Gracias al Viento

Hummer

Thanks to a persistent wind this morning Dr. K, Willow, Frio and I didn't turn into baked hikers; it was pretty bad out there, though, mid-80s with blazing sunshine.

We did our usual hike, but we were oh so glad when it was over.  When we hopped into the waiting CR-V I cranked the AC up and we all enjoyed the cool air on the short ride home.

Tortugas and the Organs

Morning moon

This & next:  Willow and Frio

Yucca

The "O"s

Agave starting to bloom

 

Back to the Scorching Heat

What's with this lizard's tail?

We're back in the incredibly hot lower desert now, having left the high country at 10:40 this morning.  It's hot in the Sacramentos, but it's brutal down here.

Too pooped to write much more on the blog today.

Sacramento Mountains

Willow and Frio on break in the mountains

Dead tree

This & next:  juniper

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Mountains again

Spiny lizard

On the way back to the cabin

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Forest Bushwhack Again

Not far from the cabin

Dr. K, Willow, Frio and I did a long bushwhack in the forest behind the cabin this morning, and we were pretty glad to get back afterwards.

We're headed for a high of 90F, quite hot for an elevation of about 7,000 feet; of course it's going to be 106F in Las Cruces.

Fortunately we don't have any yardwork here, nor any indoor tasks, either.  We can kick back and enjoy having nothing to do.

Arduous hiking here

Hedgehog we've been searching for

This & next:  homes on the mountain

The long view

Ranchland along Karr Canyon Road

Don't go that way

Wils and Frio boy

Rainwater diversion at the side of the cabin

Pine X

Pinyons and pines on our property

 

Rim Trail T105 and T105A

Haynes Canyon vista

Dr. K, Willow, Frio and I did a long section of Rim Trails T105 and T105A this morning; it was the Heeler's first high mountain hike, and they loved it.

It was much cooler way up high and we enjoyed the shade provided by all the pine trees in the Lincoln National Forest.  We saw nobody else during our outing, but we did catch a glimpse of a fast-departing animal, which I thought was either a deer or elk.  I went looking for it while Dr. K held Willow and Frio back, but never saw anything.

On the drive back we pulled into the parking lot of the Cathey Canyon Vista, but the view wasn't as spectacular as the Haynes Canyon Vista, which I photographed on our way to Sunspot.

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Huge pine tree

I stand about six feet; how tall is this pine?

This & next 4:  Variegated Fritillary on Verbena Hastata

How many bugs on the cones of this Orange Sneezeweed?

Willow, Frio, Dr. K

Frio and Willow

Just in case

Aspens

Rim Trail branch

Not sure how healthy these trees are

Aspens with a view

Daisy?

Old toppled tree

Sticky Purple Geranium

Snapped off

Flowers and shadows

Forest

Where we found ourselves

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