Morning Walkabout

Soaptree Yuccas in an arroyo west of Tortugas Mountain

When Becca and I hit the trail west of the mountain early this morning it was quite cold, but things warmed up quickly; within a quarter mile I had peeled off my vest and simply donned by Marmot PreCip jacket--with the pit zips down!  I hadn't planned on exploring the outback today, but we just kept wandering westward until we found ourselves way out there.  I always hope to see Coyotes or Javelinas when we're in the outback, but no suck luck this morning.  Nevertheless, both Becca and I enjoyed our sojourn in this section of the northern Chihuahuan Desert.  We ran into JC and Olivia when we got back to the parking area; they had just finished their hike west of Tortugas Mountain.

One way up the mountain

High-altitude cactus garden

High-altitude cactus garden Part 2

Soaptree Yucca (left) and Ocotillo

Torrey Yuccas

Long way back to the mountains

Tortugas (left) and the Organs

Bird's nest in a Soaptree Yucca

The Soaptree Yucca that houses the bird's nest

Becca down a wide arroyo

General Land Office Survey marker, 1927

My position here is where I found the survey marker

Arroyo

Further down a wide arroyo

Cursory critter search

3-foot Barrel Cactus west of the mountain

Quite a secluded area

Yuccas in the outback

Banana Yucca

Bushwhacking back