Monday Mash-up

She and her shadow

We only ran into two others hikers this morning--two young women--but they had three dogs with them.  One little furry Poodle cross kept charging Becca until Becca got fed up and charged back.  Fuzzball took off.  Becca listened to me and didn't chase.  The women were profusely apologetic for their dog's behavior, but no snapping of teeth occurred.  No harm no foul.

Bare ocotillos

The road around Tortoise Mountain

The Organs

Circumnavigating Tortugas

On the northern flank of Tortugas Mountain

The weather would have been fine this morning (36 F) if the wind hadn't been so high.  It made us reconsider our plan to hike completely around Tortugas (Tortoise) Mountain.  We decided to go for it anyway, and it was several well-spent hours.  We ran into only a few other hikers while getting some good exercise.  The elevation climbs and descents are a lot greater on the northern flank of the mountain.  Becca, of course, never got winded.

Dr. K on the trail

The lead dog

Tortugas and the rugged Organ Mountains

Becca and Soaptree Yucca

Commander

Resident Animals

Jackrabbit ear veins (natural radiators)

A few of the animals found on the grounds of the Chihuahuan Observation Center.  I'm not a birder, so I can't say with certainty that the last photo is that of a Say's Phoebe.  It's obviously some kind of Flycatcher (I think).

White-winged Doves

Say's Phoebe?

The Warm-Up Begins

Watching for Jackrabbits

Although it was only 6 degrees when we set off this morning it didn't feel quite as cold as yesterday because the wind was intermittent.  When it did blow there was a wind chill factor, but most of the time it stayed calm.  The steady sunshine was much appreciated; because of it we were able to do a longer hike.  We saw several Jackrabbits basking in the sun; that is, until Becca started  chasing them.  The good girl listened to me when I called her off.  On the whole it was a much better trek than yesterday.

Strawberry Pitaya in snow

Tortugas foothills and the Organ Mountains

Remnants of the snow storm

Freezing its nuts off

Distant Potrillo Mountains floating on a sea of desert

Soaptree Yuccas on a snowy knoll

FRIGID!

A view of the frosty Organ Mountains

It was 5 degrees when we hit the trail this morning, and the wind made it bone-chilling cold.  I could barely work my hands to take a few photos.  We were -1 last night--very cold for the desert.  It's 19 F right now (4:10 pm), so it's not going to get much warmer.

The northern Organs

The intrepid hiker dog

Snow and Frigid Temps

Snow and ice toppled this Torrey Yucca

It was 9 Farenheit when Becca and I left for our hike around Tortugas Mountain.  The wind chill was around 0 F.  It was probably the coldest I've ever felt in the lower Chihuahuan Desert.  We seriously curtailed our hike because it was just too frigid out.  Taking my gloves off to take photos was excruciating.  I can only remember one other occasion when I felt this cold:  when Dr. K and I did the Window Trail in the Chisos Mountains of Big Bend National Park.  It was 10 F.  But we were in the mountains.


Snow-covered Prickly Pear Cactus



An unusual sight

Snow dog

Tortugas Mountain and footfills in snow

First Storm

Sliver of blue sky

It was damned cold when we set out this morning, with a stiff wind to add to the chill.  Fortunately, we were both dressed appropriately.  The route we took this morning was a loop of 3.42 miles.  We couldn't get back to the car soon enough.  The weather is supposed to deteriorate even more by tomorrow, when our high will only be 25 Farenheit, with a low of 7 F.  On that coyote scat photo:  I don't know what the Canis Latrans ate, but it obviously didn't agree with him.

Trail on the mountain flank

Green coyote scat



Ominous-looking clouds



The trail around Tortugas

Road to the southern Organ Mountains

The Organ Mountains obscurred by heavy cloud cover