partly sunny, no wind.  Dr. K, Willow and I saw no other outdoor enthusiasts while we followed our regular route.

Willow leading the way

You gotta have heart

View from the middle branch

Picacho and surroundings

Willow

Javelina have been rooting around

 

Xmas Eve Eve

Across the desert

Dr. K, Willow and I did our usual hike this morning; the weather was quite pleasant.  We saw Two-White-Dogs-Lady hiking with her pups along the east/west dirt road far north of us.  At the end of our trek, just as we crested the steep hill west of the right branch arroyo, we had a fairly close encounter with the Basset People and their hounds.  All canines--especially Willow--were well behaved.

What's over there?

Flank of Tortugas

Northwest

Not a turtle

Waning Gibbous rock

Willow at rest in right branch

 

Inversion

Looking west

The air wasn't as good this morning as yesterday; hot days and cool nights have created a temperature inversion, trapping smog down low.  I'm not sure, though, that the white patches we've observed against the distant mountains is the result of the inversion or of a factory producing smoke.

Wils and leg shadows

Across the Rio Grande

Are those clouds in front of the mountains?

Potrillos on the horizon