Toasty Sunday Morning

Skirting the southeastern flank of Tortugas Mountain

Dr. K, Becca and I cut our hike a little short this morning because the heat has revisited this section of the northern Chihuahuan Desert and it felt rather uncomfortable out there, especially with the surprisingly high humidity.  We saw one hiker headed up the old mining trail on Tortugas's east side and two mountain bikers barreling down a steep single-track, but we had no direct encounters with any outdoor enthusiasts.  When we were driving home after our trek, though, we noticed that the Sunset parking lot was nearly completely filled with vehicles.

A hiker striking for the crest

A glimpse of the trail we just traversed

Pointer pose?

Eastern flank of the Tortoise and the Organ Mountains

Ocotillos have leafed out all over again

A young male Scott's Oriole in our Desert Willow tree