A Nice Respite

Upper foothills trail

Becca and I had quite a surprise when we got out onto the trail west of Tortugas Mountain this morning:  it was chilly.  The temperature was just below 50F, and with a slight wind it felt significantly cooler than the previous few days.  Apparently the horrible wind storm we had yesterday ushered in a moderate cold front.  Winds are supposed to get really bad again tomorrow and Friday.  There's no getting used to it, but this is life in the northern Chihuahuan Desert during the spring windy season.

I'll just pretend I don't see them

Do they see me?

I'm all ears (yuck, yuck)

View of the distant Organs

Yum

Arroyo exploring time

Cresote Bush (left) and a young Mesquite Tree

Flank of Tortugas and the Organs

Soaptree Yucca west of Tortugas Mountain

Same yucca

Same again, different perspective

Soaptree Yucca sans flowers

Prickly Pear blossoms

Organ Mountains from a hill to the north

Organ Mountains in the distance

Becca bushwhacking

Flowers soon

Whitethorn Acacia

Mormon Tea flowers

Ash-throated Flycatcher

Ash-throated Flycatcher

Strawberry Pitaya Cactus flower not quite open

Lesser Nighthawk

Prickly Pear mandala