Cool Change

Early morning double rainbow

It was raining right up until the time when Willow and I left for our morning outing; the result was a pleasantly cool start to the hike.  That sensation didn't last very long, though, as the 87% humidity began to take its toll.  Funny how that works.  We did the same full hike we did yesterday with the exception of an aborted start down the middle branch arroyo; Willow picked up a clump of prickly pear thorns, which I dislodged immediately.  We turned around and bushwhacked over to the left branch arroyo, following the route we took yesterday back to Whitey the CR-V.

Cloudy Organ Mountains from the trailhead

Headed down LDR-A

Soaptrees and the Organs

Distant view of the Organs and flank of Tortugas

Cholla cheerleaders

All the way down there?

Prickly pear peacock

Shed a few ounces

Four O'Clock

Holdover

 

Full Hike, Partial Detour

From the trailhead

This morning, not long after Willow and I set off on our daily trek, we heard a coyote barking like a canine puppy.  A quarter of the way down LDR-A arroyo we bushwhacked to see if we could see the canid, but never did.  Later, while we were ascending the left branch arroyo, the barking started again, seemingly coming from the base of 4210 hill.  We bushwhacked in that direction, but never saw the coyote.  I took six or seven photos in the general direction of the yipping, but not until we got home and I looked at my photos did I see I'd captured an image of a coyote, but I believe it was coyote mom looking down at its youngster from the top of 4210 hill.

Clouds over hill to the southwest

Panorama of the barely cloudy Organs

Willow on break in the sandbox

Pale blue Dayflower

This & next:  coyote we heard, but didn't see

Barrel cactus with fruit

Southwest of Tortugas Mountain

Desert Marigold

White-winged Dove on ocotillo branch

 

Fool Us Once

To the southwest

It rained a bit overnight, and it was partly cloudy and cool when Willow and I set off on our morning hike.  Because the clouds suggested it was going to remain cool we decided to do a longer exploratory trek today.  A little over a quarter of the way the sun broke through, and with the sky-high humidity we soon began regretting how far we had hiked.  It was okay, though, exploring arroyos still wet from the overnight rain.  We had one encounter with a lover of the outdoors, a large guy riding an electric bike down LDR-A.  After the brief exchange of hellos we was gone, and we saw no one else during our outing.

View from LDR-A

Tellbrook Arroyo

Side arroyo we explored

Willow in a side arroyo

Bushwhacking view of Tortugas and the Organs

How many barrel cacti do you see?

How far back to our vehicle?

This & next:  male Ladder-backed Woodpecker

 

Young adult male or female Rufous?

Last 2:  Western Kingbird

Pre-Solo Stretch

Heading down LDR-A

Dr. K accompanied Willow and me on a morning hike, the last we'll share together for about a week; one of us is heading to Santa Fe.  Willow and I will be going solo for the next five days.  Today's outing was rather hot and somewhat humid; no breeze.  We're anxious for the temperatures to go down, which looks likely for the coming week.  Chances of rain are higher, but never more than 40% yet.

Sky southwest

Tortugas and the Organs

This & next:  Dayflowers

Tortugas and the Organs again

Yucca pee receptacle

Dr. K and Willow

Wils on another break

This American Kestrel looks like a parrot

 

Solo Sojourn with Wils

Tortugas and the Organs early

Dr. K had a morning meeting so it was Willow and me on the daily trek.  When we got to the decision section of the route Willow chose the shorter path; therefore we did only half a hike.  That's just as well since it was already beginning to heat up.  Surprisingly there seemed to be a bit fewer ants today.  No ride after the trek since Willow was eager to get back home.

Looking southwest

Alternate long dirt road

Taking another break

What are you looking at?

Whiptail

Distant view of Tortugas and the Organs