Bushwhacking 101

On the west side of Tortugas Mountain just after 7:00 a.m.

Becca and I got an early start this morning, and I was surprised by how chilly and windy it was.  Of course it was nowhere as windy as yesterday, which--with gusts to 60 mph--was an absolutely miserable day here in the northern Chihuahuan Desert.  When we got into the sunlight today the chill was bearable, and the Beckster and I did some serious bushwhacking west of Tortugas Mountain.  Always on the lookout for Coyotes we saw none.  We saw plenty of rabbits and birds, though, and spring flowers are beginning to put in an appearance.

Part of Las Cruces, New Mexico and Picacho "Peak"

Down the single-track

One tall Soaptree yucca

Long way across the Mesilla Valley from here to there

Sandy respite

Down a long arroyo

Strange contrails this morning

Large Barrel Cactus and the Organ Mountains

Bushwhacking with Becca

In the hills northwest of the mountains

Huge expanse of Chihuahuan Desert

Crazy Ocotillo and wild contrails

Scalloped Phacelia

Loggerhead Shrike

Truncated contrails

Rugged west slope of Tortugas Mountain and the Organ Mountains

Ocotillo budding

High-elevation cactus garden

Yucca in bloom

Reddish-purple buds will blossom white

Closer look

Beautiful future flowers

Large mass of white flowers with purple buds

Can you spot the Curve-billed Thrasher in her nest?