Quite Chilly

Tortugas and the Organs

52F with intermittent wind and clouds when Dr. K, Willow, Frio and I hit the trail this morning.  It had rained overnight, and the ground was as wet as it was yesterday.

We followed our normal route with less stopping for breaks because it was too cold to linger long in any one place.

Despite the slightly uncomfortable weather conditions it sure was beautiful out in our section of northern Chihuahuan Desert.

Organ Mountains

Doña Ana Mountains

This & next:  Soaptree Yuccas

This & next 2:  Tortugas and the Organs

Clouds over the Organs

This & next:  Fishhook Barrel Cactus

Soaptree and Ocotillo

Yin and Yang "O"s

Organ Mountains

 

After a Thunderstorm

Organ Mountains

Big thunderstorm early this morning woke us from a sound sleep.  Couldn't tell how much rain we got until we took the dogs out to do their business; it was quite wet in the backyard.

The storm passed and we were able to do our usual trek.  Clouds were moving fast out there, and the light made for some interesting photographic images.

Ocotillos and the Doña Ana Mountains

Looking southwest

Down the right branch

This & next 5:  Tortugas and the Organ Mountains

This & next:  sunlit Ocotillo leaves

Barrel Cactus

This & next:  Frio and Willow

Distant view of Tortugas and the Organs

Butte

Further up the right branch

This & next:  Tortugas and the Organs

Picacho in shadow

Get that schmucky look off your face

Desert flora

Last 3:  long distance views of Tortugas and the Organs

 

Regular Route

Soaptree Yuccas and the Organ Mountains

58F when we headed out this morning for our usual trek.  Dr. K, Willow, Frio and I followed the regular route, seeing no one along the way.

The intermittent wind made it feel cooler out there than it actually was, but signaled, I think, the leading edge of a cold front that will drop our temperatures significantly and give us a decent chance for rain.

This & next:  Fishhook Barrel Cactus

This & next: yellowing Ocotillo

The "O"s

Willow and Frio

Ocotillo in the right branch

A bit of Tortugas and the Organ Mountains

 

Desert Sunday

This & next:  2 of the Three Wise Men are leaning over

Back in our lower desert stomping ground for an early morning Sunday hike today.  Dr. K, Willow, Frio and I trekked our normal route.  During the outing we saw one runner first heading south on LDR and then turning around to head north on the long dirt road.

The desert is noticeably dry and looking a lot more like autumn; the ocotillo leaves, for instance, definitely are sporting fall colors.  The temperature is supposed to drop significantly in the next few days, getting back to normal.  We've been running ten or more degrees above average for the past month.

After our hike we took a drive and listened to Matt Jones and Myron Medcalf before returning home.  I had several tasks to take care of there:  putting air in the Jeep Commander tires and taking it to the gas station to fuel up.  Mr. Frio accompanied me on the latter trip; he loves to ride shotgun in the Jeep.

This & next:  dry desert

Soaptree Yuccas

Soaptree Yucca dried seed pods

This & next 2:  ocotillo leaves turning yellow

Ocotillos and Organs

The "O"s

Fall leaves on pint-size ocotillos