Most of the Sierra Vista

Old Man's Beard

Dr. K, Becca and I headed out to Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument early this morning to do a long hike in significantly cooler weather; it was about 52F when we started off.  There were a few mountain bikers in the parking lot when we got there, but we started off well before them.  We ran into quite a few hikers/bikers this morning; not surprising because of the beautiful weather.  The most interesting encounter was with a woman and her dog, Doc, who was a Husky mix.  Doc was somewhat timid, but he and Becca got along well after a short introductory period.  A couple of hours hiking in OMDPNM was just what the three of us needed today.

Old Man's Beard, aka "Goat's Beard"

Becca exploring an arroyo

Observatory atop Tortugas Mountain from OMDPNM

Large shrubs of Old Man's Beard here

Old Man's Beard is Clematis drummondi

Old Man's Beard, aka, "Drummond's Clematis"

Old Man's Beard is a member of the Buttercup family

High grassland

Send in the clone

I think this is Parish Goldeneye

Parish Goldeneye (Bahiopsis parishii)

Deep gully west of the Organ Mountains

A little hazy this morning

Small oasis near Black Mountain

Becca in another arroyo

Oasis

Just off the Sierra Vista Trail Norte

Rainbow Hedgehog Cactus (Echinocereus rigidissimus)

Not sure which flower bud this is

Air appears to have cleared a bit

Heading back