Another Sunday in OMDPNM

Reaching the first plateau

Dr. K, Becca and I made an early morning trip to Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument on this the first day of Mountain Standard Time, having turned all our clocks back one hour late last night.  These are the days I wish we were still living in Arizona where they don't turn clocks forward or back according to an inane tradition that saves neither daylight nor energy.  But I digress.  We had an enjoyable hike of several hours in the national monument running into only a few other outdoor enthusiasts during our trek.  The weather was warm, with slightly elevated humidity.  We're headed for a high of 80F today.  Don't get me started on climate change.

Hiking through the high desert grassland

Organ Mountains mostly in shadow

Old Man's Beard

Old Man's Beard

Fishhook Barrel Cactus clones

Break in the shade

Helicopter, plane, balloon or photobombed by a bird?  (The latter, I think)

Blanket of clouds on the Organs

Don't know what this ground cover is

Ocotillo in the grassland

Leaves turning red

Sunlight and shadow in the Organ Mountains

Stingleaf (Cevallia sinuata)

Almost to Black Mountain

Oasis beside Black Mountain

Desert oasis, OMDPNM

Dr. K and Becca exploring an arroyo

Looking back down the arroyo

Dr. K

Becca and me

Stand of Desert Willows

Huge mass of Apache Plume

Western Soapberry (Sapindus saponaria) beside Black Mountain

Western Soapberry

Reluctant to head back, but head back we must

Is this the Chihuahuan Desert or Hawaii?

Rugged Organ Mountains

Broader look at the mountains

Sign at the western entrance to the monument