Crowded on the Near Side

Starting out from the Monte Vista side of Tortugas Mountain

At a little after seven this morning the Sunset Side of Tortugas Mountain was already crowded with cars.  Obviously some planned activity was going on.  Dr. K, Becca and I drove to the far side of the mountain, and we did a 90-minute hike to the south and west of Tortugas.  We encountered only one other hiker during our trek, but we saw a few other outdoor enthusiasts in the distance.  About halfway through our journey a nice breeze picked up, and we were grateful for it; the temperature is supposed to hit 94F today, above average for this time of year.

Torrey Yucca forest

Moon rolls down mountaibn

Boulder block

Becca behind the mountain

Through a field of flowers

She sees another hiker on the loop trail

Heading down a steep trail to the desert floor

Organ Mountains

White-thorn Acacia bean pods

Who enjoys the yellow flowers as much as we do?

Gathering pollen

Do bees get a buzz from pollen?

Photobombed by a bee

I assume it's a bee, but it could be a fly