Search This Blog

Followers

Monday, January 27, 2014

500,000 or 55,000?

The U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Sally Jewel was in the area for two days last week touring the proposed Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument, which President Obama may be willing to create using a 1906 law that allows him to bypass Congress.  The proposal, put forward by U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Tom Udall (D-NM), calls for 500,000 acres to be set aside for wilderness and national monument status.

Congressman Steve Pearce's (R-NM) plan asks for only 55,000 acres to be set aside around the Organ Mountains.  This is the same Steve Pearce whose recently released book, Just Fly the Plane, Stupid!, suggests that a wife's duty is to submit to her husband.  It reads:  "The wife is to voluntarily submit, just as the husband is to lovingly lead and sacrifice.  The husband’s part is to show up during the times of deep stress, take the leadership role and be accountable for the outcome, blaming no one else."  Apparently his philosophy stems from his reading of the Bible, the same Bible that suggests that man has dominion over the earth.  No surprise, then, that Pearce, owner of an oil-field service company, sees the creation of wilderness areas and national monuments as threats to our right to exploit as many of our natural resources as possible.  I pray that President Obama takes this opportunity to assert himself over a do-nothing Congress.  Apparently, last year was the first Congress since World War II to not set aside any land.

Read more here:  http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_24994406/interior-department-secretarys-visit-renews-land-protection-debate








Sunday, January 26, 2014

It's a Beautiful Morning

Easter Island
I thought briefly about including a further line or two from The Young Rascals' song (they were called that before dropping the "Young"), but decided not to test your forbearance. The weather was gorgeous when Dr. K, Becca and I headed out of the Monte Vista parking area for a two-thirds trip around the Tortoise and back again.  We ran into Jimmy on the east side of the mountain.  Becca ran ahead to greet him, as Jimmy is one of her best buddies.  We all chatted (not Becca) for a few minutes before heading our separate ways.
Becca working a bush

Heading for the southwest section of Tortugas

Striking ahead through the grassland

Statuesque Torrey Yuccas

Becca and Packrat heading back

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Mostly Overcast

Starting out on a cloudy morn
It wasn't nearly as cold this morning as yesterday because of a thick cloud cover acting as a blanket.  There wasn't too much wind, either, so it felt pretty bearable out there.  Quite a few people were getting their exercise on the mountain.  We encountered three mountain bikers as well as a hiker before bumping into JC and Shaque, who were out getting their exercise, too.  When we all returned to the trailhead there were a lot of cars in the parking lot.  Think I'll put a suggestion in the suggestion box recommending rangers keep the outdoor enthusiasts to a minimum when Becca and I are there.
Purple Prickly Pear Cactus


A hint of the sun

Saddle in the Organ Mountains

Behind the Ocotillos:  the Franklin Mountains near El Paso

Experimental area "J"  ?


Trail back to Tortoise Mountain

We're about to encounter a mountain biker

Brightening up

Heading in opposite directions

Friday, January 24, 2014

At Week's End

Hunting for sun
24 F when the Beckster and I hit the trail this morning.  It felt particularly cold because of the wind.  Fortunately the sun was out to ameliorate the chill.  There were a few other outdoor enthusiasts around the mountain, including JC and Shaque, with whom we hiked a good bit of the inner loop trail.  After Becca greeted her buddies she had to forge ahead of us all, and I kept having to call her back.  You'd think she was antisocial the way she insists on being leader of the pack.
Near the arroyo on the Crosscut Trail

Striking back for Tortugas

Sunny, but cold

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Weather Change

The arctic cold front has dropped down into our area, and our temperature will only reach the high 40s today.  The wind is supposed to gust to 40 mph this afternoon.  These conditions will last for the next few days.  My cousin in Lexington, Ketucky--who sent me beautiful photos of the 4 inches of snow in her yard, and who's suffering through temperatures near 0 F--probably thinks we've got in pretty good over here in the desert Southwest.  I'd have to agree.



Black-throated Sparrow

Clouds and contrails


White-winged Dove

Shaque, Becca and JC

Dog caravan

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

In and Out

Hiking along the high side of the mountain
Weird hiking conditions this morning as the sun kept coming and going.  When it was hidden behind cloud cover, the temperature plummeted.  When it emerged from behind the clouds things warmed up quickly.  We hiked a good stretch of the inner loop trail with JC and Shaque, and then we ran into Jimmy on the way back.  We chatted for a good fifteen, twenty minutes before parting ways.  Jimmy was heading to the mountaintop, and the rest of us were headed home.
The desert below

Part of the eastern section of Las Cruces

Back down on lower ground

Clouds come and go

Temporary clearing

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Lost in Thought Again

Centennial High School in the distance
I spent three-fourths of our hike this morning thinking about how I might revise a young adult novel I wrote years ago.  It has solid characters and a good environmental message, so it seems a waste to just let it sit.  Fortunately, Becca and I ran into Shaque and JC for the final 1/4 of the trek.  JC and I got a big kick out of watching the dogs and the antics they got up to on the way back.  Shaque is 15 years 10 months old, and he scrambles around like a dog half his age.
A trail directly up the mountain

What's around this bend in the road?

How far away from him can I get?  (center)

I'm waiting for him

Shaque and JC

This Sunday Hike

Cholla closeup Surprisingly hot and humid this morning despite the temperature being in the lower 70s.  Unlike yesterday when we did more th...