Frigid Tuesday Trek

This & next:  tops of the Doña Ana Mountains

29F with a 10 mph wind when we started off this morning; didn't warm up much while we were out there.

As usual the heelers were oblivious to the cold.  They were running around as if they'd taken steroids.

Saw one human being in the desert today, a guy dressed in camouflage hiking north on LDR.

Me and my shadows

The "O"s

Artsy San Andres Peak

This & next 2:  Organ Mountains

 

Christmas Hike

This & next:  bushwhacking Heelers having fun

The Ho Ho Ho Heelers and I had a semi-long hike this morning, bushwhacking eastward out of the upper reaches of the left branch arroyo for a bit.  After exploring a few new arroyos we retraced our steps and finished doing our regular trek.

It felt very cold out there today--33F with a strong wind.  Of course the dogs never slowed down enough to feel the chill.  They had a blast being off lead.  They're like Hoover vacuum cleaners on amphetamines, sniffing at every scent that may have come from a desert critter.

Except for the 15 photos I took out there I kept my hands firmly in my coat pockets for the duration.

This & next:  barrel cacti

At first I thought a coyote was staring at us

Picacho Mountain (elevation 4959 feet)

Last 2:  long view across the desert

 

A Longer One

1st 3:  "O"s frolicking

Frio, Willow and I decided to extend the hike this morning, and we did some excellent bushwhacking to get to where we wanted to go.  The views from the ridge east of Left Branch Arroyo provide some spectacular views of the Organ Mountains and surroundings.

The "O"s are always especially happy when they get to trek long distances off lead, and that's just what happened today.  They were particularly well behaved during the outing.

We did a short drive after the hike; they like listening to Matt Jones and Myron Medcalf on the radio during the ride.

Florida Mountains near Deming shrouded in clouds

Frio sees something

Across the desert to the Organs

Tortugas and the Organs

Headed to the top of the hill

Going this way

This & next 2:  on the hill looking east

Willow and Frio leading the way

This & next 2:  long view of Tortugas and the Organs

Across the Rio Grande to the Potrillos

Which way do we go?

Lone Soaptree on a hill

Looking southwest

Last 2:  triple Fishhook Barrel Cactus

 

Break in the Rain

Rainy day mountains

It rained overnight and was raining lightly when we got up this morning.  For a while it seemed as if we wouldn't be able to take a hike today, but conditions improved slightly and we were able to take advantage of a window of opportunity at 8.

We were out there between 8 and 9, and just as we were getting into the narrow trail section of the right branch it began to sprinkle.  The wind picked up.  By the time we got home the sky looked threatening.

A short time later the thunder began.  The heavy downpour came accompanied by strong winds.  The forceful rain lasted for only a short while, but it kept raining for an hour or so before letting up.

Soaptree Yuccas and the Organs

This & next:  Tortugas and the Organs

The long view

Cattle dogs lead the way

But wait!

"O"s

Organ Mountains

Soaptree and Torrey Yuccas (rear)

Picacho on a rainy morning

This & next:  views from the middle branch

Mouth of the right branch arroyo

Tortugas and the Organs