Brutal Day

Becca, Dr. K and I had to abbreviate our morning hike on the Monte Vista side of Tortugas Mountain because of relentless winds.

Clouds were whipping along above the mountain.

Rain was falling between here and the Franklin Mountains near El Paso.

As we started back for the parking lot the sky spit upon us.

Tortugas West

Here's evidence that it was a beautiful morning in the Chihuahuan Desert.

The sky above Tortugas was hermoso.

Even though we did a really long hike, the Beckster wanted to keep going.

Things always look more enticing over the next ridge.

The Ducks of Arrowhead Golf Course

A pair of hungry fowl on the golf course fairway.

A hacker pretending to be Tiger Woods.

Glendale, Arizona hummingbird

That's him.

Or her.

Sonoran Desert Sojourn

Spending about a week in Glendale, Arizona, in the spectacular Sonoran Desert. The first view is of Commander waiting for me in a parking lot at Thunderbird Conservation Park north of the city.

A large Saguaro Cactus and Palo Verde Tree "paling" around on a slope.

Three amigos on a rocky hill.

An old-timer Saguaro with many limbs.

A gnarly old specimen with a beckoning gesture.

West Side Quickie

Just a quick hike on the west side of Tortugas.
Cabeza del diablo--aka Horse Crippler.

Waiting (patiently?) up the trail.

A Thorny Subject

There's a theme running through today's post. See if you can guess what it is? Ocotillos on Tortugas's west side.

A decaying Prickly Pear pad.

Torrey Yuccas on the outer loop trail.

Prickly Pears, Ocotillos and Yuccas.

Miss Becca in her birthday suit.

Monday Morning Meander

This Curved-Bill Thrasher was warbling like a Lark this morning on the west side of Tortugas.

A mountain biker was putting mileage on his ride.

A beautiful desert scene.

Becca was doing her thing.

Clouds halo the Organ Mountains.

Sunday's Finest

Beyond the Creosote, the Organ Mountains.

The desert from here to the Potrillos.

Tortugas tails off into the desert.

The prehistoric Potrillos Mountains.

Our Valentine.

Saturday Stroll

One of the trails on the west side of Tortugas Mountain.

Heading northwest on the long dirt road.

Looking southeast at Tortugas and the Organ Mountains.

Hurry up, Bub.

Becca wants to be an astronomer when she grows up.

Friday Outing

Who's that hiding behind the Ocotillo, amidst the Creosote Bushes? Why, it's Research Associate Becca.

A Yucca that's lost one of its heads.

A perfect morning in the Chihuahuan Desert.

Another Day in the Desert

Becca doing important research west of Tortugas Mountain.

Swirling clouds blanket the Organ Mountains.

Beautiful cloud formations.

UFO or head-on view of a manta ray?

Desert in shadow and light.

Late Morning Hike

The west side of Tortugas in the late-morning hours.
Barren Ocotillos and dog rump.

Owner of the lonely rump.

A passel of Yuccas.