Windy With Sprinkles

Weather conditions at start

It wasn't certain Becca and I would get in a hike this morning due to windy and wet conditions; in fact, we got sprinkled on when I took her out to the arroyo alongside our house to take care of business.  A short while later we struck out for Tortugas Mountain hoping to get in a trek before more rain came.

Only one vehicle occupied the Sunset Area parking lot when we got there, and we didn't see any other outdoor enthusiasts until we'd nearly finished our hike.  While we were trekking the weather remained windy and slightly chilly, and we got sprinkled upon on three separate occasions; each time, though, the rain didn't last long enough to really wet us.  My camera lens, however, accumulated some drops that screwed up at least one photo, but it wasn't a decent image anyway.  The Beckster and I got in a moderately long trek and enjoyed our journey despite the adverse weather conditions.

Five-Needled Prickly Leaf

Across the Rio Grande

Yucca power

Becca leading the way

Dos Cabezas

Claret Cups

Not yet open for business

This . . .

. . . or this?

Sunshine and clouds

Somebody in Las Cruces struck it rich this morning

Looking south

B&W Prickly Pear

Ball of yucca flowers

Happy hiker

Rain not virga

Distant sunlight

Flank of Tortugas and the Organ Mountains

Huge yucca

Meh

Creosote Bushes are flowering

This and the next:  Tortugas Mountain Observatory

Ash-throated Flycatcher

Leaning into it

West of the mountain

Not only do I see a Scott's Oriole, but also a mythical horse behind it

Hallelujah!

Talk about "getting into it"

Spot the flycatcher

This and the next:  Ash-throated Flycatcher

#2

Almost back to the Sunset Area