Another Shortie

On the trail alongside the arroyo west of Tortugas Mountain

I got up at 5:00 this morning to ensure that Becca and I got an early start on our hike today because the weather is going to be hot again.  It was already 75F when we started off, and the humidity was noticeably higher than in previous days.  I cut the hike short again for Becca's sake (mine, too).  We did see a few other outdoor enthusiasts, and one woman we bump into quite often responded to my comment "It's already too hot" by saying "It's miserable!"  And it's going to get even hotter in the next few days.

The start of a steady incline

Some flora along the way

A little steeper here

Haven't leveled off yet

Ocotillo in sunshine, many others in shadow

Small Mesquite Tree growing in the middle of a Strawberry Hedgehog

Used the dry brush filter on this because it was a little out of focus

Leafed-out Ocotillos in the western foothills

Sun-enhanced Rainbow Hedgehog

Yucca and Ocotillos

On the edge of a very deep gully

Becca's hot, but enjoying herself

An Ash-throated Flycatcher catching sight of a breakfast morsel

We stopped here for a drink of water

A little closer look at the flora

This Desert Cottontail is not the bark-eating culprit

Same Desert Cottontail