Tuesday's Toasty Trek

This & next 6:  Western Patchnose Snake

Dr. K, Willow and I did our usual hike this morning.  It was less windy out there and the sky was noticeably clearer.

We saw several Western Patchnose Snakes while we were exploring, and I was able to get some decent photos of a cooperative one that stayed still under a bush.

We saw no one else during the trek.

Three Barrels

 

Bad Air, Strong Wind

Very bad air

On the drive to the trailhead this morning Dr. K and I commented on how bad the air was.  Because it wasn't windy at our place we didn't realize how hard the wind was blowing until we stepped out of the CR-V.

The wind and bad air made for a very unpleasant hike today--really dirtied the desert up.

Dusty desert view

We've never seen this Soaptree Yucca so parched

Willow in the dusty right branch arroyo

Prickly Pear pad pair

 

Century Mark Plus

Our favorite ancient Soaptree Yucca

Nearly 80F at the start of our hike this morning; headed for 105F here in the lower desert.

We followed our usual route despite the heat, taking several shade and water breaks along the way.

After the trek we drove over to our local Circle K, fueled up the CR-V and took a long ride afterward.

Willow in the left branch arroyo

Mr. LiZARD

Spot the lizard

The mother of all Black-tailed Jackrabbits

Western Kingbird

Pencil Cholla revivified from recent rain

Dog and man (a shadow of his former self)

This & next:  same Western Kingbird

Western Kingbird

Hadley Hall NMSU

Grass and trees on the Horseshoe

Sundial on the Horseshoe NMSU

 

Back From the High Country

Haynes Canyon, early morning

We didn't hike this morning; instead I walked with Willow around our property letting her explore to her heart's content.  After she did her business we returned to the cabin to pack for our trip back to the low desert.

The drive was uneventful, but we didn't like the idea of returning to the desert where it would be 99F rather than 78F in the high country.

C'est la vie.

From our drive

Willow looking for buds

They're not coming, Willow

From the upper curve on our road

Willow bushwhacking ahead of me

From our road

From the forest behind the cabin

 

More Forest Fun

Up high

We decided to stay here another day so we took advantage of the fine early morning weather to do another forest hike.  We did a bit more strenuous trek today, adding further exploration of familiar territory that looked unfamiliar due to recent rains.

When we got back to the cabin we did some chores we'd been meaning to do for a while.  I replaced all the batteries in the Oregon wireless rain gauge:  rain collector, sensor and indoor monitor.  I replaced the plastic rain barriers on the inside of the accordion window apparatus for the downstairs AC.  And I read the water meter for our well.  Dr. K vacuumed the upstairs carpet and the steps leading down to the ground floor; she also vacuumed the downstairs rug and the kitchen floor.  Now we're both pooped.

We've accomplished a lot of this trip to the cabin.

Hedgehog with chopsticks

This & next:  forest views

Back forty

Ash-throated Flycatcher teenager

High life

The Wilster

New Mexican landscape

New from old

This & next 3:  flying slowly over the mountains

Lacy pincushion

Lower 40

From our property

Willow and Dr. K

Last 4:  views from the forest bushwhack