Why So Crowded?

Deep arroyo on the west side of Tortugas Mountain

Becca and I hit the trail west of Tortugas Mountain about 7:30 this morning, and there were already quite a few cars in the Sunset parking lot.  Almost immediately we encountered a mountain biker who we see out there fairly often, and on the way back in we crossed paths with a group of six hikers, the last of whom--a friendly guy--said of Becca, "Good dog."  She was lying in wait at the side of the trail with me as we let them pass.  Then, when we had nearly finished our trek, we bumped into two women with three loose dogs.  Fortunately the dogs were friendly, and the two big ones had a pleasant greeting with Becca.  I'm not sure why, but this was a very crowded Monday morning on and about Tortugas Mountain.

Straight shot across the upper foothills

Trail marker on Mars

Some kind of running event this past weekend?

An arroyo runs through it

Not hard to see where water is most abundant in the desert

The emperor of Ocotillos has no leaves

Something of a shade break

Intersections

Claret Cup Cactus flower

Not quite open for business

Ocotillo flower

Mesquites in the rocky western foothills of Tortugas Mountain