Super-Packed Saturday

Two uncooperative male Scott's Orioles never emerged from a Creosote Bush

Becca and I and a woman hiker coming down from the Sunset Area parking lot converged at the main trail.  She said, "This place is getting really popular.  It's hard to find a parking spot."  It was surprisingly crowded this morning, and even more so when we returned.  On our way back up the mountain from the outback Becca and I spotted Jimmy and his brother-in-law, Scott, who waved to us from on high.  I had the feeling that rather than trekking to the mountaintop they were setting out to circumnavigate Tortugas.

Ocotillos in the sun

Gaining in elevation

One happy hiker despite the heat

Ancient sardine tin?

In the upper foothills just west of Tortugas

View from on high

Looking through an Ocotillo

The long view

Back toward the sun

A different male Scott's Oriole

I could only sneak up so close to it . . .

. . . before it flew away

Never sit on a Hedgehog Cactus

Scott and Jimmy hiking the high foothills

Scott (left) is not the owner of the Scott's Oriole

On the slope

My shadow and Becca in the shadow of a Torrey Yucca

About to head back to Tortugas Mountain