Air is Moist Again

Clouds starting to build in from the west

I'm not sure why, but this was a fairly crowded Thursday on and around the mountain.  There were hikers, bikers and joggers everywhere, and when we got back to the Sunset Parking area the lot was pretty full.  Still we only encountered one runner and two bikers in the outback.  The atmosphere was very humid this morning, precursor to the moisture we're supposed to get starting as early as tonight. 

On the trail around Tortugas

Desert Marigold mandala

Tortugas Mountain's west side

A Desert Cottontail watches us carefully

Loggerhead Shrike and Dragonfly

This grass (not IDd yet) is growing all over the desert

Plumed Crinklemat on the mountain's flank

Bishop Cap

Heading behind the mountain

Becca spots two mountain bikers

The rugged Organ Mountains

Up and over

Worrying about bikers

Single-track trail behind Tortugas

The thread through a steeper section of Tortugas

Hedgehog Cactus

Still very cloudy