Extended Ridge Hike

1st 5:  the "O"s

We added Basset Ridge to our usual hike this morning, bushwhacking out of the left branch arroyo to the base of the hill southwest of Tortugas Mountain.

Heading south we scaled the hill and then trekked along the ridge to a point from which we descended into a new arroyo; from there we went north until we found a route back over to the left branch arroyo.

Finished the hike by following our normal route the rest of the way.  The "O"s were satisfied with the extra mileage as was Dr. K.  Fortunately, even though it was cold--32F at start--the sun was shining brightly and, even more importantly, there was no wind.

Soaptrees and the mountain

This & next:  barrel cacti

"O"s again

Lone Soaptree and the mountains

Tortugas and the Organs

This & next:  Frio and Willow

View from a different arroyo

"O"s and Dr. K

This & next: Tortugas & the Organs (San Augustin Peak)

 

Dreary and Cold

Headed down LDR-A

39F, cloudy sky, lack of sun when Dr. K, Willow, Frio and I did our hike this morning; needless to say it was cold--not bone-chilling cold, but cold nonetheless.

We followed our usual route disinclined to add any extra mileage (or yardage or footage) due to the inclement conditions.  Heelers seemed to enjoy themselves regardless.

All we wanted to do after the outing was get home and warm up, which we did.

Tortugas and the partially obscured Organ Mountains

Organs

This & next 2:  the "O"s

Soaptree Yucca

Hills west of the Organs

Mesas on the far side of the Rio Grande

Sky above the right branch arroyo

Compare to yesterday's sunshiny day

 

Late Solo with Heelers

Organs

Had to take Frio to the vet for an 8:40 a.m. appointment so the "O"s and I got a late start on our morning hike.

Still pretty chilly out there when we started off (40F) even though the sun shone brightly.  There were some clouds out, but they didn't obscure the sunshine.  A slight breeze toward the end of our trek made conditions a bit worse.

We did a lot of bushwhacking today, and the "O"s thoroughly enjoyed the outing.

This & next:  Tortugas and the Organs

This & next:  Organs

Three wise men and the mountains

Last 3:  the "O"s

 

Hike Before Shop

1st 2:  Soaptrees and the mountains

Not too cold when Dr. K, Willow, Frio and I set off this morning (47F), but the absence of sun made it feel chilly; and right at the end of our trek a cold breeze began to pick up.

At least we didn't get rained on; weather app reported between 8% and 15% chance of precipitation.  Got a few pinprick sprinkles on the car windshield both going and coming, but nothing to speak of.

I went grocery shopping at Albertsons shortly after we got home.  I wondered if it might be crowded there on the day after the first of the new year, but it wasn't.

This & next:  heelers leading the way

White-winged Dove

East to the Organ Mountains

To the northwest

The road out

 

First Hike 2024

Morning shadow on shade

28F according to my weather app this morning when we were about to leave.  Things warmed up quickly, though, due to bright sunshine and no breeze.

We did our usual hike with no additional distance because there were other people out there on this New Year's day.

After the trek we took a drive through several different neighborhoods just to get a look around on this first day of 2024.

This & next:  "O"s coming and going

Soaptree in LDR-A arroyo

Morning moon

This & next:  Tortugas Mountain Observatory

Last 2:  "O"s