A Pleasant Change

Trail from the Monte Vista parking area to the north side of Tortugas

Becca and I got an early start in order to beat the heat this morning, but it turns out it wasn't necessary.  The day was cloudy with a persistent breeze.  The sun never showed up enough to even cast a shadow.  The only drawback for photography in these kinds of conditions, though, is that the lack of contrast flattens the depth of field.  It's a trade off, I suppose:  cooler temps versus ideal camera weather.  Nevertheless, Becca and I enjoyed ourselves thoroughly, and we encountered only one other hiker out there, a woman with her older male Pit Bull.  Becca and Pit Bull got along just swell, circling and sniffing until we all parted ways.

On the trail that loops around the mountain

Boulder

These outcrops are usually in the sun

Closer look

Swinging around the back side of the mountain

Where do boulders this color come from?

These were the weather conditions all morning

Rugged

Becca behind the mount

Whitethorn Acacia

Trail across the plateau

No less prickly, just purple

Formerly people

Turned into yuccas by a benevolent nature god

That trail bends around the west side of the mountain

Mountain biker blends into the Chihuahuan Desert backdrop

Drawn into the draw

How's that for a narrow trail?

Slightly different perspective

Steep section of desert

The trail we just descended

The distant Organ Mountains beneath a cloud-filtered sun

Surveyor of desert environs

Barrel Cactus and Tortugas Mountain