Far Side Sunday

On the trail behind Tortugas Mountain

I did a long hike without Dr. K and Becca this morning, leaving from the Monte Vista side of Tortugas Mountain.  I hiked clockwise around the south side before taking the far outer loop road to the west and north.  Then I struck back to the inner loop road, headed south along the mountain's west side before retracing my earlier track back to the waiting Jeep.  Becca's ten-day hiatus ends today, so we'll take her on a short trek tomorrow to see how she does.  I'll try to gradually increase distance to rehabilitate her strained leg as slowly as possible.

Pinacate Beetle

Round rock house ruins

Typical Chihuahuan Desert flora

Pecking order?

The rugged Organ Mountains

The Organ Mountains between nearly-twin yuccas

Many Ocotillos are leafless now

The Soaptree family

Same Soaptree Yuccas, different perspective

Tortugas and the Organs

Yucca bayonets

Where the living and dead meet

Yucca fixation

The yucca at center is the tallest of these three

Rocky north face of Tortugas Mountain

There are huge boulders like this one (left) all the way up this side

Little yucca forest

North slope of Tortugas Mountain

Parked along the road at the Monte Vista area

Can I go with you tomorrow?