Tortugas Mountain Hike

Yucca against a desert sky

There is nothing quite so rewarding as an early-morning hike in the Chihuahuan Desert on a Monday morning.  Relatively few outdoor enthusiasts are on or around the mountain, and you can experience a sense of solitude not always available on the weekend.  It has been incredibly warm (hot, really) lately, with temperatures running 15 to 17 degrees above normal.  The warm weather is fine, but there's no need to lurch into summer-like weather around here.

Torrey Yuccas in bloom

Tortugas (Tortoise) Mountain

Desert Broom (left)

Long dirt road

Tortugas (left) and the Organ Mountains

Becca in the foothills

Mountainous desert territory

Desert Chicory