Another Trek West of Tortugas

Sun halo around a Torrey Yucca head

Becca and I got an early start on a chilly morning here in the lower desert west of Tortugas Mountain.  The temperature wouldn't have felt so cold if not for a persistent wind.  It was sunny, though, and that partially warded off the chill.  There were cars in the Sunset Parking lot, but we didn't see anybody until we were about to leave; a runner named Pete, who we encounter fairly often, said hello as he jogged by the CR-V.  Took a bit of a shorter hike today because we'd done several longer ones up in the Sacramentos of late, and I didn't want to push the Beckster too far.

Well-used trail

Moving away from the mountain

Ocotillos and Prickly Pears

Becca is happy to be hiking, even in the lower desert

Still in flower, late November

This morning's pale moon

Observatory dome

Small stand of yuccas

You can just make out one trail up the mountain

Cue ball

Shadow and light

One tall yucca

A closer look at the tall yucca

West of Tortugas Mountain/east of Las Cruces

A look at the flora in an arroyo