Ahead of the Cold Front

A look up the west side of Tortugas Mountain

Miss Becca and I got a really early start this morning; there was only one vehicle in the Sunset Area parking lot when we got there.  We encountered one dedicated mountain biker west of Tortugas who we see almost every day; he's that dedicated.  We saw one other guy, a runner, when we were crossing the road to the mountaintop.  On the way back we bumped into JC and Olivia, and we stood talking politics with them for a few minutes.  When I say "we" I hope it's understood that Becca was pretty noncommittal.  She's about as apolitical as a canine can be.

NM Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum barn, part of Las Cruces, and Picacho

Three-headed Torrey Yucca alongside the trail

Becca on the trail

Yucca lighthouse

This is what's called a "rocky trail" (Franklin Mountains on the horizon

Interesting clouds

Where two jets went their separate ways?

Different perspective in B&W

Pause for the cause while heading west

Further west now

This is that Ocotillo

Cross purposes?  X marks the spot?

Contrails

A little closer look at those contrails

Picacho Peak

Not a chocolate chip cookie

Yucca and Picacho Peak

UFO?

Long drive up the mountain