Dynamic Day

Clouds hanging low over Tortoise Mountain

It was still raining this morning after a night of rain, but the precipitation stopped just before Becca and I went out for a hike near Tortugas Mountain.  Weather conditions were cloudy and cool with very high humidity.  We did a moderately-long hike and were able to capture some good images of the dynamic vistas.  Quite a few other people were out on this Saturday morning, but we had only one close encounter with a mountain biker.  I had to whisk-broom the mud off my boots when we returned to the car.

Devil's Head about to bloom

It's been years since I've seen the Ocotillos this "fuzzy" with leaves

Always on the alert

There's a mountain biker riding up the trail

The cloud-covered Organ Mountains behind a green desert

Tortugas Mountain (left) and the cloud-shrouded Organs

A very tall Ocotillo

On the road around the mountain

A desert still soaked from last night's rain

Ocotillo forest

A new blossom on a healthy-looking Ocotillo

Velvety Nerisyrenia (most common species of mustard)

City of Las Cruces with the Robledo Mountains