Bitter Cold

Frozen foothills

It was 15 F. when Dr. K, Becca and I set off for Tortugas Mountain this morning.  Dr. K and I were bundled up big time.  Fortunately, there was little wind, so the sun somewhat ameliorated the cold.  Other than somebody who had parked a car in the Sunset parking area and left the lights on we were the only idiots hiking in the frigid conditions.  Later, when we drove down to El Paso to have lunch with friends we drove through a patch of freezing fog that was rising from the pavement like smoke.

Ice-covered sections of telephone poles near the lineman school grounds

Sunny, but cold!

Freezing fog in the Mesilla Valley

Headed back

Into the Clouds

It was 18 F. and partly-sunny when we left home for Tortugas Mountain this morning, but as we neared the trailhead on the west side a heavy fog settled  over the area.  For a while it looked as if it would lift, but it only got denser.  When the wind picked up--about 2/3 of the way into the hike--it got quite cold.  There were a few other people braving the elements:  a man and woman with a dog each, a man with two dogs, a jogger, and Greg, who we saw back at the parking lot just as we were leaving.  He was setting off for the top of the mountain.

Encounter With a Trickster

Becca and I encountered a Coyote on the west side of Tortugas (Tortoise) Mountain this morning.  I was busy taking photographs and Becca was occupied sniffing every bush in the Chihuahuan Desert when she spotted "God's dog."  The Coyote was hunting rodents in the snow cover, and although she was aware of this human accompanied by his trusty canine, she didn't seem overly concerned by our presence.  I probably took about twenty images of her before we went our separate ways.

Desert in Snow 2

A snowy start

The desert looked beautiful under a two-inch blanket of snow this morning.  The Beckster and I did a fairly long hike around Tortugas Mountain.  It wasn't very cold out there, and I was obviously interested in taking as many photos as I could.  How's 75 for a number?  Funny how a coating of the white stuff changes the landscape so thoroughly. 

Casa in snow

An inch of snow on a Torrey Yucca

Ocotillo

Snow Dog on the foothills trail

Torrey Yucca

Soaptree Yucca

Snow on Ocotillo wands

Tortugas Mountain under snow

What do you call this white stuff?

Yucca and Ocotillo in winter



Desert in Snow 1

One trail up Tortugas Mountain

Strawberry Pitaya Cactus and Prickly Pears under a dusting of snow

Today was the beginning of an odd snow storm that saw warm air coming up from Mexico mixing with a cold front sinking down from the north.  It snowed much of the day, but nothing stuck to paved surfaces--only to the desert earth.  The prediction is for more snow overnight and into tomorrow afternoon.

Devil's Head Cactus in snow

More snow on the way

The Organ Mountain under a light snow cover

Up a snowy arroyo

The Organ Mountains

Looks Can Be Deceiving



Becca on the Crosscut Trail

Today was the coldest day of winter so far--in terms of hiking.  The temperature was just above twenty degrees and there was a constant, biting wind.  It was so cold I almost decided to take no photographs, but what's a Desert Packrat blog post without images?  Surprisingly, there were other outdoor enthusiasts about, including two women with one dog each.  At one point I had to make Becca sit for a few minutes until the women hikers/dogs cleared out of the way.

Happy New Year!

Beyond the Ocotillos, the Franklin Mountains near El Paso

It was 20 degrees F. when the Beckster and I headed out this morning for a hike around Tortugas Mountain.  We ran into two joggers, both of whom seemed underdressed for the cold weather.  The air at the base of several mountain ranges seemed hazy, probably the result of a temperature inversion.  Though the sun shone brightly during our entire trek, I wasn't even tempted to take my gloves off.  The only good thing to report:  there was no wind--not even a breeze.

Barely visible through the haze:  the Sierra Juarenses, Juarez, Mexico

Floppy Ear

An underdressed jogger in the Tortugas Mountain foothills