Forced March

At start

It didn't feel overly hot when Becca and I started off on the west side of Tortugas Mountain, but then the sun started beating down on us and the humidity seemed to rise.  To make matters even worse there was very little wind.  So instead of cutting the hike short I extended it instead, primarily because I started to find flowers I wanted to photograph.  The images were worth it, but both Becca and I suffered a bit for the effort.  Still we took plenty of shade and water breaks to cool off and keep ourselves hydrated, and we were fine by the time we reached home after an air-conditioned ride back in RAV4.

Becca on the  new trail (which isn't that new any longer)

On the new trail

This way through the Ocotillos

Back already?

Large mound of Hedgehog Cactus

Barrel Cactus and buds

Closeup of buds

One of the most risque plants in the Chihuahuan Desert

Nipple Beehive Cactus (Coryphantha macromeris)

Closer look at the Nipple Beehive Cactus flower

Different perspective

New leaves on an Ocotillo

Our little Ocotillo buddy

New leaves from a different perspective

Another Barrel Cactus

Closer look at the Barrel Cactus buds

An even closer look

Different Barrel Cactus buds

Dayflower (Commelina erecta)

Dayflower

Desert Unicorn Plant (aka "Devil's Claw")

More Barrel Cactus buds

Dragonfly

Dayflower

Getting close to blossoming

Fishhook Barrel Cactus (Ferocactus wislizenii)

Same Barrel Cactus, slightly different perspective

Closeup of one bud beginning to flower

Heading out of a deep arroyo

Who's that on the far side of the trellis?

Meep Meep

Might as Well Hit 100

Black-throated Sparrow

Becca and I got a fairly early start west of Tortugas Mountain this morning, and for half the hike the weather conditions didn't seem too bad.  It was about 75F with the slightest of breezes.  But as our bodies heated up and the breeze disappeared it became quite uncomfortable out there.  Neither the Beckster nor I were exactly enthused about our return to the lower elevations of the northern Chihuahuan Desert.

Singing for something

Ocotillos on a hill

Prickly Pear pad about to bite another

Back to hiking in the hot desert

Plumed Crinklemat in the upper foothills

Plume Crinklemat (Tiquilia greggii)

Whitethorn Acacia

This and the next two:  Vinca

Down From the Mountains

Very early look up Haynes Canyon

Dr. K, Becca and I packed up before hitting the Grand View Trail this morning for our traditional hike.  It was a bit hotter than we expected owing to higher humidity and very little wind.  We had a nice trek nonetheless, and then we headed out of the Sacramento Mountains for our trip to the lower desert, where the high today is expected to be 95F.  It was going to be 80F in the High Rolls/Mountain Park region.  Hard to feel good about returning to an area that's 15 degrees hotter than the place you just left behind.

Avian photobomb

On Becca's morning constitutional

This morning's moon

Shinto moon

Moon

Heading back to the cabin

Coming through the cut

This and the next:  Smooth Four O'Clock not yet bloomed out

Smooth Four O'Clock

Crow in flight in this image

Near the midway point

Grand View Trail

Becca and Dr. K on the Grand View

Becca circling for a lay down

Tree of Life

I asked, "What happened to your tail?"  No response

Small Hedgehog in rock (odd illusion here: background trees seem to move)

Same small Hedgehog Cactus

Same Hedgehog from a different perspective

Well-established Hedgehog in rock

Same Hedgehog from a different angle

Long view from the Grand View

Looking down on Dr. K and Becca from the heights

Boulders along the trail

Two views of a lizard hanging on the side of a rock

Used the Dry Brush filter on this image