Quite a Specimen

Still in the shadow of Tortugas

Becca and I got an early start hiking the west side of Tortugas Mountain this morning, and we were trekking along our normal route when I spotted the five-headed ginormous Torrey Yucca off to the west.  We had visited this yucca in the past, but had never seen it blooming in such splendor.  Getting to it necessitated bushwhacking through a pretty rugged, thorny section of northern Chihuahuan Desert, though, and I wasn't appropriately dressed for the task having donned hiking shorts and a short-sleeve Craghoppers shirt for our outing.  Nevertheless, I couldn't resist going over for some closeup shots of this spectacular giant, and it all worked out for the best.

Upside down spurs with flower stalk

Closer look at that right yucca head

The new trail is ready already

This is why they built the new trail

They might close this section for good

Would make a good Christmas tree, though rather small

Ocotillo candelabra

Whatever

Yucca and Bishop Cap (right)

Sun through yucca

Fire ring

What a monster!

Claret Cups

We circled around to approach it from the west side

Somebody is enjoying its high perch (near the 2nd from left flower stalk)

Cactus Wren happy as a lark

I should know better than to let Becca take a photo of me

She's watching three runners on the outer loop road

Claret Cups again

Circled back to the east side of the giant

Five heads are better than four

Ocotillo flowers

Yucca flowers

Yet another Claret Cup

Growing in the high foothills of Tortugas Mountain's west side

Lower trail block

Hiking the short section of new trail

Even more Ocotillo blossoms