God's Dog and Good Friday

In the upper foothills

Even though I knew it was Good Friday I'd forgotten that pilgrims celebrate the holy day by making a trek to the shrine on the top of Tortugas Mountain.  Of course we weren't affected by the activity while Becca and I were in the outback pursuing God's Dog across the desert floor (it completely disappeared after our first sighting), but on the way back in we had to stand aside while 30 college students on a field trip passed by (I knew they were students on an outing because I asked); and on the trail back to the car we encountered plenty of pilgrims headed for the top.  It was a beautiful morning for our hike and their pilgrimage.

Bunny on the rocks

Mountain bikers headed into the foothills

God's dog (Coyote, Canis latrans)

A vast stretch of Chihuahuan Desert

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Two-headed Torrey Cactus

Is this enough shade for a shade break?

So sue me

Pale Evening Primrose (the next two as well)

Becca checking out Wild Rhubarb

Franklin Mountains (El Paso's west side starts beside right peak)

Some of the 30 college students who passed us on the trail

A few of the pilgrims headed to the shrine atop Tortugas Mountain

Our car beneath the red dot