Another Funky Friday

Something burning in the Mesilla Valley

Becca and I did a long, meandering hike this morning, partly on trails and partly off, bushwhacking across vast expanses of Chihuahuan Desert and down long stretches of sandy arroyos.  We saw a lot of tracks in the sand--Javelina, Mule Deer, fox, Coyote and bird--but we encountered no critters on our explorations.  We did find some funky examples of desert flora during our peregrination, several of which are posted here.

Going up to the high foothills

Having just come down from the high foothills

Shadow and light on Tortugas's west side

Creosote and Prickly Pear Cactus

Hawaiian skirt on a Soaptree Yucca

Torrey Yuccas people both sides of a deep gully

Yuccas seem to like this gully

Funky Torrey Yucca over 25' tall

Chihuahuan Desert flora

The arroyo we followed to the west

Becca, Packrat and a tall Barrel Cactus

Long-dead Mesquite Tree

An area with exceedingly tall Ocotillos

The majestic Organ Mountains

Mule Deer tracks in an arroyo bottom

An arroyo further west of the mountain

A really funky Soaptree Yucca flower stalk

Hiking toward the northwest

The leader of the pack (center)

Funky clouds and contrails over the Organ Mountains