Long Trek in the National Monument

Wish I could have done better with this Lesser Goldfinch

Dr. K, Becca and I hit the Sierra Vista Trail Norte in Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument early this Sunday morning, and we were treated to very pleasant hiking conditions:  low 50s with little wind.  We both wore light jackets for part of the hike.  We ran into a few other outdoor enthusiasts during our sojourn in the northern Chihuahuan Desert, but we were surprised to see how sparsely populated the campground was.  It seems the BLM may be trying to reduce the number of large RVs in this area.

Up on the plateau in OMDPNM

Organ Mountains still in shadow

Early morning sunshine

Through the grassland

Pausing for another look

Blue sky to the east

Looking down at the side of a Barrel Cactus

Dr. K in the national monument

Is this her better profile or something?

Barrel Cacti

The rugged Organ Mountains

Up the dirt road in the monument

Becca and Dr. K further along the dirt road

Some rugged territory

Looking back at Tortugas Mountain

Directly east to the Organs

Sign, sign, everywhere a sign

Good trail to hike

Looking back at the Organs

Becca and barrel

Pretty sky

More Barrel Cacti

This and the next three:  Apache Plume (Fallugia paradoxa)