Low Country Lowdown

Shadow/light

Becca and I got an early start this morning west of Tortugas Mountain in order to beat the heat, but after last night's rains the humidity was sky high and it made the trek pretty uncomfortable.  Makes me wonder how, as a youth in Youngstown, Ohio, I was able to bear summer days that sometimes reached 90 degrees with 90% humidity.  Most summer days in the northern Chihuahuan Desert, conversely, really are characterized by a "dry" heat; it's not unusual to experience days with a dewpoint of 10 degrees or lower.  So residents get used to arid conditions.  That's why when the humidity is high (it was 64% when the Beckster and I left home) the weather seems so unbearable.  Despite my kvetching we really did have an awesome, long hike.

On the upper foothills trail

Big old Torrey Yucca in the distance

Becca spots a mountain biker way before I see him

Barrel Cacti are putting up buds all over the desert

Long view of Bishop Cap

Nearer view of Bishop Cap

These buds will blossom a deep reddish-orange

Pretty healthy-looking Barrel

Dynamic sky

Clouds shroud the Franklin Mountains, El Paso, Texas

Sedimentary rock bearing an interesting pattern

One of several dirt roads west of Tortugas

Greater Roadrunner making tracks

Perfectly round Barrel Cactus

About two feet tall

Abundant flower buds

Side view

Another view from the side

Not sure why I photographed Bishop Cap yet again

Tortugas (left) and the Organ Mountains

Due to recent rains the Ocotillos are vibrant green again

Cactus Wren in a Torrey Yucca

Cactus Wren on an Ocotillo wand