Early Summer?

This and the next:  heading down LDR-A

Just as we turned into the dirt pullout off Tellbrook I noticed just across the road the man and woman who hike with five Basset Hounds.  Since I didn't have time to let Frio and Willow out and still get ahead of the hikers I decided to wait.  Knowing which way they would pass, I yelled to the people, "I'll wait until you go by."  The man said, "We're going down the dirt road and then left into the arroyo."  Although Frio woofed a few times at the hounds both Heelers were surprisingly well behaved.

After the troop had disappeared down the steep decline we started off on LDR-A, crossed the Tellbrook Arroyo and headed straight up LDR on the long shot to Second Arroyo.  While we were taking a water break there I saw a loose dog up on the southernmost east/west dirt road.  I put the Heelers back on lead when I spotted a woman with another loose dog.  That's when I decided it might be a good idea to bushwhack over to First Arroyo at least, with the option of continuing up onto the ridge south of the arroyo.  As it turned out, though, we were able to depart via First Arroyo because the woman with the dogs had disappeared.

We were able to follow LDR back into the upper flatland without seeing anybody else.  What I did see, however, as we were driving out was the Scarlet Hedgehog Cactus (Echinocereus coccineus) pictured below; so I had to stop and take photographs before departing for home.

This and the next:  Willow and Frio in Second Arroyo

This and the next:  east in First Arroyo

West in First Arroyo

This and all "reds":  Scarlet Hedgehog Cactus

"Artsy" male House Finch

 

Chihuahuan Desert Churchgoing

First 3:  Desert Cardinal (aka Pyrrhuloxia)

Frio, Willow and I had a good morning hike today; we descended LDR-A, crossed the Tellbrook Arroyo and almost immediately trekked east up a trail along the northern edge of the arroyo.  Then we headed north in the first small arroyo we came upon.

From there we bushwhacked northward in a series of open spaces and arroyos, eventually intersecting LDR at a point midway to First Arroyo.

We then turned south on the long dirt road and made our way back into the upper flatland where our CR-V was parked.  Saw nobody else in our section of northern Chihuahuan Desert this morning.

Next 2:  Soaptree Yuccas encountered while bushwhacking

Prickly Pear and tree

Soaptree and Mesquite

This and the next 3:  Willow and Frio

Organ Mountains

Soaptree Yucca, flank of Tortugas and the Organ Mountains

 

Another Solo with the Duo

Frio and Willow in Second Arroyo (Jerry G in background)

The first third of the hike this morning was annoying because Willow and Frio (but mostly Willow) were on a scent.  They lost it not far beyond the Tellbrook Arroyo, and we were able to trek up to Second Arroyo in relative peace.

We entered the arroyo, spent a bit of time there, and then climbed the hill between Second and First Arroyo.  While we stood on the ridge surveying the territory we saw the man and woman we see out there frequently.  They were headed north on LDR.

We dropped down into First Arroyo, spent a short time there, and then crossed west to LDR to make our way back into the upper flatland.  The final third of the hike became annoying again when the Heelers picked up a scent that led them to pull me up the incline to the waiting CR-V.

Across to the Organs

Pinprick moon down First Arroyo

This morning's moon

Heelers

Soaptree and moon

Organs from the west

 

Avoiding Scents

Lone tree in an arroyo

When Willow picks up a scent--as she did early on this morning--it can make for a difficult outing.  That's exactly what happened as soon as we crossed the Tellbrook Arroyo and began heading up LDR to First Arroyo.  Her sniffing and pulling got so bad that I decided to jog west into an area we've explored before in hopes she'd lose the scent.

It worked.  We were able to bushwhack over to the new arroyo and follow it and other arroyos up to the entrance to First Arroyo where we entered and took a short break before heading back.

Unfortunately Willow picked up the scent again--probably of a dog that had passed along LDR fairly recently--and she pulled all the way back to the Tellbrook Arroyo.  Frio got in on the pulling act as well so as not to be left in the lurch.  All in all it wasn't a terrible experience, but it wasn't one of the best, either.

Wide arroyo

Soaptree Yucca with shadows

Another tree in another arroyo

Hazy due to high winds yesterday

More Soaptrees

The rest:  Willow and Frio at rest in First Arroyo

 

Back to Desert Bushwhacking

This and the next:  morning moon

Frio, Willow and I headed down LDR-A, crossed the Tellbrook Arroyo, went up LDR a smidge before heading east on a trail that leads to an arroyo we've explored before.

We followed that arroyo into the hills south of the ridgeline above First Arroyo, tracked eastward for quite a ways before dropping down into Second Arroyo.

Both dogs were extremely well behaved this morning, which makes the hike a lot more pleasant for everyone involved.

Moon through Mesquite

Whitethorn Acacia along LDR-A

This and the next:  Claret Cup Hedgehog Cactus

Bushwhacking

Yucca drumstick

This and the next:  Soaptree Yuccas

This and the next 2:  Frio and Willow

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This and the next:  vast stretch of Chihuahuan Desert

Adolescent Fishhook Barrel Cactus

Bushwhacking over to Second Arroyo