Another Dynamic Desert Day

Dynamic sky at start

Becca and I got an early start on another dynamic morning in the northern Chihuahuan Desert.  Fortunately we beat the wind, which is raging now.  For much of our hike it seemed as if the rain could start at any minute, but we didn't experience even so much as a sprinkle.  I'm pretty sure chances for precipitation increase this afternoon.  We did a pretty long trek west of the mountain and, as a result, we bumped into JC and Olivia all the way over at the dilapidated white shack on the road to the mountaintop; they'd already finished half of their morning hike.  Had a nice chat with them while we walked back to the cars together.  I believe they have only slightly over a week here before they head to northern New Mexico.

Threatening sky to the south

Huge Torrey Yucca on the west side of Tortugas

Pincushion Cactus

Wending our way along the west side

Through the gully and up the mountain

The Florida (flo-ree-da) Mountains near Deming (about 60 miles away)

Siamese Devil's Head cacti

Siamese Devil's Head (Echniocactus horizonthalonius)

Big Torrey Yucca on the mountainside

Cloud shadows on the mountains

Franklin Mountains in the distance

Yucca and the Robledo Mountains

Yucca and Ocotillo in B&W

Half the time rain seemed imminent

Some blue sky visible there

Long view west

Distant Organ Mountains

Part of L.C. and the Robledos

Those clouds look unreal

Organ Mountains and dynamic sky

The Beckster

Distant hiker

Clouds over the mountains

Soaptree Yucca

Somebody's not worried about the weather

Organ Mountains

Franklin Mountains, El Paso, Texas

There's a rainy-day view (except it wasn't raining)

Long-distance shot of a Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)

Bishop Cap

Gap between Bishop Cap and the Franklin Mountains (right)