Searching for the Trickster

One trail up the west side of Tortugas Mountain

I went looking for coyotes in the outback this morning, but I saw nor heard none.  I can count the number of times on one hand when I set out to find a Trickster or two and actually encountered any.  Of course, hiking without Becca makes that task even more unlikely; she's got eagles eyes, keen hearing and an outstanding olfactory sense to track other critters.  I did have the good fortune of running into a Roadrunner who was so busy catching insects for breakfast he/she didn't seem disturbed by my presence; in fact, the darned thing even came within ten feet of me several times.

Steep western slope

Greater Roadrunner

Meep Meep

Looking for Wile E. Coyote

Hunting for breakfast

Still on the trail out of the high foothills

Clouds getting interesting

Standing in the center of a large arroyo

Looking the other way up the arroyo, which drains out of Tortugas Mountain

Soaptree Yucca with an interesting headdress

Barrel Cactus

Send in the clones

Nevermore

Fours a crowd

Stand of Soaptree Yuccas

Spent yucca seed pod

Three amigos is actually one Soaptree Yucca

Dying Hedgehog Cactus

Can't get over these clouds

Zooming in for a closer look

Closer still

Tasajillo with fruit

Tortugas and the Organs

Ocotillos, clouds and sky

Just west of Tortugas

Crazy clouds over the mountain

Only 6 days left in Becca's hiatus