Cool Morning, Crowded Mountain

Large group of people (college students?) headed for the mountaintop

The Sunset Parking lot was completely full when Becca and I got out to the west side of Tortugas this morning.  The mass of people headed up the mountain appeared to be college students from New Mexico State; classes started last Wednesday.  And today may have been the day when students give the Aggie "A" a fresh coat of white paint.  We had quite a few encounters with hikers around the mountain, many of them young people who were undoubtedly students from the local college.  The weather was perfect for a morning outing:  overcast with a slight breeze.  One older fellow we bumped into on the high foothills trail--who was carrying a heavy backpack, probably in preparation for a future trip--smiled at me and said, "Nice and cool this morning!"  Indeed it was.

Prolific Prickly Pear Cactus

Ripe prickly pears

The reason it was cool this morning:  overcast sky

This large Ocotillo (left) has shed nearly all its leaves

The Tortoise (left) and the Organ Mountains

Watch dog

Some of those Yuccas on the ridge are people

The observatory atop the mountain and the Aggie "A" to its left

Barrel Cactus with reddish-orange blossoms

A different Barrel with yellowish-orange flowers

Nice bouquet

Closeup

Look at the density of needles surrounding the flowers