Crowded on Both Sides

North side of Tortugas Mountain

It was crowded on the Sunset side of Tortugas Mountain when Becca and I drove by early this morning, but there was only one car in the lot on the Monte Vista side.  While I was getting her out of the CR-V a blue Jeep drove past us heading for the lot near the ramada.  We encountered several mountain bikers and a jogger behind Tortugas, but that was all; however, when we ended our trek there were seven vehicles in the parking lot and three people sitting inside the ramada talking.  Our hike was a good one, despite the high humidity; the chance of any rain, though, is almost nonexistent.

Huge rock outcrops on the east side of the mountain

Cloudy Organ Mountains

A bit closer view

Becca behind the mountain

You wouldn't want to see these boulders rolling down the mountain

Prickly Pear, sage, Ocotillos and the Organ Mountains

Male Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus)

Organ Mountains from behind Tortugas Mountain

Becca on break

Franklin Mountains

Bushwhacking for this view of the Organs

Another Organ Mountains vista

And yet another of the Organs

Hairy False Goldenaster