Big Rain Overnight

Puddle on the upper flatland road

At about 2:30 a.m. today thunder began rumbling, Willow started barking, and the sky let loose with a torrent of rain.  I got up, turned off the evaporative cooler, shut the patio enclosure doors and went back to bed.  The rain lasted quite a while, but I'm not sure for how long because I fell asleep.

When the Heelers and I hit the trail this morning the humidity was almost unbearable.  Several times during our trek up to First Arroyo I wondered if we really wanted to go that far.  We did.

Saw Pamela and Terry hiking up the road to the southernmost cross road, and we exchanged greetings from a distance.  They were the only outdoor enthusiasts we spotted on this muggy June day.

Ocotillo leaves

Ocotillo

LDR-A

Ocotillos and Soaptree Yucca

This & the next 4:  Soaptree Yucca in bloom

Cloud

Willow and Frio in First Arroyo

Frio

Willow

First Arroyo

This & the next 2:  Black-tailed Jackrabbit

Clouds over Tortugas and the Organ Mountains

 

Cloud Cover

First 4:  Ocotillos on ridges

75F when Willow, Frio and I left home this morning, and it was very humid.  We'd have been uncomfortably hot had it not been for a fairly solid cloud cover that remained in place during our entire trek.

Today's hike consisted of a journey up to Second Arroyo, where we stopped for shade and water.  After our brief respite we bushwhacked across to First Arroyo and out to LDR, which we followed south back into the upper flatland where the CR-V was parked.

We saw no other outdoor enthusiasts during our sojourn in this section of northern Chihuahuan Desert, which is a scenario not unpleasing to us.

LDR-A

This & the next 2:  Organ Mountains

Soaptree Yucca in Second Arroyo

This & the next:  Willow and Frio

Same Soaptree, different angle

This & the next 3:  Ocotillos and the mountains

Frio and Willow

Eastward in Second Arroyo

Heading back

New growth

Last 2:  Organ Mountains

 

Con Due Amici

Desert sky

Not surprisingly Dr. K did not accompany Willow, Frio and me on our morning trek.  She did go over to NMSU to walk, though, getting in her daily exercise.

The Heelers and I trekked up to First Arroyo on a very steamy outing; fortunately there was a slight cooling breeze that kept us from roasting.  We stopped in the arroyo for a shade and water break before returning to the upper flatland via LDR.

We saw nobody else in our section of northern Chihuahuan Desert, but on the drive home we passed by several people walking their dogs.  Both Willow and Frio were very well behaved on seeing the other canines, never barking or even whining at them.  Good omen I hope.

This & the next: Ocotillos on a ridge and the Organ Mountains

A very happy Ocotillo

This & the next:  Old Curved Bill

Curve-billed Thrasher

Leafed-out Ocotillos

Soaptree Yucca

New growth on a Hedgehog Cactus

This & the next 4:  Heelers in First Arroyo

Soaptree Yucca

Frio and Willow in First Arroyo

Ocotillo chorus line

Ocotillo and the Organs

Ocotillos

Mesquite beans, aka seed pods

White Vinca turned pink after the rains