Changed Plans

Just as the sun broke over the Organ Mountains

Dr. K and I drove up to the Soledad Canyon parking lot this morning intent on hiking the Bar Canyon Loop Trail, but the lot was already full, and a large group (12 or 15) of young people were standing at the trailhead waiting for others to show.  So we decided (wisely, I believe) to head back down to the Sierra Vista Trail (Norte) for our Sunday morning trek.

During a hike of several hours we ran into only two hikers and a mountain biker, and we saw a woman who was running with two dogs.  The weather this morning was nice, but a lot hotter than we'd experienced in the high country.  Nevertheless, we had a good time trekking in the high desert east of the village of Talavera.  I only wish we could have sneaked up a little closer on the Red-tailed Hawk who perched on several different Sotol flower stalks waiting for breakfast to come along.

This and the next:  Soledad Rocks

Local color

Soledad Rocks with the Organ Mountains behind

Dr. K (left) and me

Lineman of the County stuff

My favorite Rainbow Hedgehog Cactus

Soapberry Tree

All raptor photos are of the same Red-Tailed Hawk

Looking back at the way we've just come

This and the next:  single Sotol and the Organ Mountains

This and the next 2:  Soledad Rocks