Sunday's Long Trek

The ramada in the Monte Vista parking area

Dr. K, Becca and I did a very pleasant long hike (at least it was pleasant for three-fourths of the way) around Tortugas Mountain this morning.  The sky oscillated between clouds and sun for most of the trek, but got real sunny for the last quarter; and sunny meant "hot."  Certain sections of the trail behind Tortugas are pretty rocky, and when you cross those stretches you know what it must feel like to be a raw hamburger patty on a grate above a bed of glowing charcoal briquettes.  We ran into only one person during our long hike, a guy named Raymond who I bump into quite often.  He's a pleasant guy blessed with the character attribute of only wanting to chat briefly before parting company.

Boulders

Where the trail strikes around the east side of Tortugas

We've come all this way around the mountain

And we're heading further still

Behind Tortugas now

Heading west until . . .

. . . we reach here and . . .

. . . here

Headed back

Paralleling the east side of Tortugas