Brazen Bushwhack

First 3:  starting off in the upper flatland

About halfway up LDR this morning I decided we should bushwhack over to the ridge south of First Arroyo, which we did.  The desert floor is still pretty overgrown with ground cover, and many of the weeds have died off and gotten spiky--never a good thing for Frio's sensitive paws.

We got onto the ridge without any problems, but the descent into the arroyo was rugged due to heavy growth.  Willow did a good job of leading the way, and we made it into the upper reaches of the arroyo relatively easily.

We took a water break there before heading back, opting this time to stick on the dirt road south to Tellbrook Arroyo and into the upper flatland.  I won't go into detail about the two stupid hikers with three loose dogs headed in our direction, but we had no direct contact with them because they decided to cross over to LDR-A in order to avoid us.  In the past we witnessed this man and woman cross Tellbrook Drive--an often busy road--without leashing their canines.

B&W XX

This & next:  Soaptrees and the Organs

Tree XX

West of Tortugas in B&W

Frio and Willow in First Arroyo

This & next 2:  huge Soaptree in First Arroyo

West of Tortugas

Willow and Frio

Ocotillo and Organs

 

Good Company

All yellow flowers are Golden Crownbeard (I think)

Pleasant surprise this morning:  Dr. K came along with Willow, Frio and me for a morning trek.  We hiked down LDR-A to the Tellbrook Arroyo, turned east into the arroyo and then began bushwhacking to the southeast of Tortugas Mountain.

The weather was quite pleasant, though a bit chilly at the start:  54F.  With the brilliant sun shining down on us it didn't take long to warm up; midway through our hike we were almost hot.

We didn't see anybody in our section of northern Chihuahuan desert today, but there were several vehicles parked in the corner lot at Tellbrook and Sonoma Ranch.

Fall leaves on an Ocotillo

Soaptree Yucca and the Organ Mountains

This way for a bushwhack

Willow and Frio

This & next 2:  Barrel Cactus fruit

This & next:  Willow and Frio

Desert living

Stingleaf and the mountains

Jigsaw puzzle Dr. K just finished

 

Far Side Trek

Starting out on the south side of Telbrook

Willow, Frio and I hiked the dirt roads south of Tellbrook this morning, spending a brief time in an arroyo we've only explored once before.  While inside the arroyo we saw three coyotes cross in front of us at a distance of about 100 feet.  Never saw them again after that.

Much cooler today, but pretty humid.  Chances of rain have diminished significantly this afternoon.  Only saw one other person out there during our explorations, the male half of the husband and wife team who run/walk in the area frequently.  He was quite distant from us, though, and didn't spot our trio.

Got a lot of good exercise in before we headed back to Whitey the CR-V for the ride home.

Headed for a new arroyo

Our CR-V in the middle of the image

Whitey with Picacho Peak in the distance

Road to the arroyo

Clouds over hills

This & next:  Soaptree Yuccas

Hedgehog Cactus

This & next:  Damianita?

Heading out of the arroyo

Ocotillos and Organs

Bent Soaptree Yucca stalk

Road to Tellbrook

Frio and Willow

Lone Soaptree Yucca

Ocotillo and the Organ Mountains

This & next:  Organ Mountains

Roadrunner on our property