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Sunday, February 16, 2025

Sunday's Altered Track

Three wise men have seen better days
As soon as Dr. K, Willow and I began descending LDR-A arroyo this morning we spotted Two-White-Dogs-Lady and her pups closer to us than ever before; they were heading south on LDR.  We soon saw why they were further north:  the Basset people and their hounds were bushwhacking where we often see the other nature enthusiasts.  We were forced to alter our track, too, heading directly east toward the mountains.  We compensated for cutting out the first leg of our hike, adding quite a bit of distance by an extended bushwhack.
Soaptree Yucca and triple barrel cactus

This & next:  the hill we're climbing


Flank of Tortugas and the Organs

Dr. K and Willow

Stop calling me

This & next:  view southwest from 4210 hill


Willow takes in the long view

This & next:  the Lone Soaptree


Bigger barrel cactus

This & next:  Freddy trying to blend in


Last 2:  early blooming Faxon Yucca


 

Saturday, February 15, 2025

Post-Earthquake Hike

This & next:  clouds over the Organs
At 10:23 last night, just as I lay down to sleep, the bed and the room shuddered briefly; my first thought was:  earthquake.  And sure enough Dr. K--who hadn't felt the quake--found a website that detailed the earthquake near Toyah, Texas (about 130 miles east of Las Cruces) which was near the epicenter of a category 5 quake.  We felt no aftershocks.


Willow on break

Clouds around the peak

Northward down an arroyo

This & next:  Tortugas and the Organs


This & next:  clouds and the Organs


What?

Two hedgehog cactus stems between two barrel cacti

Long view from atop a ridge

Willow spots the Basset people and their hounds

Ocotillos and prickly pear on the ridge

 

Friday, February 14, 2025

Wind Again

This & next:  same Soaptree Yucca
Although an occasional breeze made conditions slightly chilly at times for Dr. K, Willow and me when we did our morning hike, the wind that's coming this afternoon hadn't begun to materialize.  We saw Two-White-Dogs-Lady and her pups while we descended LDR-A, but they were the only outdoor enthusiasts we spotted on our trek today.


The Wilster

Ancient Soaptree Yucca

This & next:  sky over desert


Ocotillo and sky from right branch arroyo

 

Thursday, February 13, 2025

Bit of Wind

View from LDR-A arroyo
Mid-40s when Dr. K, Willow and I set off on our morning hike; a slight wind made conditions feel colder.  We followed our regular route without seeing a single other soul out there today; there weren't even any vehicles parked in the Tellbrook/Sonoma Ranch lot.
View to the southwest

Soaptree Yucca spent seed pod

Happy hiker on break

Branches

This & next:  Picacho and environs


Magdalena Peak in the distance

Last 2:  Tortugas and the Organs


 

Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Return to Cold

This kind of morning
No sun out there this morning for Willow and me during the entirety of our daily trek; Dr. K had an appointment so Wils and I were on our own.
A hint of brighter sky
  It wasn't freezing for the hike, but it felt cold enough to be unpleasant.  Dr. K wouldn't have liked it. 
Willow surveying the territory
The Basset people and their hounds were just ahead of us as we started down LDR-A at the onset so I had to hold the heeler back even though she wanted to forge ahead.  They were the only nature enthusiasts we saw in the desert.
Patch of blue

This & next:  barrel cactus fruit well past "use by" date


There's the sun

A male Ladder-backed Woodpecker

This & next:  should see Tortugas Mountain from here


 

Sunday's Altered Track

Three wise men have seen better days As soon as Dr. K, Willow and I began descending LDR-A arroyo this morning we spotted Two-White-Dogs-Lad...