Springing Back to Life

Becca, Yucca and snow

Becca and I started off this morning in a surprising snow flurry; "surprising" because none of the meteorologists mentioned the possibility of more snow.  It didn't last long, though.  There were still foggy spots around Tortugas Mountain, but the sun made a periodic appearance.  Yesterday afternoon the sun shone brightly for a few hours melting snow and ice.  Sunshine today allowed some plants to spring back into their original shapes.  I saw a supple branch of our Mexican Palo Verde whip from from under snow cover and lash skyward like a narrow catapult arm during launch.

The long view

Slipping across the high foothills

On the road again (around the mountain)

Snowy desert floor

Awakenings

More patches of blue

Almost ready to head back up to the mountain

Snow has melted off some Soaptree Yuccas

Fog around the Organs

Bishop Cap

Skeletal Ocotillos

Organ Mountains (background) still bear a lot of snow

Snowy trail to the foothills

Looking back at the way we came

Prickly Pear Cactus pads reappearing from snow cover