No Siesta at Sierra Vista

This and the next 2:  White-winged Doves

Dr. K, Becca and I got an early start on our drive east on Dripping Springs Road to the lower Sierra Vista Trail in OMDPNM.  There were only three RVs in the camping area and two vehicles in the parking lot when we got there.  But not long after getting started on the trail heading south we encountered two separate mountain bikers out enjoying the beautiful spring weather.

At an elevation of 5,000 feet we were surprised to find some Claret Cup Hedgehog Cacti not only hanging on to their blossoms, but still producing prolifically.  As you can see from the posted images I could not get enough of the beautiful flowers.  What the hey?--they won't be around much longer.  At this elevation there weren't any Prickly Pear Cacti blooming yet, but various wildflowers made the high desert look beautiful.

Things started heating up pretty quickly out there this morning--we're headed for a high of 90F--so we decided to make the trek a shorter one, and we limited our outing to an hour and twenty minutes.  On the way back in we met three mountain bikers traveling together and two separate bikers nearer the trailhead.  All in all a very good hike in Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument.

Along the Sierra Vista Trail

At bottom, Apache Plume pluming and blooming

Apache Plume

Apache Plume flower and visitor

This and the next:  early morning west of the Organ Mountains

Who's singing that beautiful song?

Why it's a Black-throated Sparrow

This and the next 2:  same Claret Cup flowers

Blackfoot Daisies (Poster Edges filter)

Fendler's Bladderpod

This and the next 2:  Becca on break

This and the next 4:  Claret Cup Hedgehog Cacti

Becca and Dr. K

This and the next 6:  more Claret Cups

Creosote Bush in bloom in the high desert

Blackfoot Daisies

Becca and Dr. K

White Tackstem

♫ Bees do it . . . ♫

Long view to the Organs

Ready to head home