Ahead of the Wind

Just starting

Becca and I headed out early to the west side of Tortugas Mountain this morning in order to get a jump on the winds which were slated to pick up around 10 a.m. when a strong cold front was set to blow through.  The wind got started a little early, but we were able to avoid the bad stuff by finishing our trek before ten.  It wasn't incredibly cold out there, but at one point when we stopped to get water I thought to remove one of the layers of outerwear I had on, but after pausing for a moment decided against it.  Conditions were just chilly enough to convince me otherwise.  We had a decent moderately long hike, and were able to get in the requisite amount of exercise for a Monday morning.

Finally into the sunshine

Steep slope

Two views of a trail up the mountain

#2

Rugged west side of the mountain

Grasses in the sunlight

This and the next 3:  Black-throated Sparrow

A favorite yucca

Take this pose . . .

. . . and put it elsewhere

This is the Chihuahuan Desert

Torrey Yuccas down a steep slope

The lower clouds could be the remnants of a contrail

Soaptree Yucca

The Soaptree Yucca (center) is unique because . . .

. . . a critter (or critters) have been eating on it or . . .

. . . a human has cut it like this

Long view of the mountain's west side

Becca is happy to be hiking

B&W Ocotillo

Losing one's head

Flycatcher in B&W

Same flycatcher