Sierra Vista Norte

Two of my favorite Torrey Yuccas on the first mesa

Dr. K, Becca and I got off to an 8 a.m. start on our two-hour hike of the Sierra Vista Norte Trail in Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument.  There were seven camper vehicles in the nearby campground when we headed off, the people in the Airstream from Alaska; that's a long way from home, but they had to be enjoying the warm weather here in the northern Chihuahuan Desert.  We only ran into one person on the trail, a mountain biker headed south while we were returning to the trailhead.  Ours was an enjoyable trek in a beautiful natural area which should, eventually, be designated a national park.

Alternate view of the yuccas

People in the Airstream with black Tahoe are from Alaska

On the Sierra Vista Norte Trail

Clouds above the Organs

Looking west to Tortugas Mountain

Jet above the Organs

Doña Ana Mountains

Closer look at the Doña Ana Mountains

Rolling desert grassland

Old Man's Beard

Old Man with Old Man's Beard

Grass, Ocotillos, clouds

Looking back the way we just came

Distant shot of a Mule Deer doe on the run

A little closer look

I think it's a Sagebrush Sparrow

Long contrail over the mountains

Organ Mountains

Cactus Wren nest?

Closer look at the nest

What is Becca looking at?

Organs again

Critter scout

When you're in OMDPNM you're going to see the Organ Mountains a lot

Down the trail toward Black Mountain

Odd cloud formation

Photobombed by a diving dove

Outcrop

Part of Black Mountain

More boulders

Another view of the side of the mountain

Rugged Organs

A more distant view of the mountain

Apparently I'm fascinated by this vista

Even further away from the mountain

What else?--the Organs altra volte

Plate-sized Prickly Pear pads curled like taco shells

Barrel Cactus triumvirate

View up the canyon

Sierra Vista Norte Trail

Becca pretending to be Rin Tin Tin