MLK Day in OMDPNM

On the first plateau

Dr. K made up for missing yesterday's Sunday jaunt by accompanying Becca and me this morning to Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument for a two-hour trek just east of the namesake mountains.  We thought it was going to be a bit cooler than it actually was, and it didn't take long for us to start peeling off layers of outerwear.  Becca's always excluded from such disrobing, of course.  We hiked about two-thirds of the way to Black Mountain before striking east on a single-track trail headed directly for the Organs.  Along the way we spotted a hawk sitting atop a Sotol stalk looking for some easy prey to prey upon.  We'd hoped to see some deer or other critters, but the only other animal we saw was a two-year-old dog secured on a leash to its owner, a friendly woman who let her eager pup greet Becca.  It was a completely pleasant encounter.  When we were nearly finished with our morning trek we ran into four women hikers who looked to be thoroughly enjoying their outing in the national monument.

Paramecium clouds

Champing at the bit for a long hike

Clouds over the Organ Mountains

Not sure why I included this nearly identical image

This raptor was on a Sotol stalk about 200 yards away

It looked more like this when we first spotted it

Interesting patterns of sunlight

Me in an arroyo beside a large Old Man's Beard bush

Organ Mountains

Red-tailed Hawk (light-morph adult?)

Headed for the mountains

Female Brown-headed Cowbird?

Hard to tell if it's a Brown-headed Cowbird

Same Cowbird

Field of Barrel Cacti

Rugged mountains

Somebody's living the high life

Becca striking for the Organs

Can't get enough of these rugged mountains

Headed back

Barrel Cactus with yucca buddy

Sinuous slopes west of the Organ Mountains

Little more distant view

Even further out

Barrel Cactus clones

Four hikers enjoying a perfect morning

Trekking in OMDPNM