Frio and Willow Friday

View from LDR

We were on the trail a little after 7:30 this morning, following LDR down to the major east/west arroyo where we headed toward the Organ Mountains for a short stretch before bushwhacking yet again in the desert northeast of the long dirt road.  The bushwhacking was necessary again due to Willow's overactive nose and the scent of a dog who had passed the same way before.  I may end up wringing her neck before I get her trained up if she keeps being so stubborn.

Frio, the younger of the two Heelers, is much more responsive; if I give a little tug on the lead attached to his harness he obeys immediately.  Not sure what makes Willow so hardheaded, but she'll come around.

The only other person we saw out there this morning was a guy driving an off-road vehicle--looked like a Polaris side-by-side--who was headed back on LDR while we were climbing up LDR-A.

This and the next:  Ocotillo and the Organs

Long view of Tortugas (left) and the Organ Mountains

Organ Mountains

Exploring arroyos

This and the next:  Soaptree Yucca stalk

This and the next:  Barrel Cactus buds and flowers

Another arroyo to explore

Willow and Frio

Headed back up LDR-A

Tortugas and the Organs

Dead Soaptree Yucca crown

Gumline

Barrel Cactus in the high flatland

 

Bushwhack Altra Volta

View from LDR-A at start

We had to bushwhack this morning because Willow was on a scent down LDR-A and she was dragging me along behind her as we descended to the major east/west arroyo.  We turned east in the arroyo and began bushwhacking immediately.

We followed a trail of separate small arroyos to the north and northeast for a good while before stopping in a shady spot for water and rest.  While we took a break we saw the man and woman who had preceded us up LDR making their return.  They had parked their pickup truck on Tellbrook and had started their trek almost simultaneously with ours.  We also saw a distant runner, and we guessed she was the jogger with the dog whose scent Willow will never relinquish.

It felt quite hot out there during our trek; we're slated to reach 99F today.  There was a slight breeze when we got started, but it disappeared for the rest of our hike which led to some heat-related discomfort.

This and the next:  Sacred Datura with flower buds

This and the next: Hairy False Goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa)

Large mass of Desert Zinnia

Soaptree Yucca and Hedgehog Cactus

Hedgehog Cactus

Shady arroyo

This and the next:  Barrel Cactus

Willow and Frio

This and the next:  Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis)

Almost back to the CR-V

Final look at the Organs from LDR

 

Wind Edging Toward Wind

This and the next:  Frio and Willow

Dr. K, Willow, Frio and I got an early start on our morning hike today.  It was 74F when we started off, but a breeze that promised to become a strong wind at times kept us fairly cool.

We trekked all the way up to Second Arroyo, entering and meandering up to our shady rest and water spot.  After hydrating I went for a brief photo-op exploration while Dr. K waited with the Heelers.

We saw just one other outdoor enthusiasts in our section of the northern Chihuahuan Desert this morning, a guy with a huge straw hat who usually hikes with a woman, presumably his wife.  He was just starting off when we were climbing back into the CR-V, a very late beginning for him.

My friend Jimmy says workers will dismantle the observatory

Tortugas and the Organs

B&W X

Two Heelers and a Wildcat

Marlboro Country

In the high flatland

Last 3:  I think it's a Rock Squirrel eating Creosote seeds

 

Bushwhack or Not to Bushwhack

A view from LDR-A

When we took LDR-A down to the major east/west arroyo this morning we decided to head east in it and begin bushwhacking to the northeast almost immediately.  We headed up several different arroyos that I had explored with the Heelers months ago, eventually making our way west over to LDR before going back.

We did the bushwhacking because Willow had picked up the scent of a dog that had preceded us up the trail and she refused to let it go.  The only way to get her to stop pulling ahead was to alter our route.

On the way up LDR-A on our return we encountered a woman running with her dog; we went far enough off trail and gave treats while they passed to keep Willow from going haywire.  We're just going to have to keep up with the giving treats routine until she gets the message about her behavior.

This and the next:  Hairy False Goldenaster

One of the arroyos we explored

My three favorite hiking companions

Narrowing down

Soaptree and a view

This and the next 3:  3 1/2' Barrel Cactus

Frio and Willow

Another arroyo

Frio says, "I see an ant."

Shady arroyo

Track of a large snake

Could be the same Swainson's Hawk I photographed a few days ago

This and the next:  headed back up LDR-A

This and the next:  Heelers

Small Barrel Cactus