Long Hike in Humid Weather

Starting up

Even though it was cooler when Becca and I headed out to Tortugas Mountain this morning the humidity was really high; you know it's true when you're perspiring even though the sun is blocked by substantial cloud cover.  We ran into two hikers with a dog not long after starting off and about ten cross-country runners from Mayfield High School about a quarter way into our trek.  Although it didn't rain yesterday, and we're not supposed to get any precipitation today, the humidity level is high due to the monsoonal flow of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico.

Partially blue sky

Could be a Painted Lady

New leaves on an old Ocotillo

Lots of moisture in the atmosphere

Bicolor Fanmustard

Nipple Beehive Cactus buds

Closeup of a Nipple Beehive bud

A little more blue over the Organ Mountains

After the rain Ocotillos are blooming again

Ocotillo flowers seem even brighter than usual

Closeup of the bloosom

Desert Marigold

Senna has literally popped up everywhere after the rains

Unicorn Plant (aka "Devil's Claw")

The "claw" of Devil's Claw

Rough Menodora (Menodora Scabra)

Ocotillo branch turning back on itself

Checking out what's ahead

Promising to be sunny later

A mess of Mesquite beans

Almost back to the car

Velvety Nerisyrenia