Spring's Sprung in the Chihuahuan Desert

Spanish Dagger in bloom

A beautiful Saturday morning west of Tortugas Mountain found the Beckster and I bushwhacking across the desert floor in places.  By doing that we were able to avoid the mountain bikers who were using the main trails.  It wasn't too crowded with people, though, and we only encountered one person at the start of the hike--a man we see on the inner loop trail practically every Saturday.  We finally introduced ourselves.  He's "Joe."  I did not identify myself as "Packrat."

Headed down from the foothills

A tall Yucca with a new flower stalk

Yucca flowers

Staring across a vast expanse of desert

Rainbow Hedgehog Cactus with new bud (upper left)

Buds on the tip of an Ocotillo (aka "buggy whip")

Ocotillo buds

Desert bushwhacking

Marigold on Mars