Serpent

We had a visitor in our backyard late afternoon yesterday

It was about 68 F when Becca and I set off for Tortugas Mountain this morning.  We were planning on hiking in the western section, but the parking lot there was already crowded with cars; so we drove around to the Monte Vista parking area.  Five vehicles were there.  As soon as we got started around the east side of the mountain we were passed by two mountain bikers, followed immediately by another coming our way.  We decided to take an alternate route along secondary trails far less frequented by casual outdoor enthusiasts.  It's a good thing, too, because from a distance we could see quite a few groups of hikers along the trail closest to the mountain.  We encountered nobody else during our sojourn, and we enjoyed a peaceful trek in sunny, but bearable, weather conditions.

Sonoran Gopher Snake

Slithering along the fence looking for a way out

Finding a crack large enough to exit through

Outside of the fence now, but still on our property

On the east side of Tortugas

Two mountain bikers passed Becca and me on a narrow section of trail

Heading west behind the mountain

Looking out toward El Paso (Franklin Mts. barely visible on the horizon)

It's downhill from here

Where the trail wraps around the mountain

Dropping into the lower desert

Through a large arroyo and headed east

Looking back at the southwestern flank of the Tortoise

East toward the Organ Mountains

Ready to head back to Tortugas