Early Start on the Far Side

Prickly Pear growing out of rock

Becca and I got an extra early start out of the Monte Vista side of Tortugas Mountain this morning, but it was already pretty hot when we started off.  What made it feel even worse was the absence of any breeze to provide a bit of evaporative cooling.  There were other outdoor enthusiasts on the eastern section of the mountain, and we encountered one woman hiker and two separate women running.  Our trek this morning was slightly longer than yesterday's and, because of the route we took, filled with more climbs and descents.  Still, both Becca and I seemed to hold up pretty well.  We stopped to gas up the RAV4 on the way home.

Behind the mountain

Boulders

Deep arroyo behind Tortugas

Some kind of flycatcher

It's a flycatcher, but still not sure which type

Say's Phoebe (Sayornis saya)

Same Say's Phoebe

Yuccas on a plateau

Black-and-white or . . .

. . . color

Happy yet hot hiker

Ocotillo and Organ Mountains

Pyrrhuloxia on the wire beside our house

A very popular hairdo these days

Desert Cottontail hiding its tail