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| An early start in the high country |
Dr. K, Becca and I set out for the Organ Mountains this morning to do a long trek on the Sierra Vista Norte Trail. Within a quarter mile we had removed our lightweight jackets, and I was hiking in short sleeves and shorts for the first time this year; it felt good to be unburdened of extra clothing. Because the weather was so beautiful on a Sunday we weren't surprised to encounter other outdoor enthusiasts on the trail; but not too many: a runner, a mountain biker, and a man and woman. Back at the parking lot a woman and man, their two horses and two dogs were standing near a horse trailer. They were all preparing for a long equestrian outing. One of the dogs--Buddy--came over to greet Becca, and they had a short, but sweet, hello before we took off for the lower desert.
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| Sierra Vista Trail Norte ("Mountain View Trail North") |
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| Rainbow Hedgehog Cactus |
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| Long shadows |
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| Moon over a mountain |
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| If you look up "rocky" in the dictionary this is what you'll see in the margin |
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| Varying shades of shadow |
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| Becca and a tall Sotol |
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| Sotol forest at the base of the mountain |
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| Yucca and the Organ Mountains |
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| Looking down on the village of Talavera and Tortugas Mountain |
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| About to make a steep descent |
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| Heading into a deep valley |
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| It looks like Becca is heading out that utility road, but she's not |
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| Mountain biker riding a rugged single-track |
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| Narrow shade respite |
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| Becca and Packrat |
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| Barrel Cacti in the high country |
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| Organ Mountains |
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| Good photo of Becca and a Barrel Cactus (explain yourself, Dr. K) |
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| Tableland loaded with Barrel Cacti |
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| Organs |
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| The kind of bayonets you wouldn't want to stumble into |
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| A swell swale |
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| Don't jump! (Rock figure, center right) |
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| Returning to the trailhead |
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| How'd you like to live there? |
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| Sotol with an attitude |
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| Looks like a pile of boulders |
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| Yucca and the Soledad Rocks |
