Break From the Heat

Sky at start

It was raining lightly when we got up this morning, but by the time Becca and I were leaving for Tortugas Mountain it had stopped.  The heavy cloud cover promised more precipitation, though, and we were lucky only to get sprinkled on during our entire trek.  Despite the threatening skies there were still a lot of outdoor enthusiasts about, and we encountered both hikers and mountain bikers.  Because it was so cool we extended the hike by several miles.  I got a little sweaty right at the end of our outing due to the high humidity, but I never felt uncomfortably warm.

A little further along the western flank of Tortugas Mountain

Decision time?

Part of Las Cruces with the Robledo Mountains behind

Sky to the south looked a little threatening

Flank of Tortugas and the Organs

Rusty sands

It seemed like rain all during our hike

Desert between here and there

Line of sunlight across the distant mountains

Selective sunlight

Up the dirt road

From a distance I couldn't ID this bird

Closer look revealed a Loggerhead Shrike

Narrow arroyo west of the mountain

Lucky we only got sprinkled on this morning

Observatory atop Tortugas Mountain

Becca and the mountain

A telephoto shot revealed a group of people near the observatory

Hint of a rainbow

Surprised to find a Soaptree Yucca blooming this late in the season

It had already lost some blossoms

Closer look at the flowers

Becca the Bushwhacker

Check out that sky

Tahoka Daisies (Machaeranthera tanacetifolia)

Tahoka Daisy and Bee-Fly