Back Again

View from the upper flatland

Dr. K accompanied Willow, Frio and me on our morning trek up to Second Arroyo and back; it was the first time since tearing her meniscus that she ventured out on this particular hike.  The upside of her decision to come along:  getting out into the desert was a delight.  The downside:  a few hours after the trek her knee began hurting again.

We'll have to see exactly how much progress she's made with her rehabilitation, having been diligent about taking daily exercise walks.  The difference between her walks and our hikes is topographic; she exercises on a flat track.  Our trek has some steep ups and downs.

The Heelers were pretty well behaved this morning even though Frio barked a few too many times at Pamela and Terry who stopped to chat; it was their first meeting with Dr. K.

Distant greenery: forest of Ocotillos given life by recent rains

Closer look at the Ocotillo forest

This & the next 2:  leafed-out Ocotillos

Heelers with Dr. K and her torn meniscus

This & the next 3:  Frio and Willow

Soaptree in Second Arroyo

Second Arroyo

Organ Mountains from Tellbrook Arroyo

The rest:  happy Ocotillos

 

After the Soaking

First 3:  happy Ocotillos after the rain

The key weather conditions during this morning's trek:  sunshine and humidity.  After yesterday's rain it was muy uncomfortable during our hike up to Second Arroyo, our bushwhack over to First Arroyo, and our return along LDR back into the upper flatland where the CR-V was parked.  All in all a very uncomfortable outing.

The behavioral issue most detrimental to my mental well being during the trek:  Willow's near rabid urge to get over to the woman running with her dog, both of whom we see fairly regularly in our section of the northern Chihuahuan Desert.

I'm not sure what I can do to break Willow of this bad behavior, but it's got to come to an end.

The long view of Tortugas and the Organs

Willow and Frio

Looks like Jerry G. needs a seeing-eye dog

This & the next 2:  inside Second Arroyo

The "Os"

This & the next 2:  more happy Ocotillos

Heading down First Arroyo

Distant view of the Organs

Soaptree Yucca

This & the next:  Ocotillo and Organs

Ocotillo and Soaptree

This & the next:  Soaptree Yucca

This & the next:  Tortugas and the Organs

This & the next:  Organ Mountains

More happy Ocotillos

Long view of the Organ Mountains

 

Absolute Drenching

All images:  impending storm, unless otherwise captioned

Willow, Frio and I hiked up to the southernmost dirt road this morning, turned east and followed the road until we hit an intersection with an animal trail I used to travel frequently with Becca.

The three of us were up on the ridge south of Second Arroyo when it began to sprinkle.  The coming storm was clearly visible breaking over the Organ Mountains in the direction of El Paso.

Suddenly it was upon us, and the precip came down hard and heavy; we made our way down the ridge to LDR where we turned south and hurried as quickly as we could.  I've never been in that area during such a heavy rain, and I was surprised by the rivers of water flowing down the dirt road.

The rain let up a bit near Tellbrook Arroyo, but picked up hard again as we were ascending the steep grade to the upper flatland.  First thing the Heelers did upon entering the back of the CR-V was shake off thoroughly, thereby wetting the entire interior of the vehicle.

Rio and Willow

New Ocotillo blossom