Canine Delight

This and the next:  rolling desert from the upper flatland

Willow, Frio and I had a pleasant hike up to Second Arroyo on a relatively chilly morning in the northern Chihuahuan Desert.  After a brief respite there we bushwhacked south over and through First Arroyo and up to the ridge above it.

We hiked west along the ridgeline, and then headed southwest until we intersected LDR not far north of the Tellbrook Arroyo.  Back on the dirt road we encountered the man and woman who run/walk out there almost every Saturday.

After a brief chat with them--during which the woman asked how Dr. K is doing--we all parted company, the man and woman headed north to the southernmost dirt road around Tortugas Mountain, and Frio, Willow and me south to the upper flatland.

Both Willow and Frio were extremely well behaved this morning.

This and the next:  Tortugas and the Organs

Frio and Willow

Another of Tortugas and the Organs

This and the next:  in Second Arroyo

This and the next 2:  dead tree in the arroyo

West flank of Tortugas Mountain

The rest:  Soaptree Yuccas west of Tortugas Mountain

 

Arroyos or Bust

B&W X

Frio, Willow and I had a pleasant morning hike up to First Arroyo where we stopped inside for a bit before bushwhacking over to Second Arroyo.  As soon as we entered the latter arroyo the Heelers tried to spring into action, chasing not one, but two different Black-tailed Jackrabbits.  Fortunately I saw both hares just before the dogs did, and I was able to strengthen my grip on their leads.

Those were the only sentient beings we spotted during our outing today.  After the encounter we hiked west down Second Arroyo to LDR, and then followed the dirt road south all the way into the upper flatland where the CR-V waited.

Heading into First Arroyo

Heelers at rest

Willow and Frio

Tree in First Arroyo

High ridge, Tortugas Mountain and the Organ Mountains

This and the next 2:  bushwhacking across to Second Arroyo

This and the next:  ridgeline and the Organ Mountains

Last 2:  catclaw

 

Frost on the Pumpkin

Not hard to find the observatory

Late afternoon yesterday, into the early evening and overnight we got some pretty good rain.  Therefore I should not have been surprised by the frost on the pumpkin this morning, the "pumpkin" being our CR-V.  Actually it was fairly significant ice on the windows.  Guess I didn't realize the temperature would drop to the freezing mark in the wee hours.

Had a good hike with Willow and Frio up to Second Arroyo this cold morning (34F at start).  We entered the arroyo, crossed up on the southern ridge beside it, and then dropped down into First Arroyo for our return to LDR, which we followed all the way into the upper flatland where the CR-V was parked.

Frio and Willow each have had a rattlesnake vaccination

This and the next:  clouds over the Organ Mountains

This and the next:  descending LDR-A

Computer-enhanced image

Inside First Arroyo

Far east in First Arroyo

What mountains do to clouds

The long view

Tortugas and the Organs

Desert flora

Large Torrey Yucca

Looking west

 

Back to Winter

Cold and blustery out there this morning

It felt like a return to winter out there this morning:  very little sun, heavy cloud cover in some places, and cold, biting wind.  I left my gloves at home so I had to suffer with frozen fingers for most of the hike.

We trekked up to First Arroyo, but turned around before heading in; it was too chilly to linger, and I had intentionally left my daypack with our drinking water behind.  I don't believe any of the three of us felt the need for a quaff.

We saw nobody else out in our section of the northern Chihuahuan Desert, although there was a white Kia Soul parked at the Tellbrook/Sonoma Ranch corner lot--so we weren't the only lunatics hiking around in the cold this morning.

This and the next 3:  heavy clouds on the mountains

Some blue sky to the north

Submarine cloud

Heading out

Desert hill and clouds over the Organs

Tortugas and the Organs

How it felt out there

Clouds over the Organ Mountains

Computer-enhanced image

Bushwhacked over to take a look

Heading back

Somewhere along LDR