Cloudy Start

Unfortunately, there were too many people out on the mountain this Saturday morning, and one thing you can always count on with that many outdoor enthusiasts:  at least one idiot will be yelling at the top of his lungs for no apparent reason.  Today there were several idiots screaming for all to hear; and they were not children, but adult mountain bikers.  Perhaps my protest seems intolerant, but there is simply no good reason for hollering like that.  It doesn't add anything to the hollerers' enjoyment of the environment, and it definitely detracts from the enjoyment of others.

Desert Cottontail

Claret Cup Cactus

Ocotillo buds

The volcano-shaped mountain is Picacho (Sp. = "peak")

Claret Cup Cactus flowers

Pausing to take a look

Found this spent shell on a dirt road,  I think it's a hollow-point bullet

Back into the foothills

Ocotillo buds waiting to blossom

Across Tortugas's flank to the rugged Organ Mountains

Breaking out all over

The Sunset Parking lot was so full people were parking at the gate