Change is Coming

Morning sky

Definite change of weather for Dr. K, Willow and me this morning; greater change is yet to come--possible rain tomorrow.  We saw the Basset People far to the west of us when we were just starting off, but they quickly disappeared in the distance.  We spotted no one else during the trek.  After we returned home I got ready and left for my weekly shopping stint at Albertsons.

View from LDR-A

Sun trying to break through

Javelina handiwork

Organ Mountains

Willow and a giant Tic Tac

38 miles from here to Magdalena Peak

Chinchweed circle

Barrel cactus fruit circle

Inner circle (Dr. K and Willow)

 

Male house finch on yucca saber

View to the southwest

Organ Mountains again

Week Start

Tortugas and the Organs

Low 50s when Dr. K, Willow and I hit the trail this morning.  We saw no one else out in our section of northern Chihuahuan Desert while we followed our regular route.  Weather conditions are supposed to change today; afternoon high predicted to be only 70F.

Soaptree Yucca standing tall

Still hanging on in mid-November

Willow and Dr. K

Clouds over the Organs

Yet another break for Willow

Sleepy Orange?

Clouds sliding over the Organs

View from the right branch arroyo

Barrel cactus dreams of being a saguaro

 

Trailhead Delay

Hedgehog cactus

As Dr. K, Willow and I were driving to the trailhead this morning we spotted the Basset People +1 and their hounds hiking east on the upper flatland road approaching the starting point.  Since we would have all converged at the junction at the same time we decided to take a short ride on the dirt road south of Tellshore Road to give them enough of a head start to clear the area for us.  When we drove to the trailhead a brief while later they were stopped a short distance ahead forcing us to descend the steep hill down to the right branch arroyo and begin our hike from there.  It was a good day for photos due to obliging birds that posed for us along the way.  We took a short drive after the outing before heading home.

In the right branch arroyo

Prickly pear heart

Prickly pear cup

This & next:  same cactus wren

Black-throated Sparrow

Curve-billed Thrasher

Willow in the right branch

In the right branch arroyo (phone pic)

 

Early Spring

Early break for Willow

We're headed for a high of 78F this afternoon; we hit 80F yesterday.  This is mid-November for crying out loud.  None of the three hikers this morning--Dr. K, Willow and me--were complaining about weather conditions.  While we followed our regular route we spotted the Basset People + 1 and their hounds bushwhacking westward across the desert to the north of us; also, to the northwest, we saw Two-White-Dogs-Lady and her hounds.  After the trek we took a long drive listening to sports talk radio.

Hill and mountains

Yucca experiment

North to Tortugas

Tree

Willow relaxing in the left branch arroyo

Barrel cactus and the mountains

Willow and Dr. K

Desert flora

 

Phone Pic Day

1st 2:  distant view of Tortugas and the Organs

Pleasant morning weather for Dr. K, Willow and me on the daily trek.  We did our regular route.  Although we spotted the Basset People +1 while driving to the trailhead we never saw them out in the desert.  Saw no other nature enthusiasts, either.  After the hike I drove over to Eyemart Express to get new glasses, and, frankly, I was stunned by the cost of the eyewear.

Heading down LDR-A

Willow having a sit-down

Someone's been eating barrel cactus fruit

Close in to Tortugas and the Organs

View northward from the right branch arroyo

 

Tad Warmer

Picacho and surroundings

Slight warming trend had weather conditions fairly pleasant for Dr. K, Willow and me this morning.  We hiked our regular route seeing no other outdoor enthusiasts in our section of northern Chihuahuan Desert today.

This & next:  distant view of Tortugas and the Organs

Willow and Dr. K in the left branch arroy

A break for W

View from the left branch arroyo

Ancient Soaptree Yucca in the left branch arroyo