Steaming Around the Mountain

Huge Ocotillo on Tortugas's west side

We got .67" of rain overnight, and did we ever feel the humidity this morning when Becca and I were hiking west of Tortugas Mountain.  The weather conditions were pretty awful for trekking until a nice breeze picked up and continued for much of the way.  Not too many devoted outdoor lovers in the desert when we were out there; in fact, there were only two vehicles in the Sunset Area parking lot when we got back to our car.  One of them, I think, was our friend Jimmy's white truck.

Ripe Prickly "Pears"

Allthorn

Buds of the Allthorn flower

Prickly Pear Cactus loaded with "pears"

Hot hiker

Top view of Prickly Pears

Hollow at the top of a "pear"

Fruit of the Cholla

Getting ahead

Tortugas (left) and the Organ Mountains

Can't track down these tracks yet

Road to the mountains

Closer to Tortugas's flank

Good look at the Tortoise

Ocotillos leafing out from the rain

Ocotillo forest

All greened out

Soaptree Yucca bearing fruit

Mesquite beans in our front yard