Medium Jaunt

Picacho Peak (barn is at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum)

Becca and I got an early start on a slightly less than normal hike west of Tortugas Mountain this morning; I intentionally cut the trek a bit short because we did a long one yesterday in the National Monument.

We saw a few hikers and runners out there, but for most of our jaunt we felt as if we had the whole place to ourselves; I'm speaking for Becca, of course, though I don't know for certain she actually felt that way.

She had a real treat this morning, however, when--on the final leg of our trek--we ran into Jimmy and his brother-in-law Scott.  She was delighted to see Jimmy, and even warmed up quickly to Scott, which is fairly unusual for Becca, who's generally very particular about associating with strangers.  We three humans chatted briefly before going separate ways.  It was a pleasantly warm outing here in the northern Chihuahuan Desert where we're headed for a high of 86F today.

A young Mesquite Tree

Claret Cups

Closeup

This and the next:  juvenile Sage Thrasher

This and the next:  Mourning Dove

Claret Cup

Taking a break

This and the next 4:  Soaptree Yuccas putting up flower stalks

Best shot I could get of this Ash-throated Flycatcher was, pathetically, the last

Flowering yucca

Desert Marigold

Long-distance shot of yuccas

Ocotillo buds getting close to blooming

Bicolor Fanmustard

Air traffic from El Paso

Gnocchi-like yucca blossoms

Sunset area