If The Spirit Moves You

Starting in the high foothills

We didn't intend to do any bushwhacking this morning, but when Becca and I came to a certain point during our trek we decided to head off into the desert.  (Okay, I decided, but Becca went along with my plan.)  When we got back near the Sunset Parking area we bumped into our good friend, JC, who's back from Alaska to spend the winter months in southern New Mexico.  Unfortunately, he's here without his best buddy, Shaque, who had to be put down last year. 

Moving away from the Tortoise

Looking back in an arroyo we're heading down

This is the way we're going

Some "environmentalist" (sarcasm) drove an off-road vehicle through here

This is what bushwhacking can turn into

Pretty far away from Tortugas Mountain now

Soaptree Yucca

Becca cresting a hill

Across the Chihuahuan Desert:  the distant Organ Mountains

Less dense ground cover here

Couldn't figure out what caused this 3 1/2-diameter circle

2 1/2-foot Barrel Cactus

Heading back to the Tortoise

This Hedgehog Cactus is the same one pictured below

Hedgehog Cactus

Closing in on the mountain

The trail back into the foothills