Up on Sierra Vista

Becca on the Sierra Vista Trail

Our thermometer read 12 F. when I took Becca in the backyard this morning.  It was 19 F. when she, Dr. K and I headed for a hike in the Organ Mountains.  We were bundled up pretty good, and we lucked out in that there was little wind and the sun was shining brightly.  Bright sun always ameliorates the cold.  We did a really long hike without seeing one other outdoorsperson on the trail.  Most people were probably waiting for the temperature to rise before venturing outside.

Tortugas Mountain from the east

The Organ Mountains

Artistic cairn (rock trail marker)

A deep arroyo running out of the Organ Mountains' west side

Interesting clouds striations

Somebody's home in the desert

Geothermal Start

The (relatively) new barrier at Geothermal Drive

Becca and I decided to take a different hike out to Tortugas Mountain this morning, driving slightly less than two miles from home to leave our car at the roadblock on Geothermal Drive.  We hiked toward the mountain for less than a quarter mile before bushwhacking across the desert to a well-traveled dirt road.  We followed that road to the high foothills before making a huge loop and heading back.  We ran into a woman hiking with her German Shepherd, Bella.  Becca and Bella have met before, so they get along together fine.

Rolling desert west of Tortugas Mountain

There's a dog at the center of this photo

Primitive trap-like structure in an isolated area

At desert's edge

One last look back at Tortoise Mountain

Cold Snap!

Trail from the Sunset parking area

It happened at the midpoint of our morning:  the advent of the cold front that had been predicted to blow through.  Just as I changed hats from cap with ear flaps to ball cap the wind suddenly kicked up, and the temperature dropped dramatically.  Becca and I ran into Jimmy and Greg, who were coming down from the mountaintop together--both men bundled up against the cold.  They said it was even windier at the crest.  We all hiked back to the parking area together as Becca showed off her canine dexterity by prancing around like a puppy.

Exiting a huge arroyo

The high foothills of Tortugas Mountain

Intensity

Picacho

Tortugas and the Organ Mountains

Waiting for the slowpoke

Sandy section of the desert floor

Hiking Away From Tortugas Mountain

The junction of the mountain road and the high foothills trails

I decided it would be interesting to mark our morning progress away from Tortugas Mountain through a series of images that look back at where we've been.  We put a lot of miles on our paws just to capture the experience.  On the way back we ran into a young man, Erin, and his dog, Layla.  Layla is part Border Collie and Blue Heeler.  Becca is part Border Collie and Australian Cattle Dog (Queensland Heeler).  Except for coloration, Becca and Layla look almost exactly alike.  They behaved similarly, too. Erin and I had a good laugh watching them play.

Looking back after a straight shot down the trail

Always looking ahead

Near the confluence of the outer loop road and the foothills trail

Miles away from Tortugas (Tortoise) Mountain

Crossing through a large arroyo en route to the road leading east

The road back to Tortugas

Becca meets Layla (right)

A Little Bushwhacking

Becca and I did some bushwhacking west of Tortugas Mountain this morning.  It was warm enough, but the wind picked up after a bit and made the ambient temperature chillier.  In a few of these videos it's difficult to hear my voice because of the wind.  On the way back we saw a woman and her German Shepherd coming down from the top of the mountain.  We also said hello to Greg, who was heading for the crest.

Imminent Precip

Purple Prickly Pear pad

It looked as if it might rain at any minute when Becca and I set off for Tortugas Mountain this morning.  And twenty minutes into the hike it was cold, windy and quite overcast.  Then, suddenly, the wind blew the clouds out, the sun began to shine brilliantly, and any hint of an upcoming storm was out of the picture.  I had to unzip both my anorak and vest to keep from overheating.  There were no other hikers about--probably kept at bay early on by the threatening skies.

The Potrillo Mountains floating on the horizon

Spurred on to action

A surprisingly sunny morn

Desert Broom (left) and a Torrey Yucca in the mountain foothills

Canine scout

Here Comes the Sun

Partial sun on the foothills trail

It was twenty degrees warmer when we headed for the mountain this morning, mostly sunny with a light breeze.  The sun sure made a difference.  Becca and I started from the Sunset parking area, hiked the foothills trail to the mountain loop road, trekked about halfway around Tortugas, then headed back.  We saw only one other hiker out there, a guy who was headed for the mountain crest.

Sun in the foothills, shade in the valley

Snow Dog turns into Sun Dog

The snow-covered Potrillo Mountains

Snowy section of the Organ Mountains

The western escarpment of the Organs