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Saturday, October 6, 2018

Monte Vista Bonanza

The trail to the trail around the mountain
Becca and I headed directly for the far side of Tortugas Mountain this morning knowing full well that the near side would be crowded.  And it really was.  Some kind of planned activity was set to begin there.  On the far side, however, there were only three vehicles in the parking lot, and one of them left just as we were starting off.  The weather was very pleasant this morning:  high 50s with a light breeze.  For a few seconds it almost felt chilly out there.  On the south side of the mountain I was pleased to discover a Red-tailed Hawk taking a break from searching for breakfast.  I took quite a few photos of the magnificent raptor before it flew off toward the mountain.
Looking west from inside a deep arroyo north of Tortugas

Just reaching the loop trail

On the trail around the mountain

On the east side

Looping around to the south side of Tortugas

Peekaboo

Busy sniffing

The way west

What's that over there?

A look over the mountain's east flank

Photobombed by a dog ear

The long view

To the southwest

What the weather can do

Red-tailed Hawk looking for breakfast

Handsome bird

Is that a mouse?

What's with the leg feather?


My serious look

Feather near leg now in place

Up a steep path

I see mountain bikers

Yucca and the Organ Mountains

Closer look

Organ Mountains

Village of Talavera and the Organ Mountains

Interesting clouds

The rugged Organs

Little used trail

Distant view of Tortugas

A sea of Creosote Bushes and the Organs

Heading back

Almost around the mountain again

One way to the loop

Quite a few cars at the Monte Vista parking lot

A last look at the Organs

2 comments:

Dr. K said...

Gorgeous photos of the blue sky/clouds/desert landscape, and also of the red-tailed hawk. You outdid yourself today, Packrat.

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Sunny, Windy, Cold

1st 2:  slightly different views of yucca and the Organs We really cut the hike short this morning.  The strong wind and near-brutal cold ga...