The Biting Wind

Heading out

32 degrees Fahrenheit is freezing, but generally doesn't feel too cold unless a few other elements contribute to the chill.  Take away the desert sun and add a persistent wind with occasional gusts, and you have all the necessary ingredients for a potentially brutal outing.  That's how it was for Becca and me when we set off on a trek west of Tortoise Mountain.  By the time we linked up with JC and Shaque conditions had improved slightly--but only slightly.  You can see from the last image that JC was well prepared for the raw conditions.

Torrey Yuccas on Tortugas Mountain's western slope

Clouds over the Organ Mountains

Gloomy morning

Tortugas (left) and the Organs

Sun trying to break through

Miracle near the Organs

Trekking on a cold day

Sun on the mountains north of Las Cruces

JC (dressed for the weather) and Shaque

Significant Weather Change

Sun breaking through heavy clouds

The first two images here were taken yesterday when I took Becca for her afternoon drive.  Although it got down to 29 F last night--and was a bit cool this morning--the weather changed for the best.  Becca and I had a long, pleasant hike made even better when we ran into JC and Shaque.  When JC and I speculated about the impaled grasshopper pictured below we both assumed the insect had either flown into the thorn or was propelled there by intense wind.  Later I recalled that certain birds (notably the Loggerhead Shrike) are known for impaling insects.

The Organ Mountains from Dripping Springs Road

Beautiful, sunny morn

Grasshopper impaled on an Ocotillo thorn

A slightly different perspective on the impaled grasshopper

Raw Start

Getting started on a somewhat raw morning

It looked like rain was imminent when Becca and I headed out this morning, but it never came.  Also, it felt rather cold at first, but things seemed to warm up rather quickly.  We hooked up with JC and Shaque when we were headed back, and we extended our hike with them.  Then we ran into Jimmy and stood shooting the crap for a bit while the dogs ran around in canine bliss.  Then Jimmy set off for the top of Tortugas, and the rest of us headed back to the cars.  A fun hike on a morning that looked dicey at first.

Across the Mesilla Valley to the Potrillo Mountains

Getting off the trail

Sunlight across the valley

Tortugas and the Organs

I see a dinosaur lurking here

The Franklin Mountains (El Paso) from behind Tortugas Mountain

Picacho in sunlight

Comes the Wind

Becca and I got in a long hike before the wind began to pick up.  Our area is under a high wind warning for this afternoon into the evening.  I think it's going to get downright nasty out there. We ran into JC and Shaque on our return, and we hiked a little extra with them.  Shaque, who's 15 years 8 months old, was in fine form, finding a stick to fetch and playing with it most of the way back to the parking area.  What a trooper that guy is.

Clouds begin to blanket the Organ Mountains

Becca focuses on a Jackrabbit

Christmas Cholla

Shaque with his stick

JC and Shaque

Provision Day at the Ranch

Becca often sees stuff I don't

We have a few more good days before another cold front blows through our area, cooling things down, bringing a chance of rain and strong winds.  This morning, though, I had to take off my anorak midway through our hike because it felt too warm.  We had to shorten our hike so I could get back, take a shower, and go shopping.  Had to run a few other errands afterward, too.  Now, after lunch and a blog post, I have more stuff to do.  All Becca has to do is lie down and take it easy until she gets her afternoon drive.

For sure she smells stuff I won't

She frequently speeds up the trail ahead of me

Interesting clouds above Tortugas Mountain

George

Centennial High School

Lowdown on the Low Country

Headed around the high foothills of Tortugas Mountain

The images here depict a warm, sunny day in the upper Chihuahuan Desert; but looks can be deceiving.  Actually it was 36 F when Becca and I hit the trail, and a stiff breeze made it one of the coldest mornings of any on recent hikes--even those we took in the Sacramento Mountains this past weekend.  After our hike, just as we were driving away, we saw JC and Shaque pulling in, so we turned around and waited for them.  I let Becca out of the car, and we all went for a short hike together.  Becca almost never minds the extra mileage she puts on her paws.

Dust from wind creates a temperature inversion near the Franklin Mts.

Pointed back toward Tortoise Mountain

Does Becca ever wonder why I take so many photos?

Horse Poop

I'm not a big horseperson.  By that I mean I've never really wanted to own one.  I love horses, though, and appreciate their majestic beauty. I've ridden horses several times. However, as a hiker, I'm not especially fond of horse poop.  Yesterday there must have been a big equestrian event on the Grand View Trail; and while I have nothing against horseback riders, I wish there was some way for them to clean up the fecal mess their mounts leave behind.  I know that's an unreasonable expectation, but we had a pretty crappy hike this morning because of them.