More Snow for Las Cruces

What we awoke to this morning

Becca and I intentionally started off a little later than yesterday because we wanted to take advantage of the sun shining in the desert west of Tortugas Mountain.  We needed to do this because it was frigid outside (17F) and a stiff wind was blowing.  On the west side of the mountain we hiked along the arroyo until the trail intersected with one that heads up the slope.  We climbed until we reached the path that leads over to the ramada in the Sunset Area.  From there we climbed higher on the western flank, fully intending to trek along the high trail on the north side of the mountain; but the sun had yet to break over the mountain when we got there and the wind was really formidable, blowing almost fiercely across a snowy section of high desert.  That was enough to convince Becca that it was time to turn around, and I found myself in full agreement with her.

On the trail west of Tortugas

Yucca with a dusting of snow and Becca waiting patiently

Western foothills

Sun is already melting the snow

On the trail alongside the arroyo

Snow-covered flora

I've photographed this yucca a few times in snow

Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus covered in snow

Headed up the mountain

Shadow, light and snow

Snow lingering in a rugged section of the mountain

Somebody made an interesting cairn

Cairn at the old rock quarry

Got to hand it to this clever cairn creator

On the higher trail around Tortugas Mountain's north side

Becca deciding to turn around (I concurred)

Two images of the sun breaking over Tortugas Mountain (#1)

#2

Flank of Tortugas, the low desert and the distant Organ Mountains

Hunting for a Mouse McMuffin

On the foothills trail west side of the mountain

Becca and I got an earlier start than yesterday on this frigid morning in the northern Chihuahuan Desert.  It was so cold that I never took my gloves off, even when snapping photos.  I kept the hood of my anorak on my head for three-fourths of the hike.  I didn't intend to take many pictures because of the cold--nor did I plan on trekking very far--but the Red-tailed Hawk I spotted changed our plans.  The Beckster and I probably hiked twice as long as we normally would have in order for me to sneak up stealthily on that beautiful raptor to get as many images of it as possible.  I did fairly well until Mr. Hawk decided he'd had enough of the pesky human and its canine companion.

Ocotillo and Prickly Pears

On the new trail

Hope that doesn't kink your neck Bec

Devil's Head fraternal twins

Bushwhacking to reach that tall yucca

Getting there

What at first looked like a small nest . . .

. . . was really a growth on the Ocotillo branch

It's a tall Soaptree Yucca

Becca and the Soaptree

She's curious about somebody jogging up on the foothills trail

Geez--yet another image of the yucca

Looking almost straight up at it

The tallest Soaptree Yucca in our section of desert (I estimate it at 20 feet)

The crown

This is easy bushwhacking

Back on the single-track

This is who forced us to hike a lot longer than planned

A beautiful Red-tailed Hawk hunting for breakfast

I had to really sneak up on him

Intent on catching something

Almost ready to go

Talk about "hawk eyes"

This was going to be the best shot

Wind power/water power/mountain

This is the "Devil's Claw" used by the Unicorn Plant to spread its seeds

First Hike 2019

Light and shadow on the west side of Tortugas

Becca and I got a bit later start on our hike on the west side of Tortugas Mountain this morning, but that was okay because we were able to benefit by an earlier entry into the sunlight on the narrow trail along the arroyo.  It was 30F with a stiff wind when we left the car near the Sunset Area parking lot, so the warmth from old Sol was greatly appreciated.  Almost as soon as we started up the left branch of the single-track we ran into a runner we've know for a long time, and he and I wished each other a Happy New Year.  The only other people we saw were a man and woman up near the dilapidated white shack where the trail crosses through the arroyo in a deep gully.  Becca and I waited trailside while they passed, both greeting us with a pleasant "Good morning."  I shortened our trek in order to get home and then leave right away for a shopping trip to Target and Alberstsons.  I was pleasantly surprised by how sparsely populated both stores were.  The only thing I didn't like was spending too much money on groceries.

Old experimental towers

Happy to be out on an early morning hike

Looking up

A closer look at those Prickly Pear Cacti

Shadow cleaved by light

Grass and Ocotillos

Same view as above:  steep west side of the mountain

A black-and-white look down Geothermal Road

Headed back

Cold, but sunny, first morning of 2019 in the northern Chihuahuan Desert