Single-Tracking in OMDPNM

Do not drive off roads

Dr. K, Becca and I headed out to Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument this morning to hike a short section of the Sierra Vista Trail Norte before heading east along one of the well-maintained single-track trails in the direction of the namesake mountains.  Although there were three or four RVs parked in the camping area we ran into not a single soul during a two-hour trek.  It was a tad chilly at start (37F), but the day warmed up nicely; Dr. K removed her vest a quarter of the way in.  When we were leaving we waved to one of the campers, a man outside of his Fleetwood Discovery RV.  He was from South Dakota.  Since the area has been designated a national monument we've seen tourists visitation increase dramatically.  Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Secretary Ryan Zinke.

This way my peeps

Demised Stingleaf flower

Two paths diverged in a yellow grassland . . .

Former Barrel Cactus

Send in the clones

Fishhook Barrel Cactus

Don't kink your neck

Barrel and Becca

Curve-billed Thrasher (Toxostoma curvirostre)

Ocotillo in the grassland

Prickly Pear Cactus pad skeleton

Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)

Same Loggerhead Shrike

Rugged mountains

Seeing images in the shadows

The peaks

Ocotillos here have lost all leaves

Leafless Ocotillos

Just off the road

Barrel Cacti

Single Barrel

Ahead of the pack as usual

Where in the world is Becca Sandiego?

Barrel and Becca

A look at an especially rugged section of the Organs

Eroded into fantastic forms

Headed away from the mountains

Even further away

Christmas Cactus (Cylindropuntia leptocaulis) and the Organ Mountains