Drying Out

It means somebody has driven a ball 1760 yards from the mountaintop

Yes, I've finally decided to get on the bandwagon.  No, that's not really the kind of drying out I'm talking about.  Weatherwise it looks as if a few drier days are in the forecast, and it definitely felt that way when Becca and I hit the trails west of Tortugas Mountain early this morning.  We have been steamy the past few days here in the northern Chihuahuan Desert so the drop in high humidity levels was a welcomed relief even though the temperatures will rise a few degrees in the afternoons.

When Becca stands like that it signals she sees somebody up ahead

A few of these Barrel Cactus buds have been nibbled upon

A bouquet of Velvety Nerisyrenia

Some flowers in the bouquet

Mountain biker's paradise

Guess who's having fun?

Barrel Cactus flower buds

On the horizon:  Bishop Cap in the Organ Mountains

Pretty sure it's a Say's Phoebe (Sayornis saya)

Yes

Ring of Fishhook Barrel Cactus buds

Closer look at one

Same bud, slightly different perspective

What Ocotillo shadow is good for

Is it a fern?

Our recent heavy rains have deeply rutted a single-track trail