Skirting the Wind

Creosote in bloom

Becca and I got a really early start this morning, and, again, we barely beat the unpleasant windy conditions.  I don't know if it will get as bad as yesterday afternoon and evening, but gusts in the 40 mph range are predicted.  We managed a long trek--partly on trails, partly bushwhacking across the desert floor--and we came upon some outstanding sights, including the many flowering plants pictured here.  The last two or three days we've heard a lot of coyote commotion, but haven't seen any of the critters.

Happy hiker Becca

Nipple cactus

High winds aloft

Abert's Buckwheat

Baby Barrel Cactus and Prickly Pear

Sandbells (Nama hispidum)

Mormon Tea flowering out

Small dead tree

Freshly-eaten Prickly Pear pad.  Ouch!

Yucca flowers

Claret Cup Cactus

I believe this is a type of Phacelia, but I'm not sure

Phacelia crenulata?

Ocotillo budding out

Ratany