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Saturday, September 1, 2018

Far Side Excursion

Just starting off at the north side of Tortugas Mountain
Becca and I got an earlier start than on yesterday's hike, hitting the trail out of the Monte Vista area at 7:30 a.m.  There were no cars in the parking lot, but we encountered four or five different mountain bikers south and east of Tortugas Mountain.  And then, on our way back in, we bumped into two women hikers, one of whom said, "Isn't this nice?"  "Beautiful," I said; and it was until it got a tad uncomfortable from the heat and humidity.  By then, though, we were finishing up our trek.  Rain is in the forecast for today, and now (10:53 a.m.) it's already been sprinkling for twenty minutes or so.
Starting to wrap around the east side

Heading west on the road behind the mountain

Well?  Let's go

Sotol and boulders

What's that growing in the rock?

It's a Hedgehog Cactus

Heading south on a lesser-used trail

Torrey Yuccas and the Organ Mountains

High foothills on the southeast side of Tortugas Mountain

Yuccas and Tortugas

Close up and personal

The trail that got us here

Heading down a steep, rocky trail

Expanse of Chihuahuan Desert between here and the Organs

Another lonesome road

On the way back

Erosion

Organs in shadow

1 comment:

Dr. K said...

Beautiful photos of the landscape this morning. Becca must be very used to waiting for you to take a photo, and I doubt that she cares that she's often the subject.

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