Smoking Hot

The way ahead without dog

Both Becca and I knew immediately that it was going to be a scorcher out there this morning; she seemed reluctant to actually get the hike started, holding back instead of forging ahead.  After I removed her halter--which I gather she doesn't like--she did much better.  With about one-third of the trek left, though, we were both flagging.  Despite the early heat there were quite a few other outdoor enthusiasts weathering the oppressive conditions, including an acquaintance named Pete who we bumped into twice as he was making two circuits running around the mountain.

The way ahead with dog

Continuing our upward trek

Wanted dead or alive

Much-needed shade break

Ocotillos with yucca

"Rapido White," Bellflower, (Campanula carpatica)

Better Morning

Great-tailed Grackle and doves at the waterhole

It felt cooler this morning when Becca and I hit the trail, and a persistent wind kept the temperature down through our entire trek.  Becca seemed much more inclined to do a longer hike, and her reward was an encounter with our pal Jimmy just as we were finishing up.  After initially greeting him Becca lay in the shade of his truck while he and I talked for about twenty minutes.  Not surprisingly there were far fewer outdoor enthusiasts on or about the mountain than there were yesterday, but both Jimmy and I commented on how much more crowded it's been out there of late.

Abundance

Headed up on a cooler morning

Allthorn will have berries soon

A much happier hiker today

View across the Chihuahuan Desert to the Organ Mountains

Western flank of Tortugas and the Organ Mountains

Searing Heat

Somebody went to a lot of trouble putting cairns along the trail

It was brutally hot this morning when Becca and I hit the trail west of Tortugas Mountain--hot as a firecracker you might say on this Independence Day.  There were scads of people out and about near the Sunset Area, and the younger ones were making their presence known by yelling and screaming.  Becca, perhaps still recovering from her traumatic experience several days ago, did not seem inclined to hike, so I cut our trek really short this morning.  She was quite happy to get back into the air-conditioned car, and I appreciated it, too.  Looks like we're destined to break the century mark again today.  We hit 101F yesterday.

Do you cairn for me?

One ripe Prickly Pear

Closeup of the ripe pear

Becca with her harness

She's wearing a harness instead of a collar to protect her neck from irritation

Gnarly desert

This and the next two:  Gambel's Quail (Callipepla gambelii) at the waterhole

Back in the Saddle

Taking an early breather

After yesterday's minor surgery Becca was eager to get out into the desert this morning, but she was peppy for only about a third of the hike.  The rest of the way she was rather sluggish, in part due to the heat, I'm sure, but partly because of yesterday's traumatic experience.  Becca does not like to go to the vet, especially to the emergency vet on a Sunday morning.  Her appetite is good, though, and she's doing her business regularly, so we think she'll make a rapid recovery.  Took her "lump" to our vet later this morning to be sent off for analysis.

Desert sky

I see a cloud that looks like a dove taking flight

Dried Ocotillo flower

Ocotillo sans dog

Ocotillo with dog

We took an especially long break here

Happy to be back at it

Beautiful vista west of Tortugas Mountain

Interesting clouds this morning

A sandy section of northern Chihuahuan Desert

Minor Emergency

Poor Becca

No hike for Becca and me this morning.  When I took her out to the arroyo next to our house at about 7 a.m.for her to do her business she returned to the house in an agitated mood.  She acted as if something was on her, and I combed her thoroughly just in case.  I found nothing.  A short while later she started shaking her head and splattering blood drops into the kitchen.  I found the source of the blood on the left side of her neck, but I couldn't stem the bleeding, nor could I determine whether she had an open wound; so we decided to take her to the emergency animal clinic in Las Cruces.  A tech there examined Becca and said there was no open wound, but rather a large "pimple-like" object.  When we saw the vet he shaved her fur away and identified the "pimple" as a large, skin-tag-like growth.  We had to leave Becca there for several hours while they anesthetized her and cut the skin flap off.  They gave us the growth in a solution to give to our vet to send in for analysis.  They also gave us antibiotics to give to Becca.  She's still recovering from the sedative even though they said they'd administered the kind of anesthetic that was reversed with another shot.  Oh yeah--she has to have the sutures removed in 10 days.

Wind Shift

A little over a mile in

When Becca and I set off this morning west of Tortugas Mountain a warm breeze greeted us.  I thought, "This breeze is a harbinger of an uncomfortable day in the desert."  Shortly thereafter the breeze was replaced by a zephyr out of the east, which soon became a stiff wind.  The wind was cooler and carried a noticeable increase in humidity, so much moisture that it soon felt like a morning in the midst of monsoon season.  Cumulus clouds began to form, leaving the distinct impression that we might be in for some rain later today.

New flower buds on a small Barrel Cactus

A little closer look at the Barrel Cactus buds

On the western flank of Tortugas Mountain

Trail to the sky

Hiking south along the western flank of the mountain

Tortugas's flank and the Organ Mountains

Influx of humidity this morning carries the promise of rain

Desert and sky

Much needed break

Chihuahuan Desert terrain

Still-green Ocotillos

Lesser Nighthawk

Lesser Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor)

Becca on a hill above an arroyo