Hold On To Your Hat

Part of Las Cruces, New Mexico with Picacho Peak

We were going to head around to the Monte Vista side of Tortugas Mountain this morning, but when we got to the Sunset side there were no cars there.  I decided we could probably get a hike in before the spring-breakers arrived, and I was right.  We did a fairly long trek on the west side; when we got back the parking lot was moderately full, and there were only three other cars alongside the entrance road where we park our RAV4.  When I say "where we park" understand that I only let Becca do the parallel parking when the situation demands it.

Claret Cup Hedgehog with buds and a baby Devil's Head

Long view to the Potrillos

Sun snagged in an Ocotillo

Collar button size:  Five-needle Fetid Marigold (Thymophylia pentachaeta)

New and the old

White-winged Dove

White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica)

Ocotillo buds, dog, mountain

Soaptree Yucca

Another sun snag

Do you prefer the color . . .

. . . or the B&W?

Looking south, but headed north

Contrail/cloud mix

Doña Ana Mountains

Wild sky

Robledos

Did I say "Wild sky" above?

Keeping an eye on this specimen

Can you spot what Becca's staring at?

The way back up the mountain

Yucca silhouettes

What's with all the air traffic?