A Lovely Breeze

What rain has done for Ocotillos

Even though it was only 70F at the start of our trek this morning it felt far worse because of high humidity and not a breath of wind.  The entire first leg of our hike up to Second Arroyo was extra miserable because of those conditions.

We kept praying for a little breeze that would help ameliorate the heat, and on our way back we were rewarded with a steady cool breeze that made the inbound leg a breeze, so to speak.

We had hydrated in Second Arroyo and took plenty of shade breaks along our return up LDR-A so we didn't suffer too much in the blazing hot sun.  By Wednesday we're supposed to reach the century mark in terms of temperature, and that's never good even if it does dry the atmosphere out somewhat.

This and the next:  Willow and Frio

Is something wrong with this dragonfly's head?

Yucca leaves and stalks

This and the next:  Second Arroyo

Soaptree Yucca

Frio digs a hole in order to . . .

. . . lie in the cool sand

Presumably a launch from White Sands Missile Range

Computer-enhanced (questionable) image of a Desert Cardnal

This and the next 2:  Heckle and Jeckle of desert birds:  Cactus Wrens

A Night Sans Rain

First 2:  Ocotillos, clouds and sky

We got a fairly early start on our morning trek today, and even though the temperature was relatively low (72F) the humidity was sky high.  We didn't get any rain last night, but it sure felt as if we had.  The fact that the breeze was barely a whisper didn't help.

We hiked up to and explored First Arroyo today, but didn't stay there very long; still way too many ants out and about for now.  We saw plenty of ants, but no people today, which is a fair trade-off, I guess.

Despite the adverse weather conditions we extended the hike a bit by returning via LDR-A, a choice that turned out to be fortuitous for photo-ops; we happened upon the double Barrel Cactus pictured below.

Heelers Frio and Willow

This and the next 2:  Barrel Cactus along LDR-A

Clouds over the mountains

Soaptree Yucca and the mountains

This and the next 2:  inside First Arroyo

Prickly Pear

Former tree

This and the next:  further up First Arroyo

A large Soaptree Yucca

Dr. K and the Heelers wait patiently

Bird's nest (left) hanging on by a thread

This and the next:  3-foot Barrel Cactus

Organ Mountains

I think this is Cutleaf Globe Berry

There are several birds on that Ocotillo

Amazing clouds

Just hang on a sec . . .

This and the rest:  double Barrel Cactus

Another Round of Rain

Just stepped out of the CR-V

More rain fell in the early evening and throughout the night yesterday, and evidence of further runoff was everywhere in our section of the northern Chihuahuan Desert as the four of us hiked this morning.

Fortunately, even though the forecast called for a chance of precipitation early today we got in a long trek without getting wet:  down LDR-A, up LDR to Second Arroyo, eastward into the arroyo to our resting spot, a quick turnaround because there were too many ants, and back to the waiting CR-V.

On the return trip we encountered the elderly woman who uses two hiking sticks on her peregrinations; she was singing "Life in the Fast Lane" as she approached, and then made a comment to us about how much easier it is to walk on sand compacted by rain.  We agreed.  Nothing aggravates more than trying to make quick progress forward on loose sand--like walking on the beach.

Just as we reached the major east/west arroyo a man jogging ahead of a woman waved to us; we waved back.  Because they were coming down LDR we chose to return via LDR-A, still passing close enough to the man and woman to exchange greetings.

It was cooler out there this morning, but still very humid; and it looks like rain is a possibility for later today.

Down LDR-A

A Cactus Wren climbed partway into that yucca skirt

This is the Cactus Wren

Tree/clouds/sky

Soaptree Yucca and the long view

Rain ran again last night

It looked like this for much of the hike

LDR looking north from the major east/west arroyo

This and the next:  same view, different magnification

Chihuahuan Desert

First Arroyo

Checking in on Jerry Garcia

Second Arroyo

This and the next:  Whitethorn Acacia

Lots of fruit on the Prickly Pear

Dr. K with the Heelers

Willow and Frio

This and the next:  Organ Mountains