A Desert Rain

Some blue sky at the start

It began sprinkling at about 4:30 p.m. yesterday then quickly transformed into a steady light rain that literally lasted until after 10:00.  This morning the desert was still soaked, and the humidity was high.  When Becca and I did a trek west of Tortugas Mountain there was fog and heavy cloud cover.  The sun broke through occasionally to paint the mountains in soft light, but old Sol was absent for most of our trek.  The upside was the cool temperature:  52F when we started off.  Becca truly enjoyed the break from blistering heat.

Centennial High School and the Doña Ana Mountains

Dynamic sky over the high foothills

Happy to be hiking in cooler weather

Very late blooming Ocotillo

Sun trying to put in an appearance

Advent of autumn in an Ocotillo patch

Harbinger of winter

Rain-filled Barrel Cactus

Wooly Paperflower

Clouds sweeping in near the Organ Mountains

Still some blue over Tortugas

Following the Crosscut Trail

View from inside an arroyo

Many Desert Marigolds still in bloom

Wet sand

Tiny purple flower on a low vine

Pencil Cholla fruit

Organ Mountains

This and the rest:  Clouds against the Organ Mountains